CHARLOTTE, N.C., Sept. 7 (UPI) -- Ten young illegal immigrants arrested at a Charlotte, N.C., rally will be turned over to U.S. immigration authorities, police said.
The arrests came Tuesday as nearly 200 people blocked traffic near Central Central Piedmont Community College as they protested against policies they say discriminate against undocumented immigrants, The Charlotte Observer reported.
The protesters chanted "education, not deportation" and "undocumented and unafraid."
The Mecklenburg County Sheriff's Office said the illegal immigrants would be turned over to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
They were among 15 people arrested on charges of impeding traffic and disorderly conduct, police said. Two were also charged with violating a noise ordinance.
The N.C. Dream Team, a Raleigh-based group of students, most of whom live in the country illegally, organized the rally. Protesters called for passage of legislation that would give young people brought to the country illegally by their parents a path to legal immigrant status. The measure has failed in Congress.
A 25-year-old Carrboro woman spoke through a bullhorn at the rally.
"My name is Alicia Torres and I'm risking it all," she said. "Today is the day that I am coming out of the shadows and saying I exist. I am no longer going to be afraid. I am no longer going to wait around and watch my mom pray."
