[media-credit name=’JEFF SCHORFHEIDE/Herald photo’ align=’alignnone’ width=’648′][/media-credit]

Anti-war and civil rights groups gathered for a rally at the State Capitol Sunday afternoon to demand reformed immigration policies in the United States and to end the war in Iraq.

A Mariachi band, a hip-hop group, poets, protesters and speakers gathered at the first annual celebration of Indigenous People’s Day to express unity, protest deportations and express disapproval of Dane County Sheriff Dave Mahoney’s policies.

Similar rallies took place all over the country in a national day of resistance and solidarity among those affected by these policies.

Speakers urged about 70 listeners to “say no to the war at home, and no to the war abroad,” tying together activists pressing for immigrant rights, anti-war activists and community members simply concerned about their fellow Madisonians.

“Immigration is a very neglected topic in the [presidential] debates,” said Alex Gillis, rally organizer and secretary for the Immigrant Workers Union.

There are more than 12 million undocumented workers in the United States, according to the Pew Hispanic Center. While recent Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Department of Homeland Security raids have deported a large number of people, Congress has not passed comprehensive immigration reform.

Protesters were calling for additional dialogue and clearer positions on a solution to the immigration crisis from the presidential candidates.

“Government officials agree that there is a crisis, but no one can agree on how to fix it,” Gillis said. “We are asking our new leaders to commit to reform.”

The Progressive Dane student chapter, one of many student organizations present, came to the rally to protest the illegal immigrant raids in the United States, especially in Madison, and to object to Mahoney’s policies.

According to Gillis, Mahoney’s practice of notifying federal officials about the immigration status of detainees has stirred resentment and distrust with the police.

“Students really do care about what’s going on in the community,” said Adam Porton, a member of the Progressive Dane student chapter, in a speech at Sunday’s rally.

Porton said he is fully supportive of the families affected by what he called poor immigration policies.

“[Mahoney’s] policies only cause pain to immigrant families here in Madison,” Gillis said. “People are afraid to call the police. We’re asking Mahoney to get in with the community or get out.”

Gillis called on Mahoney to “respect the due process of every person in Dane County.” Mahoney could not be reached for comment; however, he has expressed that it is within rules and regulations to let ICE know about the status of his detainees. Even though he notifies the agency, it is up to them to decide how to respond.

“There are people from all over the world here; it’s what makes Madison so special,” said Sandra Rybachek, a rally supporter who works with immigrant families.

Rybachek added the current national and local policies not only violate human rights but are a detriment to the community.

“Families are broken up by these policies,” Rybachek said, pointing to an example from her work experience. “The dad goes to jail on a minor offence and gets deported, but the wife and children must stay behind.”