Arizona, Here We Come...NOT!
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Friday, April 23, 2010 was a day that will be remembered by many. On this day, Arizona Governor, Jan Brewer, signed into law bill SB 1070 – “Immigration; Law Enforcement; Safe Neighborhoods”.While the controversial law (which goes into effect sometime this summer) is written to require that lawful contact be made, law enforcement officers might stop any person with reasonable suspicion of being illegal and ask about their immigration status. If the person cannot produce documentation that would validate their legal status, they would be arrested.
Some are concerned that the Arizona law promotes racial profiling and division in communities. Others feel this was a necessary step to control the immigration problem in the state. Arizona, with an estimated 460,000 illegal immigrants has the busiest stretch of illegal crossings in the country.
The Executive Director of the American Civil Liberties Union of Arizona, Alessandra Soler Meetze, commented: "By signing this bill into law, Brewer has just authorized violating the rights of millions of people living and working here. She has just given every police agency in Arizona a mandate to harass anyone who looks or sounds foreign, while doing nothing to address the real problems we're facing."
President Obama has asked the Justice Department to investigate possible civil rights implications as he felt the law threatens to "undermine basic notions of fairness that we cherish as Americans, as well as the trust between police and their communities that is so crucial to keeping us safe…"
At the signing of the law, Governor Brewer, acknowledging the law being highly controversial, stated, “We in Arizona have been more than patient waiting for Washington to act”.
There is talk now in Washington to make immigration reform a priority both in the Senate and in the House.
Will Immigration Reform still happen this year? It might… One thing is for sure though; this debate will most probably continue to bring the best and the worst out in each of us.
No matter what happens, our summer vacation plans may not include Arizona this year… You know, I wouldn’t want to be stopped “while driving brown…”
I thank you for reading, and for your comments.
Orlando Gil
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That is a very interesting article. I can see how both sides feel. I read it and think that if I'm legal and not doing anything wrong, why should I care if they stop me and that they are working to fight for my safety as well, but...I'm also caucasion and don't feel like they would target me. If I were a hispanic man, would I feel the same way? I'm not sure I would. Again, I think if I weren't doing anything wrong, it should be no big deal, but I would get very tired of getting pulled over while driving just because of the way I looked.
This is a very controversial issue that I would not look forward to dealing with. I'm interested in hear what others think as well.
Matt,
Thank you for your comments!
We will certainly hear more about how people feel about this issue. What is interesting to me, is that some of the supporters of the law are Latinos themselves.
Thanks again,
Orlando
The news of Arizona's Bill 1070 passing seemed to coincide with the birth of my beautiful baby girl. I'm of European descent and my wife is Latina so I couldn't help but think how this type of trend in America could potentially have a negative impact on my daughter as she grows up. Regardless of any legistlation's best intentions, this type of law is bound to result in racism and racial profiling. Latinos (including those born from "mixed" marriages) will suffer a loss of their human rights in this "free" country as a result of this type of movement. It never ceases to amaze me how the media machine and US politics seem to focus more and more on "enforcement" when dealing with immigration and continously disregard other more realistic and rewarding alternatives. Passing legislation that helps bolstering real economic growth in the communities and countries from which the immigrants come, embracing meaningful immigration reform and having a less exploitative and more reality based guest worker program are just a few examples of efforts that could help guide us towards a more comprehensive and dignified grasp on immigration. The current approach, exemplified by this new legislation in Arizona, only creates a wider divide. I hope to see a lively, cross cultural and unified protest aimed at not only this new bill but more importantly, at the mind set behind the flawed reasoning that produced it.
Paul,
Thank you for your comments on this issue!
I think that as more and more Latinos integrate into society through "mixed" marriages, we'll continue to see changes in this country not only in how people look, but also in how people feel about immigrants; illegal or not. These changes will be felt within the family unit itself as well as in the extended family and friends.
My hope is that common sense will prevail. I expect this new law to be vetoed and thus set the wheels in motion at the Federal level for a comprenhensive Immigration Reform.
Thanks again!
Orlando
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