Recently, a coalition of organizations called on the immigrant community to participate in a “National Day of Disobedience” to reject the bill HR 4437, which is before Congress. The bill mandates the construction of a wall along the entire U.S. border with Mexico, criminalizes immigration, and punishes the organizations that support it.

During a press conference in New York City, the International Immigrants’ Foundation and other organizations called for immigrant workers to stay away from their jobs on the first day of each month to protest against the proposed law.

“We call on immigrants to stay home and to buy nothing, as well as day laborers not to gather on their street corners. Let’s see how contractors and businesses that depend on these workers handle the situation,” said Eduardo Juárez, president of the International Immigrants Foundation.

The intention of this protest, added Juárez, is to command the attention of elected officials, “so they’ll do something for the immigrants.”

Alredo Placeres, president of the New York State Chamber of Commerce, pointed out that HR 4437, sponsored by Congressmen James Sensenbrenner (R-WI) and Peter King (R-NY), would affect the state’s economy and immigrants’ rights.

José Richards, director of Sons and Daughters, criticized the lack of attention paid to a law “that at no point offers amnesty to undocumented immigrants.”