Thousands of protesters took to the streets of downtown Dallas today, voicing their opposition to President Donald Trump’s immigration policies and calling for the release of detained foreign national students across the United States. The march, which stretched for several blocks, was a powerful demonstration of unity and solidarity, with participants waving American flags to symbolize their patriotism and demand for change.
The protest began at a cathedral and ended at Dallas City Hall, where protesters gathered in front of a stage to make their voices heard. Daniel Beltran, a 60-year-old marcher, emphasized the importance of engaging authorities in a peaceful manner to demonstrate that immigrants are “good people” seeking a better life. “We need to catch the attention of the authorities in a good way because we’re good people,” Beltran stated, adding, “Most of us come here because we want a better life.”
The march was sparked by the recent arrests of several foreign national students, including Mahmoud Khalil, Khan Suri, and Rumeysa Ozturk, all of whom were detained by immigration officials for alleged activities linked to terrorist organizations. These arrests, which the Trump administration claims are necessary for national security, have ignited protests across the country.
Upon reaching City Hall, the crowd participated in a patriotic display, reciting the Pledge of Allegiance, followed by a mariachi performance of the “Star-Spangled Banner.” Hector Flores, former national president of the League of United Latin American Citizens, addressed the crowd, highlighting the vital contributions of Latinos to the state of Texas and the nation as a whole. “Latinos are the backbone of this great state,” Flores declared, adding, “We build the buildings. We paint the murals. We cook the meals from every culture and every corner of this country. We are the architects, the artisans, the chefs, the caregivers, the teachers, the scientists.”
The protest came amid Trump’s ongoing push for more aggressive immigration reforms during his campaign for a second term. One of his most controversial proposals includes ending birthright citizenship, a constitutional provision under the 14th Amendment that grants citizenship to anyone born in the U.S., regardless of their parents’ immigration status. While legal experts widely consider such a move unconstitutional, Trump has repeatedly stated that he plans to challenge this policy, suggesting possible executive actions or constitutional amendments. “We’ll maybe have to go back to the people. But we have to end it,” Trump said, although he inaccurately claimed that the U.S. is the only country to offer birthright citizenship, despite 34 other nations also providing it.
The Dallas march is just one of many protests across the nation as communities continue to voice their concerns over the administration’s stance on immigration and its impact on vulnerable populations.
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