Article 3
Civil Rights Groups Protest Arizona Immigration Law, File Suit Over Federal Program
According to Touraine (1981), social movements have “typically [been] centered around the distinction between ‘strategy-oriented’ and ‘identity-oriented’ movements (as cited in Goodwin, 2009, p. 265). When two separate movements can come together and unite for “movement solidarity,” mobilization of a movement can be the result (p. 267).
In this article, “Civil rights and immigrant-advocacy groups teamed up” in protest against Arizona’s immigration law calling it “racist” (Gibson, 2010). The basis of the law, S.B. 1070, is that it “makes illegal immigration a state crime and allows local law enforcement to question people about their immigration status and arrest them if they can’t provide proper documentation” (Gibson, 2010). The law expands the Secure Communities program which allows “law enforcement and federal authorities coordinate to identify and deport illegal immigrant criminals in the United States” (Gibson, 2010). Many argue that a racist bill like this is against their civil rights while others are in favor of S.B. 1070.
Counsel John Bouma, on behalf of Governor Jan Brewer went to the Ninth Circuit Court Hearing in November to argue that Arizona has a right to against crime and fight on behalf of their law abiding citizens. They argued that Arizona has a right to fix what the federal government has failed to do.
In December 2010, the federal district granted “motions to dismiss” some of the challenges to S.B. 1070 by groups such as the “National Coalition of Latino Clergy and Christian Leaders,” the “League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC)” among others. It will be interesting to see if the judge dismisses the suit filed by the “The National Day Laborer Organizing Network, The Center for Constitutional Rights and the Benjamin Cardozo School of Law” (Gibson, 2010).
Furthermore, Brewer’s office has filed a motion to dismiss lawsuits filed by foreign countries. Mexico, Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Costa Rica, Ecuador, El Salvador, Nicaragua, Paraguay, Peru, and Chile are all challenging S.B. 1070 and the “enforcement measures that have been a part of U.S. federal law for decades.”
I don’t know about you, but doesn’t it seem weird that all these countries feel that they should have a say in what laws we enforce in America?
I believe it is completely ridiculous that other countries think they are entitled to intervene on issues that regard the U.S.A. I do not know why these countries are so worried about what we do as a country and state when they have their own problems they need to deal with. There is a reason that illegal immigrants are flooding into this country and Arizona and perhaps those attempting to put their opinions in the mix need to fix their countries problems. Then the U.S. will not have to establish such laws as S.B. 1070. It is ironic to me that foreign countries feel obligated to file lawsuits when they have financial crisis, corruption, murders out the roof, etc… but are worried about this. It makes me disgusted that they aren’t making efforts to resolve their countries problems and help the citizens of their countries.
ReplyDeleteI “ditto” that sentiment Mastermind. For the life of me, I just cannot understand why they feel they have the right to interfere in our laws. But, in saying this, I’m sure you can understand why Mexico is so upset? They will be losing their biggest payroll if illegal’s are kicked out of America.
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