A group of immigrant-rights advocates from Erie and Pittsburgh completed an eight-day, more than 100-mile march from the greater Pittsburgh area to the Moshannon Valley Processing Center.
It’s one of the largest immigration detention centers in the Northeast. For eight days, the group walked from town to town — covering more than 100 miles — hoping their presence alone would spark conversations about what immigrant families are facing here in Pennsylvania.
“As an immigrant, I believe that human dignity is the most important thing that we have, and I just wanted to be part of something bringing attention to this issue.” Carlos Mora, an organizer for Erie County United said.
Mora says the march was about connection — and making sure people along the route understood why they were there.
He says reactions along the way — both supportive and challenging — shaped the experience and reminded the group how much work still lies ahead.
For organizer Jaime Martinez of Frontline Dignity, the walk was designed to make the issue impossible to ignore.
“I wanted to highlight, again, the conditions of detention — how people are being trapped in their homes with human rights abuses, how they’re being separated from their families, and how they have very little decision-making power.” Jaime Martinez shared.
“Erie County Councilman Rock Copeland showed his support, saying it’s important for elected officials to listen when communities speak up about their concerns.” Stephanie Logue reported.
“In the communities that they’re walking through, like Cambria, those counties have agreements with ICE. I really wanted to demonstrate that there are alternative choices we can make.” Erie County Councilman Rock Copeland explained.
Martinez and Mora say that kind of attention is exactly what they hoped the march would bring.
“That we can act. We can call the Clearfield County commissioners. We can do everything in our power to protect our neighbors,” Martinez said.
“This is, of course, a country of opportunities and freedom — but also a country of human rights. And we need to obey and stand by those laws.” Mora added