There must be something in the water at the state government buildings in Phoenix. First they resisted recognizing Martin Luther King Jr. Day for seven years, and now they have passed SB 1070 into law; clearly there are some issues with respecting civil rights. The bill requires police to ask questions about immigration status and demand proof through official papers and identification if they have ‘reasonable suspicion’ that a person is in Arizona illegally; if you aren’t carrying or can’t produce the proper documents you can be arrested and given six months in jail or up to $2,500 in fines. True, here in Ohio we have our own version of a xenophobic, anti-immigrant bill in the form of SB 35, that would train state police to enforce federal immigration law, which at the moment is thankfully stuck in the House and it is unlikely that Gov. Strickland would sign it. The new Arizona law, the Ohio bill and any other similar legislation lurking in U.S. state capitols are signs that the current immigration system is not working and needs to be fixed by the federal government.
The loose wording of the Arizona law leaves the door wide open for racial profiling and civil rights violations, making the undocumented population, and the Latino community as a whole, less safe because people will be less able and willing to report crimes to the police, which will make them more vulnerable to violence and exploitation. The Arizona School Board even released a statement that they were concerned about the effect this would have on students, because even documented students could be too fearful to continue attending if they believe it would put their family members at risk. This will not solve any issues for Arizona – immigration or border-related – it simply serves to terrorize anyone who doesn’t look sufficiently ‘American’ (read: white) or has the wrong accent. Lawsuits and organizing efforts inside Arizona and out must continue to repeal this before the law takes effect.
The Ohio Bill, SB 35, would expand a model already being implemented here in Butler County. In 2007 Sheriff Richard Jones had the deputies trained by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to enforce federal immigration law, justified by an influx of both documented and undocumented, mainly Hispanic, immigrants to the area. Jones has been in the national spotlight a few times in recent years calling for stronger immigration laws and demanding federal reimbursement for the cost of jailing all the undocumented workers awaiting deportation. Last week Jones and the county settled a lawsuit for $100,000 with a construction site worker who was illegally interrogated about his immigration status and later deported; it seems the case was settled rather than taken to trial to avoid setting a legal precedent against similar workplace interrogations in the future.
Enforcement of existing immigration law at the state level will not resolve the growing conflict on immigration, it will only exacerbate it. Immigrants come here in search of the American dream, in many cases cutting themselves off from everything they’ve ever known in order to send money home to make a better life for their families; I’ve seen entire villages in rural Oaxaca, Mexico being supported by family members that had crossed illegally into the U.S. and met families in Guatemala and Nicaragua who have done the same, never knowing when or if they’ll be able to see their loved one again. I’ve met undocumented workers in the U.S. who haven’t seen their families back home in decades for fear they won’t be able to make it back across the border, but each day must worry about being caught and deported, being forced to leave behind their U.S.-born children. Current policy keeps families apart and makes legal immigration impossible for many to navigate; policy needs to change on the national level rather than through state-by-state laws designed to chase both documented and undocumented immigrants out.
Reform supporters’ escalating actions across the country, to protest the passage of Arizona’s SB 1070 and demand President Obama move immigration reform to the forefront, has gathered a lot of attention and continues to increase pressure.
The pressure has had an impact, but this past weekend in D.C. meant that members of the Senate were playing paper, rock, scissors to decide if it would be immigration reform or climate change up for debate before the summer recess, rather than coming to an agreement on how to adequately debate and pass bills on both issues that have broad public support. Immigration reform activists are staying active with a round of May Day demonstrations planned around the country this Saturday, take to the streets and show your support so we can have the real immigration reform that is needed.
For more action ideas, check out this post by Eryn-Ashlei Bailey
Other articles by this author:
Fifteen Years After Oklahoma City, Stop History from Repeating
A Weekend of Health Care, Peace and Immigration Reform
The Surge of Death in Afghanistan
Miranda is an organizer and free radical for peace and justice. Community-building and social movements are her favorite topics to discuss and engage in.
