La nueva ley autoriza a la policía a exigir “papeles” a personas sospechosas de estar indocumentada en el país. El juez federal Thomas Thrash, de la Corte de Distrito Norte de Georgia revisó en una audiencia la demanda que fue interpuesta por organizaciones defensoras de los derechos civiles y apoyada con mociones de México y otros países, para que se suspenda la entrada en vigor del estatuto, mientras se analiza su inconstitucionalidad.
La Ley HB87, promulgada el pasado 13 de mayo por el gobernador de Georgia, Nathan Deal, crea un agresivo marco legal para desalentar la inmigración ilegal en esa entidad, siguiendo el ejemplo de la SB1070 de Arizona.
La HB87, autoriza a las policías locales cuestionar a cualquier persona sobre su estatus migratorio cuando exista alguna “causa probable”, como una violación de tránsito u otra infracción que dé pie a indagar al sospechoso.
La nueva norma habilita también a los agentes de policía a detener a quien encuentren en violación de las leyes de inmigración y conducir a los indocumentados en calidad de arrestados a las cárceles estatales o federales.
La medida también establece nuevos requerimientos para la contratación de empleados y fija sanciones a quienes sean sorprendidos transportando o albergando inmigrantes indocumentados, sin importar si la persona es un hermano, un padre o un hijo.
La Unión Americana de Libertades Civiles (ACLU) y el Centro Legal para la Pobreza del Sur, interpusieron el pasado ocho de junio, una demanda contra la ley, argumentando su inconstitucionalidad y pidieron al juez suspender de manera temporal la entrada en vigor del estatuto, en tanto decide sobre la validez constitucional de la ley.
La demanda fue apoyada luego por México que presentó ante la Corte un escrito de “Amigo de la Corte” (Amicus Curiae) al que se sumaron los gobiernos de Argentina, Brasil, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua y Perú.
El juez Thrash revisó en una audiencia de poco más de una hora, los argumentos de los grupos de derechos ...
]]>Y si lo hacemos, estoy seguro de que podemos encontrar un terreno común», explicó en el Monumento Nacional El Chamizal en El Paso. «Nos encontramos en la frontera porque también reconocemos que ser una nación de inmigrantes conlleva ser un Estado de Derecho. Ese también es nuestro patrimonio. Esto también es importante», indicó el presidente, a pesar de que los hispanos son considerados en Estados Unidos ciudadanos de segunda clase.
Obama necesita repetir este discurso en otros lugares, presionar a los congresistas –incluidos los de su propio partido- y presentar un plan viable para regularizar la situación de los inmigrantes indocumentados, que representan alrededor del 5% de la fuerza trabajadora en Estados Unidos. Llenan las cocinas de los restaurantes, son la fuerza de los servicios domésticos y levantan los edificios de las grandes ciudades. Sin ellos metrópolis como Nueva York, Los Ángeles o Chicago serían inviables. «A veces ha habido temor y resentimiento hacia los recién llegados, especialmente durante períodos de dificultad económica. Y ya que estos asuntos afectan profundamente nuestras convicciones, los debates a menudo suscitan emociones fuertes», se justificó Obama, que ha retrasado el asunto de la reforma migratoria en su agenda política.
Cuando llegó a la Casa Blanca su equipo aseguró que no abordarían esta cuestión hasta el tercer año de legislatura, pero, la iniciativa sanitaria y recuperación económica hicieron que Obama sacase de su lista de prioridades la cuestión de los inmigrantes en Estados Unidos. El presidente no quiso asumir la responsabilidad de que aún no se haya regularizado la situación de los casi 11 millones de indocumentados que viven en el país. «Hemos visto muchas acusaciones, mucha “politiquería” y mucha retórica mordaz en torno a la inmigración», recordó. «La medida más importante que podemos tomar ahora para resguardar las fronteras es reestructurar todo el sistema para que menos personas tengan el incentivo de ingresar ilegalmente en busca de trabajo», indicó en El Paso, a pocos metros de México. Finalmente, quedó sin abordar el gran problema de esa parte de la frontera: la guerra contra el narcotráfico en la que han muerto miles de personas.
]]>¡Así pues, El Miembro del Congreso Lou Barletta, se adelanta abajo!
