IW STATEMENT – Arizona in the Supreme Court
STATEMENT
CONTACT Steven Weiss
APRIL 25, 2012 (202) 480-2076 or sweiss@immigrationworksusa.org
ATTRITION THROUGH ENFORCEMENT –
NOT THE LAW OF THE LAND
The U.S. Supreme Court heard oral argument today on Arizona’s controversial 2010 policing law, SB 1070. ImmigrationWorks USA president Tamar Jacoby made the following statement.
Stripped of technicalities and legal terms, the issue before the Supreme Court is straightforward: does Arizona immigration law conflict with federal law?
And while the back and forth in the courtroom today suggested that the final ruling may cut both ways, with the justices upholding some provisions of SB 1070 and nixing others, one thing is crystal clear: the spirit behind the Arizona statute is not the spirit that drives federal policy – or most Americans’ views on immigration.
SB 1070 and statutes like it are based on a theory known as “attrition through enforcement.” Legislators acting on this doctrine aim to use any and all tools at their disposal – the withholding of state benefits, laws regulating landlords, limiting hiring, requiring local police and even public school teachers to inquire about people’s immigration status – to make life so miserable for unauthorized immigrants that they voluntarily pack up and leave the state.
This is an ugly, mean-spirited approach to a problem caused by decades of American hypocrisy – years when we turned a blind eye to immigrants coming to do jobs we needed done, yet gave them no workable way to enter the country legally.
The policy has also been a practical disaster in the three states that have tried it. Tens of thousands of immigrants, legal and illegal, have fled from Arizona, Alabama and Georgia – with devastating consequences for the economy in all three states. Worse still, the stain on these states’ reputations is deterring investors, in the U.S. and abroad, who are unwilling to back businesses in places known to be inhospitable to foreigners.
ImmigrationWorks supports immigration enforcement to restore the rule of law. We are sympathetic to the frustration many states feel at Congress’ failure to fix the immigration system. We believe the states have a role to play in assisting with federal immigration enforcement. And if the justices decide to encourage immigration lawmaking in the states, we hope they will encourage it evenhandedly, opening the way to state initiatives that go beyond enforcement to provide the legal workforce necessary to sustain future prosperity.
But as the justices consider the fine points of the Arizona law, we hope they will remember the larger issues at stake. Attrition through enforcement is not good law, and it is not – and must never be – the immigration policy of the United States.
IW USA president Tamar Jacoby can be reached for comment at
202 506-4541.
ImmigrationWorks USA is a national federation of employers working to advance better immigration law. The network links major corporations, national trade associations and 25 state-based coalitions of small to medium-sized business owners concerned that the broken immigration system is holding back the growth of the U.S. economy. Their shared aim: legislation that brings America’s annual legal intake of foreign workers more realistically into line with the country’s labor needs.
(Update: Colorado Action Alert paid off) – Colorado tuition bill for immigrants clears House committee
Colorado tuition bill for immigrants clears House committee
The Denver Post
A bill to create a lower college-tuition rate for undocumented immigrants passed a House committee Monday evening on a 7-6 vote — a historic first for the legislation, though it still faces potential death before another committee.
Dozens — including some big political names in Colorado — had signed up to testify before the House Education Committee, which was hearing Senate Bill 15.
FULL STORY: http://www.vivacolorado.com/eeuu/ci_20464703/colorado-tuition-bill-undocumented-immigrants-clears-house-committee
ACTION ALERT: Support the Colorado ASSET (DREAM Act) – Senate Bill 15
Colorado ASSET | Email House Education Committee Members
Pass the DREAM Act before November 2012 elections!
Pass the DREAM Act before November 2012 elections!
We are asking Rubio to to support the original DREAM Act — sponsored by Sen. Orrin Hatch (R-UT) sponsored version of S.1545 — the Development, Relief and Education for Alien Minors (DREAM) Act.
Campaign holding Senators accountable in key swing Presidential states.
The President of the United States
The U.S. Senate
The U.S. House of Representatives
Florida Senator (Marco Rubio)
Utah Senator (Orrin Hatch)
Texas Senator (Kay Bailey Hutchison)
Nevada Senator (Harry Reid)
New Mexico Senator (Jeff Bingaman)
Colorado Senator (Michael F. Bennet)
Colorado Senator (Mark Udall)
New Mexico Senator (Tom Udall)
Nevada Senator (Dean Heller)
Florida Senator (Ben Nelson)
Nebraska Senator (Ben Nelson)
Help Candidate Bob Worsley defeat the defeated and former Russell Pearce in LD 25 – 21 April 2012 at 8:30 am
UPDATE: Easter Sunday Victim Death in Arizona involved Mexican National Gerardo Perez-Ruiz
The PIMA COUNTY SHERIFF revealed the name of one of the victims involving the death of two people on Easter Sunday in the State of Arizona.
One of the victims is identified as Gerardo Perez-Ruiz (DOB 11/02/72). Mr. Perez-Ruiz was a Mexican National from San Jose Del Rincon in Toluca, Mexico. The second victim is believed to be Guatemalan. He is still not being identified pending next of kin notification.