Children are Watching
by stopdainsanity2
When I entered kindergarten – I was put into a class for the mentally retarded. Because my skin was brown my teacher assumed I did not speak English and required special bilingual support which was not available at the time. Yes – I was a Mexican-American citizen child AND I spoke English.
It literally took 2 weeks for my parents to force the school to place me in the mainstream kindergarten class — even though I could respond to questions in English. At the time if was easier for frustrated- overworked teachers (not bad people) to send me to the special needs class – no questions asked – based on my skin color. Although the error was corrected, as a child I never lost the feeling I was not welcomed and somehow my rights as a citizen were not equal to those of white americans. Be careful – children are watching.
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what part of illegal do you not understand?
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men you know what fuck illegal way we are PROUD MEXICANS AND ARE HEAR TO WORK
HEAR ALL THIS STUPID IMATURE NONSENCE SO REALLY REALLY FUCK WHAT YOU THINK SORRY THE WORDS BUT SORRY YOU DONT GET MY RESPECT.
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you got my respect.
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What part of illegal are you having trouble understanding?
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You can kiss my mexican ass.. it was our country first, we work hard while you lazy fucks sit back on your “throne” and kik back. It’s aint fair to any of us. We’re created equal and this is what fucking different rece does to us is fuck with our mind. Well FUCK YOU!
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AllGov – Department of Homeland Security – U.S. Immigration and …. Dec 30, 2010 . U.S. Citizens Locked up as Illegal Immigrants (by Suzanne Gamboa, Associated Press) . This office was rseponsible for admitting, rejecting and processing . Under the leadership of Assistant Secretary Julie Myers, ..Organizational Leadership in Socially Responsible Corporations …. Apr 13, 2010 . Examples of implementing leadership and organizational change to . child labor , or hiring illegal aliens, are generally detrimental to the ..State and Federal Immigration Policy Challenges Republicans and …. But as the economy has soured, illegal immigration has flowed back into the mainstream of . That’s one reason why Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid is openly promoting a . “States and locals are rseponsible for immigrants.”) ..Senator Joe Scarnati – Pennsylvania’s 25th District-Press Releases. November 17, 2010 – Scarnati Re-Elected to Top Leadership Post . March 24, 2009 – Scarnati’s Bill on Illegal Aliens Goes to Full Senate . June 20, 2007 – Scarnati: Senate Passes Responsible Budget ..Soro’s Responsible for Widespread Election Fraud, Illegal Aliens …. Nov 12, 2010 . Soro’s Responsible for Widespread Election Fraud, Illegal Aliens and . After George Soros has installed his annointed leader, it’s time to ..San Juan Parents Lobby for Tax Extensions, Education Spending …. Jun 2, 2011 . It may be time to replace GOP leadership in Orange County that does not . and school workers all depend on his rseponsible leadership. . The plan to offer illegal aliens in state tuition has nothing to do with the ..
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Kat I find it hilarious that as the proud American that you clearly are, you never bothered to learn to spell grammatically correct. You sound like an idiot preaching in broken and miss used English. Maybe the Mexican above can teach you to write.
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Sara, I completely agree. Kat, is perhaps one of the [white] so-called Americans within my classroom that claim to be a hard working American, living of their parent’s salary that is over inflated because they are [white] however, choose to get high behind the Phys. Ed building or the one that decides they are privileged in such a way that they do not have to earn anyone else’s respect! However, I do agree that it SHOULD be the American way to work hard, but how can you preach this when some all we hear are how the undocumented immigrants are taking American jobs and have come here illegally? If this country really wants to get rid of undocumented immigrants, they need to go after EMPLOYERS that continue to hire them!!! And who are they? drum roll please…WHITES! So don’t come down on the American citizens who are born here or brought here, they [I] have every right to be here without an over-egotistical police officer asking me for my [documents] because I look very Latina. And don’t get me started on COMING to this country legally! My sister-in-law was brought to this country legally and during her stay, her parents attempted to get her her legal residency, however, through years of back and forth with the U.S. Immigration…I did say years, and lots of money later, she finally received her legal doc. She came right after birth, was raised, attended and graduated K-12 and then turned 18 years old. SHe had never left this country for fear that she wouldn’t be able to come back, however, the Am. consulate sent her a letter to pick up [green card] only to get there and be DENIED! She was fined $500 and was made to stay in Mexico, a place she had never visited, for 15 months! She is now 20 years old and now…NOW has her resident alien card. 20 YEARS TO BECOME A LEGAL CITIZEN when her parents DID IT, AS YOU SAY, “THE RIGHT WAY!” Here’s what I think of that-shame on you to judge anyone, that is GOD’S job!