El alcalde anterior de Hazleton está llevando su lucha contra la inmigración ilegal la etapa nacional, ofreciendo una cuenta que negaría la financiación federal a las ciudades del santuario -- un término para las ciudades que no hacen cumplir leyes federales de la inmigración, nuestro colega de Washington, Colby Itkowitz, informes esta mañana.
Hay más de 100 ciudades del santuario en Pennsylvania. Prima agregada: Alcalde Michael Nutter ha declarado Philadelphia una.
El Republicano del estudiante de primer año, que representa condados del carbón y de Monroe, también ha pedido el servicio de investigación del congreso para calcular cuánto recibe cada ciudad en dólares de pagador de impuestos federales.
"La gente me envió aquí el año pasado para fijar Washington, ella me envió aquí para fijar nuestro sistema quebrado, " Barletta dijo. " Los cargos electos locales que eligen no hacer caso de la aplicación de la política en materia de inmigración federal son de ayuda y de ayuda del " de los inmigrantes ilegales…"
Así pues, Miembro del Congreso Barletta, este manana' s que cuece la placa al vapor de los rancheros de los huevos con un lado de la salsa y un vidrio alto de DoS Equis está apenas para usted.
Después de todo, es trabajo duro que sube con una tan enorme pérdida de tiempo.
]]>Buscando asilo showcases the poignant testimonials of people that are living through this nightmarish reality, among them the case of journalist Emilio Gutiérrez Soto of El Diario del Noroeste de Chihuahua, who fled Mexico after receiving repeated death threats directed at himself and his family. The one hour special features the opinions of immigration attorneys, activists and experts, which shed light on the current process of political asylum and on the recent changes to the laws under President Obama’s administration.
The documentary also highlights the journalistic work and experiences of Eduardo Urrutia, cameraman for Ciudad Juarez Channel 44, who in recent years reported on more than 2 thousand homicides. Through his anecdotes viewers will able to comprehend the true state of a city besieged by violence and why for many the only solution is to flee.
“I have been witness to numerous beheadings, hangings from bridges, men wearing pig’s masks. I have seen men without faces, groups of people murdered, mutilated and tortured,” states Urrutia.
Buscando asilo is an original production by Discovery en Español under the direction of Michela Giorelli and Irune Ariztoy, with the assistance of Anima Films, under the direction of Matías Gueilburt and Sebastián Gamba.
]]>Rep. Dana Rohrabacher, a Republican whose district includes Catalina Island, said handing out matricular cards will exacerbate an already dangerous situation.
"Handing out matricular cards to Mexicans who are not in this country legally is wrong no matter where it's done," he said. "But on Catalina it will do more damage. It's a small island but there's evidence it's being used as a portal for illegals to access mainland California."
Rohrabacher added, "If there were a large number of Americans illegally in Mexico and the U.S. consulate was making it easier for them to stay, Mexico would never permit it."
Mexican officials with the consular office in Los Angeles could not be reached immediately for comment. The matricular consular identification card, is issued by the Mexican government to Mexican nationals residing outside the country, regardless of immigration status. The purpose is to provide identification for opening bank accounts and obtaining other services. But the cards are usually used to skirt U.S. immigration laws, since Mexicans in the country legally have documents proving that status, Immigration and Customs Enforcement officials said.
In 2004 testimony to the Senate Judiciary Committee, FBI officials called the card an unreliable form of identification. The agency said that Mexico lacks a centralized database for them, which could lead to forgery, duplication, and other forms of abuse.
Officers with the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement said their agency was asked by Mexican officials not to enforce U.S. immigration laws on the island while the cards were being issued.
"It amazes me every time that the Mexican government has the gall to tell us what to do," said an ICE official, who asked not to be named. "More surprisingly is how many times we stand by and let them. This is just an example of one of hundreds of requests we've had to deal with."
In April, Los Angeles County sheriff's deputies seized a boat carrying large quantities of marijuana and detained three Mexican nationals who said they were being smuggled into the United States.
]]>"There is no way this law could be enforced," said Sharpton, "without profiling people based on whether they are Latino or appear to be Mexican...You can amend it. You can bend it. You can do everything you want to with it.
]]> "To say that based on reasonable suspicion, state law enforcement can go after people based on Mexican immigration is to say that it is reasonable to look at anyone that appears Latino and subject them to a harassment and a scrutiny that other citizens in Arizona would not be subjected to."One reporter asked Sharpton to respond to statements supposedly made by Governor Jan Brewer to the effect that that Sharpton had not read SB 1070 and should butt out of Arizona's business, the Reverend had this reply:
"I'm very flattered that [the governor] knows what I have read. Not only have I read the bill, I've read the Bible. And the Bible says that where you are in need, you are called to the ministry, you should be there...I would not presume to know what the governor's read. I don't know how she knows what I've read."
