Immigration march coming to Hempstead

There will be a march and rally Sunday in the streets of Hempstead Village to call for immigration reforms that would halt deportations and create a path to legalization for undocumented immigrants.

The organizers said several hundred participants are expected. Immigrant advocates have been conducting rallies on May 1 across the country since 2006.

Omar Angel Pérez, director of the Workplace Project advocacy group in Hempstead, opposes cooperation between local law enforcement and the federal government under the Secure Communities program, which he said has led to a surge of deportations nationwide.

“We are asking local police departments not to participate,” Pérez said. “If they join the [Secure Communities] program, we would see immigrants becoming afraid of reporting crimes.”

The march will start at 11 a.m. at Franklin and Front streets and move east to rally at Fulton Avenue and Washington Street, where there will be temporary street closures.