Boston, April 18 (RHC)-- In the United States, immigrants and their supporters from across New England blocked the entrance to a jail used to detain immigrants in Boston, protesting the Barack Obama administration’s record deportations, which have reached an estimated two million. Nineteen people were arrested while more than 150 others rallied to support them.

The protesters want Massachusetts lawmakers to approve a bill limiting cooperation with federal immigration authorities under the Secure Communities program. But speakers like Andres del Castillo targeted President Obama. Castillo said: "I direct that message directly to the President of the United States of America -- Barack Obama. To you, as the son of an immigrant, as the son of someone else that comes from a different land, you should know better than any that we deserve rights, that we deserve dignity, and you should be recognizing our families."

Family members of immigrants in detention or facing deportation have launched a hunger strike outside the White House as part of the protest campaign.