Councilmen, advocates and opponents discuss Izzy Patoka’s legislation

A Honduran woman spoke at a Towson rally to support Baltimore County legislation that would set aside resources and establish protections for immigrants.

The mother of two, who used the pseudonym Lucia to protect herself and her family from immigration authorities, hopes to teach in the U.S. one day, and believes in the power of education for personal and community growth.

“The bills are a beacon of hope [luz de esperanza] for many of us immigrants,” Lucia said in Spanish.

Several dozen advocates and community members in support chanted behind her: “¡Sí se puede! Si se puede!” or, in English: “Yes we can!”

Last month, Councilman Izzy Patoka introduced two bills, collectively known as the Trust Act, to limit the county’s ability to cooperate with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

The Pikesville Democrat reiterated during Tuesday’s rally, ahead of the county’s meeting to discuss those bills, that the legislation was partly inspired because his parents were Jewish immigrants who fled the Holocaust.

“Civility is highly underrated. And over the past year, the idea of civility has been diminished,” he said. “And so we are here gathered today … to add some civility because this is about civility, it’s about dignity, but it’s also about action.”

Read full article: Immigrants, advocates urge Baltimore County to pass Trust Act – The Baltimore Banner