Stand Your Ground
25th April 2010, 17:55
A stringent new Arizona (http://www.nydailynews.com/topics/Arizona) law aimed at identifying and prosecuting illegal immigrants drew harsh criticism Saturday from New York (http://www.nydailynews.com/topics/New+York) politicians and activists.
"We do need comprehensive immigration law in this country but not like this," said Sen. Chuck Schumer (http://www.nydailynews.com/topics/Charles+Schumer). "This law is mean-spirited and I'm opposed to it."
On Friday, Arizona Gov. Jan Brewer (http://www.nydailynews.com/topics/Jan+Brewer) signed a bill into law making failure to carry proof of citizenship or legal status a crime, and any immigrants who can't produce the documentation can be arrested, fined $2,500 and jailed for up to six months.
Critics fear it would give cops free reign to harass the state's Hispanic population.
Mayor Bloomberg (http://www.nydailynews.com/topics/Michael+Bloomberg) said the law, which takes effect in August, could hurt the country financially because it "sends exactly the wrong message."
Public Advocate Bill de Blasio (http://www.nydailynews.com/topics/Bill+De+Blasio) deemed it "un-American" legislation that "does nothing to address the pressing problems of our broken immigration system."
Brewer ordered the state to create a training course on how to enforce the law without violating anyone's civil rights. "We must enforce the law evenly, and without regard to skin color, accent or social status," she said.
"The disturbing trend of our immigration policies being influenced by xenophobia and racial profiling has reached a new level in Arizona," de Blasio said. "[This new law] is offensive, discriminatory and does nothing to address the pressing problems of our broken immigration system."
Bloomberg stressed the economic impact.
"But as a country, America (http://www.nydailynews.com/topics/United+States) will be badly hurt if more states follow Arizona's lead," he said. "Foreign investment and tourism are critical to our national economy, and this new law sends exactly the wrong message to international companies and travelers."
An estimated 12 million undocumented workers live in the U.S. Bloomberg (http://www.nydailynews.com/topics/U.S.+Bloomberg) called on Washington (http://www.nydailynews.com/topics/Washington%2c+DC) to lead the way with comprehensive reform. Schumer has been meeting with lawmakers to draft such immigration policy.
Immigrant rights activists are expected to rally nationwide on May 1 in as part of an annual call for immigration and economic reform. In the city, that rally is set for 12 noon in Foley Square near City Hall.
Read more: http://www.nydailynews.com/news/national/2010/04/25/2010-04-25_pols_rip_ariz_immig_law.html#ixzz0m8E9U7gF (http://www.nydailynews.com/news/national/2010/04/25/2010-04-25_pols_rip_ariz_immig_law.html#ixzz0m8E9U7gF)
"We do need comprehensive immigration law in this country but not like this," said Sen. Chuck Schumer (http://www.nydailynews.com/topics/Charles+Schumer). "This law is mean-spirited and I'm opposed to it."
On Friday, Arizona Gov. Jan Brewer (http://www.nydailynews.com/topics/Jan+Brewer) signed a bill into law making failure to carry proof of citizenship or legal status a crime, and any immigrants who can't produce the documentation can be arrested, fined $2,500 and jailed for up to six months.
Critics fear it would give cops free reign to harass the state's Hispanic population.
Mayor Bloomberg (http://www.nydailynews.com/topics/Michael+Bloomberg) said the law, which takes effect in August, could hurt the country financially because it "sends exactly the wrong message."
Public Advocate Bill de Blasio (http://www.nydailynews.com/topics/Bill+De+Blasio) deemed it "un-American" legislation that "does nothing to address the pressing problems of our broken immigration system."
Brewer ordered the state to create a training course on how to enforce the law without violating anyone's civil rights. "We must enforce the law evenly, and without regard to skin color, accent or social status," she said.
"The disturbing trend of our immigration policies being influenced by xenophobia and racial profiling has reached a new level in Arizona," de Blasio said. "[This new law] is offensive, discriminatory and does nothing to address the pressing problems of our broken immigration system."
Bloomberg stressed the economic impact.
"But as a country, America (http://www.nydailynews.com/topics/United+States) will be badly hurt if more states follow Arizona's lead," he said. "Foreign investment and tourism are critical to our national economy, and this new law sends exactly the wrong message to international companies and travelers."
An estimated 12 million undocumented workers live in the U.S. Bloomberg (http://www.nydailynews.com/topics/U.S.+Bloomberg) called on Washington (http://www.nydailynews.com/topics/Washington%2c+DC) to lead the way with comprehensive reform. Schumer has been meeting with lawmakers to draft such immigration policy.
Immigrant rights activists are expected to rally nationwide on May 1 in as part of an annual call for immigration and economic reform. In the city, that rally is set for 12 noon in Foley Square near City Hall.
Read more: http://www.nydailynews.com/news/national/2010/04/25/2010-04-25_pols_rip_ariz_immig_law.html#ixzz0m8E9U7gF (http://www.nydailynews.com/news/national/2010/04/25/2010-04-25_pols_rip_ariz_immig_law.html#ixzz0m8E9U7gF)