Local News in Brief : Deportation Issue

Expressing frustration with the actions of Congress and immigration authorities to prevent the separation of families under the new immigration law, a group of immigrants’ advocates vowed Monday to use “confrontational” methods to draw attention to the issue.

“We’re talking about sit-ins, demonstrations, blocking traffic . . . doing whatever is necessary to bring the issue to a head,” said Antonio Rodriguez of the East Los Angeles Immigration Project.

Last week Congress defeated an amendment that would have prohibited the Immigration and Naturalization Service from deporting close relatives of immigrants who qualify for amnesty. Local INS officials have said they will use their discretion to allow close relatives to remain in the country, but Rodriguez called for a national policy granting permanent residence to family members of amnesty recipients.