By Jon Meyer

February 14, 2009
Family and friends of Luis Ramirez came together at Vine Street Community Park in Shenandoah on Valentine's Day for a vigil in his honor. Thursday marked the seven month anniversary of Ramirez's death. The illegal immigrant from Mexico was allegedly beaten to death last July by three teenagers. Those teenagers are now awaiting trial on murder and assault charges.

Also at the vigil, a group called Border Angels. The San Diego based group is on its way to Washington, D.C. to march for immigration reform. They stopped in Shenandoah to spread their message of tolerance.

"We know what happened here [in Shenandoah] is the exception, not the rule," Border Angels member Enrique Moronez told Newswatch 16. " This is a wonderful state, wonderful place, wonderful people. But we cannot have more cases like Luis Ramirez in Shenandoah."

Border Angels plans to be in the nation's capitol on Friday to push for changes to federal immigration laws.