The Tequila Party Movement has written an open letter to the DOJ and the FBI seeking an outside investigation involving the death of two men we believe might involve minutemen or vigilantes. The entire letter can be read here.
We are seeking outside investigation with regard to the incident that occurred in the State of Arizona involving an ambush by an unknown number of subjects in camouflage clothing armed with rifles. Shots were fired at the pickup truck at which time two subjects were fatally struck according a PIMA County Sheriff’s report. We believe the Federal Bureau of Investigations (FBI) should conduct a full investigation with regard to the possible militia men gone rogue.
It is imperative for Americans to maintain a strong and good relationship with our soil neighbor of Mexico. We need all the help we can get from the federal government to aid the PIMA COUNTY SHERIFF’s DEPARTMENT in an effort to ensure all resources needed are met. We want to be proactive and maintain good relationships with both Canada and Mexico for the sake of our national security.
It is in our best interest as Americans to maintain a healthy and neighborly relationship as to prevent “real enemies” from entering a side door. We cannot allow possible American minutemen and/or vigilantes to chip away at our healthy existing agreements we have with international communities. As our global competitors currently work on building stronger ties with Mexico, the United States cannot overlook our border neighbor of Mexico that is becoming a rising economic giant.
According to STRATFOR:
U.S. foreign policy emanates from the domestic condition of its society, and nothing will affect its society more than the dramatic movement of Latin history northward. By 2050, as much as a third of the American population could be Hispanic. Mexico and Central America constitute a growing demographic and economic powerhouse with which the United States has an inextricable relationship. In recent years Mexico’s economic growth has outpaced that of its northern neighbor. Mexico’s population of 111 million plus Central America’s of more than 40 million equates to half the population of the United States.
Because of the North American Free Trade Agreement, 85 percent of Mexico’s exports go to the United States, even as half of Central America’s trade is with the United States. While the median age of Americans is nearly 37, demonstrating the aging tendency of the U.S. population, the median age in Mexico is 25, and in Central America it is much lower (20 in Guatemala and Honduras, for example). In part because of young workers moving northward, the destiny of the United States could be north-south, rather than the east-west, sea-to-shining-sea of continental and patriotic myth. (This will be amplified by the scheduled 2014 widening of the Panama Canal, which will open the Greater Caribbean Basin to megaships from East Asia, leading to the further development of Gulf of Mexico port cities in the United States, from Texas to Florida.)
Read more: With the Focus on Syria, Mexico Burns by Robert D. Kaplan | Stratfor
Finally, the death of Brisenia Flores was a wake-up call to the people of Arizona — an incident which involved a murderous act of an innocent child by vigilantes. Shawna Forde, whom a jury convicted last year of murdering nine-year-old Brisenia Flores and her father, Raul Flores, was sentenced to death by an Arizona jury. The court found that Forde led a group of anti-immigrant vigilantes in a March 2009 raid on the Flores home, where they posed as immigration agents and pushed their way through the door. She and her accomplices allegedly shot Raul Flores before turning their guns on Brisenia, who begged not to be shot. Gina Gonzalez, Brisenia’s mother, played dead and survived the attack.
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Why is the Tequila Party concerned and why are we seeking an outside investigation?
Because of militia-like minutemen that involves people like JT Ready as seen in this youtube below.
Latina Group Seeking outside investigation on ambush by unknown subjects in Arizona dressed in camouflage clothing armed with rifles and affecting border crossers
From the National Tequila Party Movement.
For Immediate Release
Phoenix, AZ -
11 April 2012
FBI Headquarters
Director Robert Mueller
935 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW
Washington, D.C. 20535-0001
(202) 324-3000
Department of Justice
Eric Holder
U.S. Department of Justice
950 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW
Washington, DC 20530-0001
Subject: Seeking outside investigation on ambush by unknown subjects in camouflage clothing armed with rifles.
Dear Mr. Robert Mueller and Attorney General Eric Holder:
We are seeking outside investigation with regard to the incident that occurred in the State of Arizona involving an ambush by an unknown number of subjects in camouflage clothing armed with rifles. Shots were fired at the pickup truck at which time two subjects were fatally struck according a PIMA County Sheriff’s report.
We believe the Federal Bureau of Investigations (FBI) should conduct a full investigation with regard to the possible militia men gone rogue.
According to the PIMA County Sheriff’s website:
“Deadly shooting in Eagle Ranch near Eloy, Arizona leaves two dead.
On April 8, 2012, at approximately 10:35 p.m., agents from the Casa Grande Border Patrol Station, Eloy Police Department, and Coolidge Police Department responded to the Eagle Ranch located at the south end of South Night Sky Street, south of West Antares Drive, in Eloy, Arizona. The response was in reference to shots being fired at an illegal alien smuggling load. The GPS coordinates of the Eagle Ranch are N32 27.750, W-111 44.646.
Upon arrival, the law enforcement agencies determined that there was one deceased person in the bed of a pickup truck and a second deceased subject in a wash northeast of the pickup truck. Several border crossers were located hiding in the brush nearby. It was determined that the incident had occurred in Pima County.
