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Phoenix demonstrators speak out against immigration policies

The "Rally for Children" was organized by Democratic congressional hopeful Anita Malik, a daughter of Indian immigrants, who is running in Arizona's 6th District.

PHOENIX - President Trump's about-face on the controversial policy of separating migrant families didn't deter demonstrators in Phoenix this morning.

Roughly 100 people gathered Saturday near Tatum Boulevard and Thunderbird Road, angered over the president’s policies. The "Rally for Children" was organized by Anita Malik, a daughter of Indian immigrants, who is running for Congress in Arizona's 6th District.

“They’re just warehousing them. I demand better treatment for my dog,” said Victoria Coursey of Phoenix at the rally Saturday morning.

Earlier this week, the president was taking fire from all sides, criticized universally by Democrats and by some of the most prominent faces in his own party.

Trump eventually bowed to the pressure, saying that his wife and daughter were among those who urged him to change course.

“It’s about keeping families together, while at the same time being sure that we have a very powerful, very strong border,” the president said this week.

But at today’s rally, demonstrators say that isn’t enough.

They say they're upset over multiple aspects of the president’s immigration policies, from the border wall, to the prosecution of evert migrant who tries to enter.

“I know that we need, as everybody says, comprehensive immigration reform, but I think we also need to know that we are a country of immigrants,” said Gloria Trillo of Goodyear.

Malik, who hosted the event, is one of three Democrats trying to unseat incumbent Republican Congressman David Schweikert in the northeast Valley district.

Schweikert, who is seeking his fifth term is also facing a House Ethics Committee investigation after reports showed he paid his chief of staff more than five tme the congressional limit on outside income for a staffer. While the Office of Congressional Ethics determined there was substantial reason to believe ethics violations occurred, Schweikert describes the situation as a bookkeeping issue.

READ: Arizona Rep. David Schweikert faces ethics investigation

Malik says she thinks a Democrat will win the district, despite a large registration advantage by Republicans. Trump won the district by 10 points in 2016, while Mitt Romney won by 21 points in 2012.

“This district isn’t necessarily just a conservative red district," Malik said. "The independent registered voters in this district are the key. They’re the swing vote, ad we’ve been out there connecting with them."

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