Prayer vigil held in Orange for separated immigrant families

(FOX 11) - On Wednesday, a coalition of refugee and immigrants' rights groups held a public vigil in solidarity with separated families in detention centers and children held in camps as a result of the Trump administration's immigration policies. The solidarity action took place at the Theo Lacy Facility.

Maria Jimenez and her son Daniel live in Orange County. Maria's parents are illegal immigrants from Mexico. She is at the vigil for those children and families at the border because she says she empathizes with them.

"Yes, my parents come form Mexico. It's a scary process to leave your place to come to somewhere you don't know and try to make it happen and live the American Dream," said Jimenez.

Jessica Bravo rallied everyone in the crowd to take action. She is 23 and arrived in the United States from Mexico when she was three. She is temporarily protected by DACA, but like those children in the camps her future status is also unknown.

"It makes me think I could have been one of those children and it agitates me enough to make a call for action," said Bravo.

One call for action had a sweet sentiment. In east Hollywood a non profit - Southwest Key Programs - asked children to write welcoming letters and send teddy bears to the children being held in the camps.

President Trump signed the order Wednesday afternoon, ending the family-separation policy his administration instituted earlier this year.
Meaning children will stay in the arms of their parents - for now.

According to customs and border protection 420 families are crossing the Mexican border each day.
They will not be separated but where they will be housed is still in question.