PHOENIX (Elvia Díaz, Arizona Republic, Edited by Jon Garrido, Hispanic News) August 22, 2005 - Immigrant advocate Elias Bermudez has raised more than $43,000 to pay for a series of concerts he says will promote federal immigration reform.

Bermudez, a Phoenix activist, has been on Spanish-language radio asking for donations for the event with Mexican superstar singers. He hopes it will draw tens of thousands of people to the Glendale Arena in separate shows in October.

He was planning to complete the arrangements with the arena today. He's billing the event as a rally to push for a federal law to legalize the status of millions of undocumented immigrants in the United States. The ultimate goal, he said, is to raise $1 million from concertgoers and business donations to air national immigration-reform television ads.

Bermudez is the executive director of Centro de Ayuda, or the Help Center, a Phoenix business that assists immigrants in filling out immigration and tax documents.

Bermudez this year emerged as one of the most vocal advocates for undocumented immigrants, organizing economic boycotts to protest legislative bills designed to fight illegal immigration and to push for federal immigration reform.

Bermudez believes that the people who gather at the shows will send a message to Congress, which likely will debate immigration proposals by Arizona lawmakers and others.

Bermudez said he supports a proposal by Sens. John McCain, R-Ariz., and Edward Kennedy, D-Mass., designed to give undocumented immigrants who live in the United States the chance to earn permanent residency over an extended period. The proposal also would open the door for more people in Mexico to apply for visas to work in the United States.

Sen. Jon Kyl, R-Ariz., and fellow GOP Sen. John Cornyn of Texas are pushing their own plan, which includes a guest-worker program and calls for 10,000 additional Border Patrol agents on the Mexican and Canadian borders.

Abel Ledezma, a 29-year-old Qwest Communications technician, said he donated $1,000 to Bermudez's cause because he thinks it will help mobilize immigrants, living here legally or illegally, to speak up about the need for immigration reform.

"It's not about making money or just listening to music," said Ledezma, a Mexican native who is here legally. "It's about sending a message to Congress about the need to stop border deaths."

Alfredo Gutierrez, a former state lawmaker and a critic of the recent anti-illegal immigration measures in Arizona, welcomes any push for immigration reform.

"As long they (Bermudez and his allies) use the money appropriately, and there is no reason to believe they won't, we welcome them to the struggle," Gutierrez said.

 

Jon Garrido, President of the Arizona Law and Education Center (ALEC) and originator of the the concept of boycotting Childress Buick and General Motors, thinks Bermudez is today's "Cesar Chavez."

 

"The undocumented lack an advocate that can emerge as a national leader. Bermudez has the heart and smarts to become this champion. I support his efforts and will do all I can to assist him in achieving immigration reform," Garrido said.