WENATCHEE — With energy to spare and a clear awareness of what is at stake for themselves and their families, a state-wide tour group rolled into town Wednesday to speak in a common voice for immigration reform.

“Immigration is such a controversial issue,” said Alma Chacón, event cohost, as the Wenatchee Community Center filled around her with people of all ages, many waving signs in English or Spanish with sayings like “Keep families together,” and Ready for citizenship.”

“These are people who are going through the process of citizenship and have to leave the country for years, leaving their families here,” Chacón said. “Our message is keep the families united. Bring about reform that is just and humane.”

Immigrant-advocacy group One America is hosting the state-wide “Keep Washington Families Together Bus Tour,” one of several nationwide that will each travel five days and four nights around the country, picking up supporters as they go.

Washington is one of a handful of states with a “compact” in support for immigration reform. Supporters of the compact include the Washington Association of Business, the Washington Growers League, Orondo Cider Works, former Wenatchee Republican state legislator Dale Foreman and Stemilt Growers President West Mathison.

This state’s One America tour began Tuesday in Vancouver and headed through Seattle before arriving in Wenatchee for a rally that attracted about 120 people, including the travelers.

Wenatchee-based advocacy group Community for the Advancement of Family Education (CAFE) sponsored the tour visit. Chacón and her husband Jorge Chacón are both CAFE activists.

“I can’t think of anything more important than getting immigration reform for our families, our community and our country,” Wenatchee Mayor Frank Kuntz told the mostly Hispanic audience, who responded with cheers.

Karen Keleman, chair of Douglas County Democrats, called for a three-pronged reform that includes a pathway to citizenship, support for the Dream Act, which would grant temporary residency to some undocumented students, and a workable guest-worker program.

“If you are able, make sure you vote,” she told the crowd.

That was also the message of the group’s touring speaker, David Ayala, an immigration and labor activist originally from El Salvador.

“We are immigrants. We are Washington. We are America,” Ayala chanted in Spanish at the crowd, who responded with enthusiasm and sign waving.

“On Nov. 5, 2012, this country changed,” he said. “On that day the president of the United States was elected, and for the first time the vote of the immigrant, especially the Hispanic immigrant, was key to the election outcome.”

He added, “Many people in this country didn’t think we ever voted. After Nov. 5, 2012, they knew differently.”

Several members of the audience told personal stories of how they struggled after their illegal arrival in the U.S. and anguish over having to leave their families here when they were arrested and deported.

Their experience were part of the rally goal of raising awareness of the need for reform and calling for it to happen this year.

From here the tour headed on to Richland, Yakima and, finally, Walla Walla to participate in a four-state rally.

Christine Pratt: 665-1173

pratt@wenatcheeworld.com