LOS ANGELES, Apr. 6, 2007 - Thousands [ANOTHER STORY SAID 10,000] of people marched through downtown on Saturday, demanding a pass to citizenship for the estimated 12 million illegal immigrants in this country and condemning President Bush for his recent proposal regarding legal residency.More than 3,000 people streamed down Broadway toward City Hall. Many carried signs saying "Amnesty Now," danced to Mexican ranchera music and passed large American flags over their heads. Organizers said many illegal immigrants were angry about a White House plan that would grant them work visas but require them to return home and pay thousands of dollars to become legal U.S. residents.
"Charging that much, Bush is going to be even more expensive than the coyotes," said protester Armando Garcia, 50, referring to smugglers who transport people across the Mexican border.
Garcia said he was in the U.S. legally but has several brothers here illegally.
Alfredo Gonzalez, 33, an illegal immigrant from Mexico, marched with his wife and daughters, ages 6 and 8. He said he fears the stepped-up immigration raids occurring across the country.
"If they kick me out, who is going to take care of my daughters? The government? I don't think so," he said. "We need full legalization and need it now."
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