I had not heard these statements by Brewer, but if true, they would be an eerie reminder of the segregationists during the civil rights movement, who called activists such as Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., "outside agitators" and "communists," as was common back then.
Unlike actor Danny Glover, who appeared with Mayor Phil Gordon earlier in the day, Sharpton said he fully backed a boycott of Arizona.
"I do support a boycott," he said. "Because I think it would be wrong to help to finance and subsidize racism. And that's what would happen if this bill goes into effect. I intend tonight at the rally to say that the next rally that I participate in will be in front of the Major League Baseball offices asking Commissioner Selig that they not bring the All-Star Game here [in 2011]."
Queried about the possible impact of a boycott on the poor, Sharpton derided the hypocrisy of those raising the issue.
"Those that are concerned about low-wage workers and undocumented immigrants would not want the profiled," he replied. "So rather than wait [to find out] if a boycott would hurt them, why would you propose making sure they're hurt now with a law? It seems hypocritical to me [for critics of a boycott] to say we're concerned about the people that we're going to absolutely rob...of their rights."
At one point, Maricopa County Supervisor Mary Rose Wilcox presented Sharpton with a "Los Suns" jersey that the Suns will be wearing tonight in their game against the Spurs, thus honoring the Latino people and showing solidarity with them.
Sharpton said he would wear the jersey during the upcoming march.
"I'm not on the team," he cracked. "But we're on the same side tonight."
]]>Sharpton, in a speech to an overflow crowd at the Pilgrim Rest Baptist Church, said the first effort will be to overturn the law, known as SB 1070, set to take effect on July 29. It requires police to question those who they have reasonable suspicion are illegal immigrants. And opponents of the law are asking President Obama to reassert the federal government's exclusive authority to regulate who can come into the U.S.
]]> "But I want you to know tonight that if those challenges don't stop this law, if the federal government will not intervene … then I want you to know that from all over this country we will bring people into Arizona," he told the crowd just ahead of a candlelight march on the Capitol."We will bring them in the spirit of the Freedom Riders," referring to multi-ethnic, religious and racial groups that descended on the South in the segregation era. He said they will walk the streets of Phoenix arm in arm.
"And if you lock up one, you'll have to lock us all up," he said.
Sharpton said the very nature of the law will lead to racial profiling, despite statements by Gov. Jan Brewer and other supporters that is not allowed and will not be tolerated. And he said those who are not Latino should not believe this is not their fight.
"If they do to Latinos today, they'll do it to your group tomorrow," he said. "If you open the door to a double standard for anybody, you open the door to a double standard for everybody."
And Sharpton had a special message for blacks who made up a large part of the audience.
"Let me tell you something: After dark, we all look Mexican riding down the street," he said.
Sharpton specifically chided Brewer, who has said those who criticize the bill have not read it. He said he had. But he said he also has read the Constitution and the Bible, suggesting they trump the statute.
Nor did he believe that, as someone not from Arizona, what is happening here is not his business. "When I came to … one of the spas and get a massage and tan - even though I was already tan - they told me, 'Welcome to Arizona,' " Sharpton said.
"But when I came in today, because they're trying to sanitize and legalize racial profiling, they tell me to mind my own business," he continued. "So let me get this right: If I want to give you my money, I'm welcome."
Brewer press aide Paul Senseman did not return calls seeking a response.
]]>The answer is that we are going to conduct a mega rally in Phoenix, Arizona on Saturday June 5.
Comprehensive Immigration Reform Amnesty legislation must be stopped and now it is time for our movement to step up, take the lead, and do what we did in 2006 and 2007, when we stopped AMNESTY before. Our experience and success at stopping bad legislation coming out of DC, combined with the protest energy of the Tea Party movement, should prove to be a successful combination, if properly structured.
Dan Smeriglio of Voice of the People USA has the ball rolling and several groups and organizations are already signing up with us. We have been talking with and working with Dan and many other leaders preparing for this national effort.
If your favorite immigration enforcement movement or Tea Party Movement group would like to be a part of our efforts on June 5, please write to WilliamG@alipac.usThis e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it and include your name, address, phone number, leadership position, and group name.
