The demonstration held on Saturday aims at protesting federal immigration raids on businesses that employ illegal immigrants, and seeking real legalization for the "illegal," said a statement released on Sunday by a pro-immigration group.

Nearly 5,000 people marched through downtown Los Angeles on Saturday, demanding rights for illegal immigrants to become American citizens, and criticizing President George W. Bush's latest immigration proposal.

"The raids on employers of illegal immigrants are part of an intimidation campaign, which is strictly carried out in Latino residential communities and workplaces," according to the March 25th coalition, which held a massive one-day demonstration in Los Angeles last month, marking the one-year anniversary of the 2006 march.

The new anti-immigration measures are parts of the nationwide "Return to Sender Operation," which was conducted under strict orders of the Department of Homeland Security and President Bush since it officially began in June 2006, the statement said.

This is a new political scenario in the struggle for immigration reform, and the massive outpouring of immigrants and allies clearly points out the direction of another successful round of mega marches to inject the immigrant community, once again, into the national debate to influence Congress, the statement added.

The new proposal calls for a new "Z" category visa that allows illegal immigrant workers to apply for three-year work permits, which will be renewable indefinitely, but will cost 3,500 U.S. dollars each time.

However, in order to become legal permanent residents, illegal immigrants will have to return to their home countries, and apply to a legal re-entry scheme at the American embassy and pay a fine of 10,000 dollars.

Critics said the cost of work permits and green card applications are prohibitive for low-wage earners, who may never be able to apply for the residency under this plan.

"That's ridiculous and absurd," said Juan Jose Gutierrez, the national coordinator of Latino Movement U.S.A.

"The pro-immigration groups want a humane, a broad legalization that really addresses the serious shortcomings of our broken immigration system. We want legalization and a path to citizenship so that we can begin the process of healing the divisions that we don't need in America," Gutierrez said.

"We love America, we want to embrace America, we came here because we want to live in America, but we want to be treated as human beings. We don't want to be treated as illegal because we don't believe that any human being is illegal," he added.

The marchers had four demands -- Legalization now, expedite naturalization to make it faster and cheaper, education for all and to stop the racist raids taking place throughout the country.

The White House plan is far more conservative than the one passed by the Senate last year with bipartisan backing and support from Bush, which allowed illegal immigrants to stay and work in the United States.

It also carried the provision for immigrants to apply for legal residency rights after learning English, paying a small fine and back taxes and clearing a background check.

Source: Xinhua