The Pima County Sheriff’s Department received information and a request to respond to the scene. Pima County Sheriff’s Homicide Unit detectives also responded. It was determined that the border crossers were traveling in a pickup truck in a wash that is commonly used for human smuggling. They were ambushed by an unknown number of subjects in camouflage clothing armed with rifles. Shots were fired at the pickup truck at which time two subjects were fatally struck.”
We are especially disturbed with the unknown number of subjects in camouflage clothing armed with rifles. Please send undercover agents forthwith to investigate rogue vigilantes. I’m afraid these vigilantes are helping to destroy our relationship with our soil neighbor. Something must be done.
Sincerely,
Shirl Mora James
Lead Co-President of National Tequila Party Movement
Civil Rights and Immigration Attorney
DeeDee Garcia Blase
Founder, Co-President of National Tequila Party Movement
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BREAKING: 2 people dead near Arizona Border on Easter — Ambush by an unknown number of subjects in Camouflage Clothing Armed with Rifles
2 people dead on Easter — Ambush by an unknown number of subjects in Camouflage Clothing Armed with Rifles
by Hispanic-Politico on Apr. 11, 2012
I just saw this discouraging news on the Three Sonorans. Men in camouflage armed with rifles? An ambush? What the hell is going on in this crazy state of Arizona?
We need the federal government to investigate the possible militia men that may be lurking near the border while killing people. We hope and want the federal government to especially investigate JT Ready. A buddy of ousted Senator Russell Pearce.
From Pima County Sheriff Department:
Deadly shooting in Eagle Ranch near Eloy, Arizona leaves two dead.
On April 8, 2012, at approximately 10:35 p.m., agents from the Casa Grande Border Patrol Station, Eloy Police Department, and Coolidge Police Department responded to the Eagle Ranch located at the south end of South Night Sky Street, south of West Antares Drive, in Eloy, Arizona. The response was in reference to shots being fired at an illegal alien smuggling load. The GPS coordinates of the Eagle Ranch are N32 27.750, W-111 44.646. Upon arrival, the law enforcement agencies determined that there was one deceased person in the bed of a pickup truck and a second deceased subject in a wash northeast of the pickup truck. Several border crossers were located hiding in the brush nearby. It was determined that the incident had occurred in Pima County. The Pima County Sheriff’s Department received information and a request to respond to the scene. Pima County Sheriff’s Homicide Unit detectives also responded. It was determined that the border crossers were traveling in a pickup truck in a wash that is commonly used for human smuggling. They were ambushed by an unknown number of subjects in camouflage clothing armed with rifles. Shots were fired at the pickup truck at which time two subjects were fatally struck. Names of the victim’s are not being released at this time pending next of kin notification.
CANDLELIGHT VIGIL TO RESTORE PRENATAL CARE To ALL NE BABIES
From a Nebraska friend, Shirl Mora James who is a Civil Rights and Immigration Lawyer in Nebraska.
CANDLELIGHT VIGIL TO RESTORE PRENATAL CARE To ALL NE BABIES
Date: Tomorrow—Wednesday, April 11, 2012
Time: 5 p.m. – 6 p.m.
Place: State Capitol, Lincoln, NE (West side of the Capitol, 14th St & Lincoln Mall.)
Also 3rd vote on LB-599 will be tomorrow, too!!! Come and joins us in the gallery!!!
Finally! Right-to-life group sends letter to senators on prenatal bill.
April 10, 2012 by admin
Filed under Events, Guest Blogger, News affecting the 2012 Elections
Undocumented babies are still babies, too. Let this be a loud sound alarm to anti-Latino Republicans who are pushing changes to our 14th amendment and prenatal bills that will counter the pro life movement.
Nebraska Right to Life sent a letter Monday to six senators who have provided leadership on pro-life bills in the past but who now have come to a divide with the powerful pro-life organization on a bill that would restore prenatal care for babies with undocumented mothers.
Gov. Dave Heineman has promised to veto the bill (LB599), which is expected to get its final reading Wednesday. It provides prenatal coverage to low-income women, many of them undocumented, who lost Medicaid coverage for prenatal care in 2010.
In an open letter, Right to Life executive director Julie Schmit-Albin told Sens. Tony Fulton, Beau McCoy, Pete Pirsch, Lydia Brasch, Chris Langemeier and Dave Bloomfield — all of whom have received the organization’s endorsement in past or present elections — this: “It is sad and alarming that we have come to this point where some of the major pro-life leaders in the Legislature are choosing to put the illegal immigration issue and who pays for what, over the life and health of babies in the womb.”
It is likely, she told them, that past legislative transcripts would show comments from all of them about the “necessity of protecting innocent human life from fertilization on.”
Other senators who have identified themselves as pro-life, and who have voted in favor of the bill in two rounds of debate, also may be conflicted over illegal immigration issues, she said.
“(But) they clearly put the life and health of all unborn children ahead of the immigration issue.”