We are going to need groups, activists, and leaders to help us bring caravans and buses in from other states into Phoenix on June 5.
We will also need help using our website at www.AgainstAmnesty.com to arrange more rallies June 5 through June 13 in 49 state capitals across America. People can begin signing up to support this at www.AgainstAmnesty.com as we adjust the site for this new effort.
The Phoenix event on June 5 will be the kick off for the other state efforts and a week long effort called "Shop In Arizona".
]]>The most frequent criticism of SB1070 is that it will empower police to challenge the legal presence of all Hispanics, legal and illegal, based solely upon their appearance. This is untrue. SB1070 only directs police officers to question someone when they have “reasonable suspicion” to believe that the person is in the U.S. illegally. This provision merely extends a half-century old U.S. Supreme Court created tool called “stop and question” to immigration offenses. To prevent racial profiling, the law states that in constructing “reasonable suspicion,” police officers “may not solely consider race, color or national origin.”
Based upon input from police chiefs and detectives, changes were made to SB1070 to correct other potential problems. Police officers are only required to make “reasonable” legal presence inquiries “when practicable,” so that officers will be free to prioritize their time. No officer will have to question an immigration suspect while a bank is being robbed down the street. Likewise, no questioning is required when it would “hinder or obstruct an investigation,” so that the police do not have to question all crime victims and witnesses about their immigration status.
Another argument made against SB1070 is that it illegally preempts federal immigration law. But we are not preempting federal law — we are incorporating and enforcing it. If anybody is preempting federal law, it’s the municipalities that have instituted “sanctuary city” policies that prohibit their police officers from even reporting illegal immigrants to federal authorities. SB1070 prohibits sanctuary city policies within Arizona.
Nor does the new law require residents to carry identification papers. This mistaken belief stems from a provision in the law that creates a presumption of legal presence, if a person presents specified forms of government issued identification. As with all law, the burden of proof rests with the police officer. If the officer’s questioning does not elevate the information level from reasonable suspicion to probable cause, the suspect walks. Failing to present identification papers is not grounds to arrest, unless the suspect admits to non-citizen status because federal law requires the carrying of such documents by non-citizens.
The bottom line is that the Bush administration dropped the ball on border security and internal immigration enforcement and the Obama administration cannot even find it. The primary responsibility of government is to protect its citizens and illegal immigration poses a growing threat to safety. Until such time as the federal government secures the border and adequately enforces immigration laws internally, Arizona will have no choice but to protect its citizens.
State Rep. John Kavanagh is a Republican representing District 8 (Scottsdale, Fountain Hills and Rio Verde). He is also chairman of the House Appropriations Committee.
]]>Arizona Immigration Law SB1070 2010 and American Debates Abound. Both Americans and Immigrants alike have conflicting views of the recently passed Arizona Immigration law. The law makes it a criminal offense to travel through or live in Arizona as an undocumented alien. There are many within Arizona who applaud the law, hoping that the threat of being arrested would be enough to deter some of the illegal immigrants who filter in to the country.
]]> A popular argument on comments of our older posts center around whether or not illegal immigrants are, indeed, contributors to society. Some claim that they put too much strain on our already overburdened social system.Others claim that illegals pay sales tax and other taxes, and therefore contribute to society.
Again this is a heated debate. We aren’t going to take sides but we are intrigued with various arguments.
These are likely the very same arguments that are resonating on capital hill. Do we secure our borders, even if it means we anger a demographic? Do we try to please everyone? Do we anger Americans and repeal the Arizona law?
The text of SB 1070 explains that a police officer or law enforcement cannot stop someone solely to ask them for identification. The only time someone can be questioned is if they are involved in a situation where law enforcement responds.
Still yet, claims exist that indicate that some feel police will ignore the provisions of the bill and profile people based on race.
Another thing to remember about the bill is that it covers ALL immigrants, not just those of Hispanic descent.
What do you think about the SB1070 Arizona Immigration Law? Abogados Inmigracion
]]>SB 1070 requires police to question people about their immigration status if they have “reasonable suspicion” they are illegal immigrants.
Goode said the law reminds of him of state’s rights laws in the 1950s and 60s that permitted segregated schools and workplace discrimination against minorities.
“We're entitled to equal protection under the constitution,” said Goode. "We're not getting that kind of protection if we belong to certain groups of people in the country.”