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okay yes is true we Mexican (latinos) come to the united states the illegal way but what you dont know is that every latino that is in your country is working their a** off.I understand that we have a country of our own but we have more oppurtunities over here we are not hurting anyone and thats not our intenssion to but we are hear wether you like it or not and i as a proud MEXICAN i have my rights to speak my mind and not the idiot kat or whatever you are is going to take that away from me and your words on here dont matter because we latinos are united and we are going to be able to beat this law. When i first came to the united states you might think that i stayed with a family member but guess what NOPE i was braught in a home of WHITE PEOPLE they were the best and am very thankful for that because they made me feel like if i was in my country so keep that in mind that if you were in our shoes you wouldnt be saying all this you are saying so think before you open your mouth to say idiotic things.
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Yes it is true that you work your a** off .But I have worked my A**off all my life in this country, but the so called rich people have sold the American worker out and so has the federal goverment by not upholding the immigration laws. What gives you the right to any of the fruits of this country when you are ILLEGAL!! If we invaded your country like you’ve invaded ours we would be put in your jails because that is your laws!!The American People are tired of losing there jobs that they once worked thier A** off for too !!!!! The American workers are tired of sitting at home and not being able to put FOOD on there tables ,while you get fatter and fatter. There is not enough work in this country for ya’ll to keep coming here illegaly!! You can call me a raciest or what ever you want. But it has nothing to do with your race .YOU ARE BREAKING THE LAW !!!!!
Sign
A ONCE APON A TIME A HARD WORKING AMERICAN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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you can suck the governments di** then. AMERICANO. hahaha FUCKKKK A RASICT ASS AMERICAN. I’LL SHOOT YOUR HATING ASS IF I EVER SEE YOU. THAT AINT A THREAT ITS A FUCKING PROMISE
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The point is that current legal routes of immigration are insufficient for both those seeking to immigrate and the demand for these workers by U.S. businesses. Many immigrants would prefer to be here with proper paperwork, even with only temporary status, but current law and quotas make it nearly impossible.
Being undocumented makes you extremely vulnerable to violence and exploitation, but those who continue to come do it because there is demand for their labor, they do it for their families and because there are not enough livable wage jobs open to them.
Blaming the immigrants while turning a blind eye to all the profit made off their efforts by U.S. companies that hire them is ridiculous. Arizona’s effort focuses again on the immigrants, who are imprisoned and deported when caught, while companies or individuals who hire them receive a nominal fine (if any punishment at all). Furthermore there is no such thing as legitimate free trade without free flow of labor across borders, otherwise corporations continue to move to countries with the weakest labor rights laws to expand their profit margin and workers continue the race to the bottom.
There are reasonable arguments to be made for all sides, responding with vitriol and rhetoric doesn’t resolve anything.
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Arizona can kiss my ass cause once they don’t have any undocumented immigrants doing the dirty work, low pay, no holiday or sick leave jobs…they will be regretting their so called immigration law…
immigrants do not take american jobs….
they take the jobs that nobody else wants..
NOT EVEN THE CRACKERS BY THE HIGH WAYS WITH SIGNS BEGGING FOR MONEY WILL TAKE THE HARD LABOR THAT IMMIGRANTS DO…WHY??? BECAUSE THEY ARE LAZY!
