It was a full morning today for John Kerry in Los Angeles, talking about the current immigration reform debate that has spurred rallies across the country for the past couple of weeks with more happening today in many major cities. After the event talking with healthcare workers and advocates at Clinica Romero, Kerry visited South L.A.’s new High School #1, where he spoke with 10th and 11th grade students and answered their questions (and questions from the MSM).

Kerry received a warm introduction by Congressman Xavier Becerra to the 32 students. Becerra, told the students that he felt it was important for them to “learn first hand about the immigration debate” and he was happy to have the opportunity for them to learn more from John Kerry, who was “not only a U.S. Senator but the former Democratic nominee for president.” Becerra also hinted at the possibility that Kerry could even be the next president.

After thanking Becerra for inviting him to speak with the students, John Kerry told them, “People look at Washington and say it looks broken. A lot of us inside say the same thing.”

Kerry referenced the recent high school walk outs here in Los Angeles and the importance of getting involved with a cause or an issue. He told the students that standing up for a cause is important but it’s also important to stay in school and prepare for their future. Kerry said, “It takes one person to stand up and make difference.” Like Rosa Parks, Kerry said, “She changed America by herself,” or Cesar Chavez, “he stood up and fought to make a difference.”

In a talk that covered a range of topics on the immigration issue, Kerry said that it’s important to “stay in touch with who we are as Americans,” including our humanitarian values. “I don’t believe we should be a country that separates families. We should be a nation that keeps families together.”

John Kerry told the students, “We’re going to fight for a good immigration bill,” and explained some of the differences between the various proposals that stalled in the Senate last Friday. One of the biggest problems, Kerry explained is the employers who hire the illegal workers. They promote a system that is unfair to the undocumented workers and unfair to America with a systematic breakdown that ranges from employers not paying taxes, to keeping wages low, to not offering benefits.

The students all listened with great interest as Kerry spoke. Having a teenage daughter myself, it was clear to see that each of them were eager to hear his input on this issue so important to their future here in America. When he was finished explaining the various aspects of the Senate proposals and the bill that passed the House recently, Kerry took questions from some of the students.

Juana, who’s parents came here illegally when she was 8 months old asked about how the Senate could help the undocumented students who want to go on to receive a higher education. Kerry applauded her courage in standing up and admitting that she was undocumented. Before answering her question, he asked about her family, and she said she had “one sister born here, who was a citizen.” Kerry said that was an example of “the need to keep families together.”

John Kerry explained the DREAM ACT to the students, to answer Juana’s question. The DREAM ACT would allow undocumented students to go to college and also provide documented status for those who serve in the military.

Another student asked if Kerry thought it was fair that students got tickets for walking out of school and protesting. I’m not certain if the student fully appreciated Kerry’s answer, as he explained to the student that when people participate in civil disobedience they expect to pay the consequences which is part of the process often for making a stand. To make his point, John Kerry talked about when he got arrested for protesting the Vietnam war, after he returned from serving in the Navy in Vietnam.

“Yes, it is correct,” he told the student, “to give a ticket to someone who makes a point.”

Kerry also questioned, “how do we make the law mean something in the future and be fair now?” That’s the great question in the immigration debate.

One student asked if Kerry were president if he would “accept immigrants.” John Kerry responded “Yes,” and explained that he supported the Kennedy-McCain bill, because he said, “I believe in a balance. Our borders do have to mean something, ladies and gentlemen. In the age of 9/11, it is important to know who’s crossing your borders.” CBS2 reports that Kerry said “he supports the immigration reform plan put forth by Republican Sens. Chuck Hagel of Nebraska and Mel Martinez of Florida.” That’s not what I heard him say.

Kerry also told the students before taking questions from the press, that he was against the Sensenbrenner bill from the House and would fight against it. That won a big round of applause from the students.

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Related News: KCAL 9 has a brief story and video – John Kerry Talks Immigration At South L.A. School

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