As Rev. Al Sharpton led a march to the state capitol Wednesday, Goode watched from his front lawn in Phoenix.
He said he is encouraged by protests against the law and hopes they will encourage the federal government to address illegal immigration.
Goode was the second African-American elected to Phoenix City Council.
He served 22 years on the council, where he helped pass a city ordinance to ban workplace discrimination against minorities and an ordinance declaring Phoenix would observe the Martin Luther King Jr. holiday.
]]>While some argue that they take the jobs that no one wants to do, others have said that during trying times those jobs should belong to the individuals who actually need them. The debate has raged on for quite some time, stretching back to the very beginning of the Bush Administration.
]]> Things came to a head last week when the democratic party decided to pull the plug on an electric fence that was supposed to be placed along the border, costing the United States millions of dollars. While this plan was about as popular as the original Bush plan to place a fence along the entirety of the border, it is not clear if the Obama Administration currently has another plan in motion to ensure that illegal immigrants do not cross the Mexican American border into the United States.Lawmakers seem poised to tackle this issue after the health care situation has been decided on. Depending on the outcome of the health care legislation, officials could start discussing immigration as early as next week. The vast majority of Americans, according to polls, feel that immigration is a huge hot button issue, but are for the most part, unsure about how they should tackle the issue. A vast majority of American’s are against the idea of placing a fence along the border to help ensure no one crosses the border without going through the proper channels.
]]>The Schumer-Graham immigration bill is not yet fully developed and needs a lot of tweaking before it becomes a final bill on the president’s desk. Still, yesterday’s turn of events provides hope in desperate times to millions of families.
]]> In the words of the sponsors of the bill: “Our plan has four pillars: requiring biometric Social Security cards to ensure that illegal workers cannot get jobs; fulfilling and strengthening our commitments on border security and interior enforcement; creating a process for admitting temporary workers; and implementing a tough but fair path to legalization for those already here.”Few of its provisions such as biometric Social Security cards and “zero tolerance” for those who enter illegally are going to be wildly contested. Other aspects, like the failure to include plans for reducing backlogs and helping to keep families together, has advocates anxiously waiting to see what the actual legislation will resemble.
What seems perfectly clear is an honest commitment for legalization from all involved. Both the President and Senators decidedly acknowledged that the immigration system is broken and that America needs to fix it. Any new system created must regulate future legal immigration in a way that is responsive to the economy, ensuring that the flow of workers match closely the demand of our business community.
]]>It was just this past Thursday when Obama met at the White House with Reps. Luis Gutierrez and Solomon Ortiz, the sponsors of a House immigration bill. Gutierrez made a statement later that he agreed to vote for Obama's signature domestic bill, health care reform, only if a comprehensive immigration reform bill advanced quickly and with a presidential imprimatur. The Congressional Hispanic Caucus joined the endorsement of the health care bill.
Reid Cherlin, White House spokesman, announced that there was no quid pro quo involved in the White House's discussions with Gutierrez. "Congressman Gutierrez is a longtime leader of the reform effort on the Hill, so of course they've had many conversations about it, and they'll continue to," Cherlin said.
Obama's proclamation and the senators' blueprint were strategically aligned to reach the media before Sunday's rally. A rally that is expecting to attract tens of thousands of people to Washington to convince the administration and Congress that time is ripe for comprehensive immigration reform.
Immigrants and citizens alike have become disillusioned by Obama's inaction after his campaign promise to make immigration reform of primary importance in his first year of office. So far he has done little in the way of immigration reform and instead, because of federal inaction, local vigilantes, like Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio who recently announced plans to launch his 14th raid in the last two years, have attacked undocumented immigrants as if all 11 million were deranged terrorists.
Hoping to steer clear of an impending catastrophe, Obama conceded to Gutierrez's threats to vote no on health reform and instead of hearing unflattering epithets this Sunday, he will hear once again "Si se puede."
]]>They'll be among tens of thousands of people expected to participate in a demonstration in Washington, D.C., in a push for an overhaul of the country's immigration laws.
The "March for America" is set for Sunday in the nation's capital. Participants also plan to meet with Nebraska's congressional delegation on Monday.
A prayer vigil and celebratory Catholic Mass will be held in Omaha on Sunday to coincide with the march. An interfaith march also is set for Saturday in Grand Island.
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