Although more than a week has passed since demonstrators marched nationwide in support of immigrants, debate over the controversial bill and effects of the demonstrations linger.

Sacramento State senior Monica Moreno was among the 1 million who demonstrated nationwide against the U.S. House of Representatives bill, which would make undocumented immigrants and those who associate with them felons.

Proponents contend that too many immigrants are denied basic services; are discriminated against and are not being appreciated for their contribution to the economy and to society.

“We showed people that we are aware of the situation,” said Moreno, who wants to become a teacher. “We’re here, and we’re not leaving.”

Lawmakers are currently trying to reform immigration laws, and President Bush has also touted guest worker programs that would lay the path to legal status.

The May 1 immigration demonstrations, which attracted participants across cities, including Los Angeles, Chicago, Washington and San Francisco, compelled hundreds of Sac State students to march and dance near the state Capitol to support immigrants, whose population spans from coast to coast.

Moreno was a student organizer for the event ?” a day without an immigrant boycott ?” in which students mobilized in procession from Sac State to Southside Park and then to the state Capitol.

“We need the youth to take over,” Moreno said. “People will listen more sometimes if it comes from students.”

Mimi Beas, co-chair for Chicano Student Movement of Aztlán ?” the organization who was integral in planning the student march ?” said the demonstration met its purpose, providing a forum for students to voice their concerns, and educate people about the issues.

Beas, Associated Students Inc. chief of staff, participated in the march and said, “It’s raising the issue of human rights, it’s raising the issue of social justice, it’s raising the issue of immigration reform that is for the people that’s not going to criminalize people or dehumanize people, they are here to make a living.”

Not every student at Sac State agrees that the demonstration was effective and that immigrants should be absolved of their illegal status, yet they see both sides with consideration.

Danny Martinez, a San Jose State student attending Sac State this semester for the Sacramento Semester Program in the government department, said he has truly seen both sides. Martinez is the son of an immigrant and said he’s privileged to be an American.

“You can’t have people just taking advantage of that privilege, (it’s) breaking the law essentially,” Martinez said.

He said the nationwide boycott and demonstrations were not an effective way to bring awareness to the issue.

“Here’s why: the boycott lasted one day – talks of it died down in a matter of hours,” Martinez said.

Yet, those supporters are hurting the very same economy of which they want to take part, Martinez said.

“Protesters demanded immediate amnesty for all immigrants, all people,” Martinez said. “To me, that’s a bit extreme.” People need to go through the legal process, he said.

Martinez said he had the fortunate experience of living in a country were poverty was prevalent and understands why immigrants crave for a better life in America.

But Martinez doesn’t favor bending the law for some and not others. “You cannot limit the law to a certain group of people,” he said.

Jennifer Barbanell, communications major, said she agrees with Martinez.

“The boycott was definitely not effective,” Barbenall said. “I don’t really think it proved anything to anybody, except for that fact that the people who want to be here disagree with our government ?” that’s not being very effective at all.”

Barbanell said it’s a shame that immigrants are not going about the naturalization process legally. “I don’t know if I’d send them back if they hadn’t did anything wrong,” Barbanell said. “But, see, that’s not so great either because they have done something wrong; they came here illegally.”

Whatever prevails in Congress, Moreno said she’s being trained to help others in the community understand the repercussions of possible new immigration laws and what people can do to help spread awareness.

Marcos Sanchez, College Assistance Migrant Program director at Sac State, said his program provides outreach and support to college students, most of who are first or second generation children of immigrant families.

“The main concern is the criminalization of the undocumented workers-something humane (has to be done),” Sanchez said about the pending national legislation.

These workers have families and children who attend school, Sanchez said.

“Let’s find a legal solution, so that they do not have to hide anymore, so that they don’t have to be in the shadows anymore,” Sanchez said.

Martinez, however, said he’s not sure what would happen if children were stripped from their parents via deportation. It’s a tough predicament, he said.

“What I would say is that parents shouldn’t come here and put their children in that kind of situation in the first place. However I do understand why they do it,” Martinez said.

Many of the students from the College Assistance Migrant Program marched on May 1, Sanchez said. “It was pretty quiet in the office that day.”

Sanchez said despite what others say, “whether immigrants are here legally or not, they do help out the economy.”

He said he was unsure of the demonstration’s positive effects because they could have provoked more uneasiness among those who do not support immigrants because of the image they portrayed: Mexican-flag waving, marches en masse and economic interruption.

People need to be patient, Martinez said. “When you go to the supermarket, you don’t just cut in front of everybody else, you wait in line.”

Gamaliel Ortiz can be reached at [email protected]