I UNDERSTAND CRACKING DOWN THE IMMIGRANTS WHO ARE VIOLATERS AND DRUG DEALERS…BUT HONESTKY IT IS SO HARD FOR IMMIGRANTS TO BECOME CITIZENS THE right way…
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Isn’t this law basically a copy of existing federal law? Obviously the people of Arizona are alarmed at the rate of illegal immigrants that are spilling over their border with Mexico into the state. So what are they to do? Just sit back while the whole state implodes? It is clear the feds have no intention of honoring their duty to secure the border. So Arizona has to take these measures. It is a sad situation all around.
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Blaming the immigrants while turning a blind eye to all the profit made off their efforts by U.S. companies that hire them is ridiculous. Arizona’s effort focuses again on the immigrants, who are imprisoned and deported when caught, while companies or individuals who hire them receive a nominal fine (if any punishment at all).
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Joe,
Perhaps our ancestors should answer that question. There is no difference between pale faces taking over this country way back when and what “illegal immigrants” are trying to do now. Because it happened so long ago does not make it any different from what is happening now, and it does not make it “OK” that this country was stolen from the Natives. Mexico had stock in this land, until it was ripped away, if I do recall…
People, open your minds and stop with the ignorance. Stop fighting rationalization with dead and irrational “logic”. If you don’t like it, go back to where you(r ancestors) came from.
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The only rightful people in this country are the native Americans. Whites go back to Europe because you don’t own anything, all you do is steal, kill and oppress!
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illegal is illegal, hint the word illegal. it’s not employment, healthcare, or anything other than what’s the key word? ILLEGAL! people keep turning it into this whole discrimination thing. AMERICA IS NOT RACIST. america is made up multiple ethnic groups, no denying there are racist people but that’s not what the immigration law is about. why is it that everytime there is a group of people and a disagreement flares up someone ALWAYS has to point a finger to call someone racist or turn it into a race matter forgetting the main focus. you cant commit a crime and try to justify it. i cant break into someone’s home and when the cops come say well i cant afford food then riot and play the race card, no! you take the cons with your pros and stand by your decisions, you do something illegal you suffer the consenquences according to law laid down by the government thats the american way, WELCOME TO AMERICA! now, go back to your country and try again the correct way. the problem is not people being here, it’s the route they choose to take. don’t cheat yourself and your family through life, you fuck yourselves in the end.
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and i personally agree with how the native americans origionally had this land people should be able to go where they want but in reality, unfortunatly life is just not like that anymore so… i just think people should stop breaking the laws.
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All you bleeding hearts! What part of illegal don’t you understand? Why is it if we stand up for our country, we are called racist? Please if that what you want to call me, so be it. But I am not for a pathway to citizenship for any of you. Why can’t you do it the right way? And so what if it is hard to become a citizen, a lot of other people have had to do it the legal way, what makes you think you are better? And I don’t care who came here first, last or in between, we are living in the “NOW” and we are a country of laws. I don’t know any county you can just walk into and demand your rights. This is insane. I do agree that they should go after the people that hire the illegals, slap a big fine on them, and if they continue to hire illegals, they should lose their businesses PERIOD! And another thing, I doubt the 14th Amenment was talking about illegals in the first place, and I am behind whoever wants to change that. I don’t care if you are born here or not, if your parents are illegal, then as far as I am concerned, you are not a citizen of the USA. And if any of you should get deported, I have an idea, why not take your children back with you, that way no one would be seprating families. I don’t feel sorry for any of you, when there are millions of “AMERICANS” without jobs, and so many losing or have lost their homes. You have drained our resouces dry, always wanting more and more. And please your tried line that you do the work we “AMERICANS” will not do. We hard working “AMERICANS” have been doing those jobs for many,many years. We are not afraid to get our hands dirty. And no we are not kids of rich people. We are hard working “AMERICANS” grant it those rich people might need you, but us hard working “AMERICANS” don’t. I don’t need you to do the jobs I can do, or to clean my house, or babysit my kids or do my yard work I can do it myself, just like I have been doing for years and years. All of you bleeding hearts better wake up before we don’t have a country anymore.
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