Contacts: Lori Stafford, Welcoming Immigrants Network, Dallas, Texas, (214) 649.2233, lori.stafford@gulfstream.com; and Louie Gilot, Border Network for Human Rights, El Paso, Texas, (915) 217-3621, lgilot@bnhr.org

**Press conference:  6 p.m., Friday March 19, 2010**

“TEXAS CARAVAN FOR AMERICA” TO GO TO DC IN SUPPORT OF IMMIGRATION REFORM

More than 300 people from all parts of Texas to travel 28 hours by bus to join thousands in national rally on the Nation Mall March 21

More than 300 Texans from El Paso, Dallas, Ft Worth, Houston and the Rio Grande Valley will congregate in Dallas on Friday to board 5 buses and three passenger vans for a long trip to the nation’s capital. The participants will join tens of thousands of others from all around the nation for a massive rally Sunday, March 21, in Washington, D.C. The rally, called March for America, aims to remind the government and Congress of the dire need for comprehensive immigration reform and to ask that our elected officials show leadership on this important issue.

The organizer of the Texas Caravan for America is the Reform Immigration for Texas Alliance (RITA), a statewide, multi-sector effort to build support for immigration reform and give Texas a voice in the ongoing debate. RITA members will march on Washington, D.C., to demand immigration reform and economic justice for all Americans. RITA’s vision of reform includes immigrants and native-born U.S. citizens working shoulder to shoulder to achieve better wages, working conditions, and labor protections, and of an American that’s back to work, with a fair balance between Main Street and Wall Street.

“We will come together as one voice on the National Mall for a strong America – for families, for workers, for businesses, and for security,” said Adriana Cadena, RITA Coordinator.

**TEXAS CARAVAN FOR AMERICA PRESS CONFERENCE**

Where: Lovers Lane United Methodist Church,  9200 Inwood Road (corner NW Hwy and Inwood Rd),
Dallas, TX  75220

When: 6 p.m., Friday March 19, 2010

Who: Organizers from El Paso, Dallas, Fort Worth, Houston and the Rio Grande Valley; Travelers with personal stories of hardship due to the broken immigration system; Representative from the office of United Methodist Bishop Earl Bledsoe; Religious leaders; Elected officials (TBA); DREAM Act students from several states.

Visuals: Dozens of participants arriving in buses from El Paso, Ft Worth and elsewhere.

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