PHOENIX (AP) — An education campaign for illegal immigrants to remain largely silent when they're pulled over by police is being put into practice in Arizona after a federal judge ruled that the most contentious part of the state's immigration law can take effect.
Natally Cruz and Leticia Ramirez have been telling immigrants who are in the United States illegally, like themselves, that they should offer only their name and date of birth — and carry no documents that show where they were born.
U.S. District Judge Susan Bolton ruled Tuesday that police can immediately start enforcing the law's so-called "show me your papers" provision. It requires officers, while enforcing other laws, to question the immigration status of those suspected of being in the country illegally.
Ramirez and Cruz had remained hopeful the provision would be blocked, but they were preparing by sending a message to communities of illegal immigrants that they should respectfully stand their ground against police. "We want to teach the community how to defend themselves, how to answer to police, how to be prepared, and to have confidence that they're going to have help," Ramirez said.
Bolton's decision is the latest milestone in a two-year legal battle over the requirement.
The U.S. Supreme Court upheld the provision in June on the grounds that it doesn't conflict with federal law. Opponents responded by asking Bolton to block the requirement on different grounds, arguing its enforcement would lead to systematic racial profiling and unreasonably long detentions of Latinos. Bolton said early this month she wouldn't block the provision.
A coalition of civil rights groups is awaiting a ruling from the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals on their latest effort to prevent the questioning requirement from taking effect. A hotline operated by civil rights advocates recently has fielded calls from people wanting to know what their rights are if officers question their immigration status.
Lydia Guzman, leader of the civil rights group Respect-Respeto, said additional volunteers are being sought to answer calls and document reports of abuses. If a police agency plans a special immigration patrol, volunteers armed with video cameras will be sent there to capture footage of traffic stops, Guzman said.
Arizona lawmakers passed the law in 2010, amid voter frustration with the state's role as the busiest illegal entry point in the country. Five states — Alabama, Georgia, Indiana, South Carolina, and Utah — have adopted variations on Arizona's law.
It's a tool for local police, but it won't cure the state's immigration woes, said Republican Gov. Jan Brewer, who signed the measure, said "Only the federal government has the resources and responsibility necessary to achieve that."
The law's opponents are spreading out across the state, asking police departments not to enforce the provision. The incentive they offer: better cooperation from immigrants who would be more likely to report crimes, said Carlos Garcia, an organizer with immigrant rights group the Puente Movement.
Not enforcing the provision could open up officers to lawsuits from people claiming the agencies aren't fully enforcing the law. Some backers of the requirement, including Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio, have questioned the level of cooperation they will get from federal immigration agents.
Federal officials say they will check people's immigration status when officers call. But they'll send an agent to arrest someone only when it fits with their priorities, such as catching repeat violators and those who are a threat to public safety and national security.
Cruz, originally from Guanajuato, Mexico, said she has never been pulled over in the United States but fears the law will lead to racial profiling and will separate families.Bolton initially blocked the provision after the Obama administration challenged it on the grounds that federal immigration law trumps state law. She has said opponents are speculating on racial profiling claims.
Ramirez said she isn't willing to give up 18 years in the United States over a law she sees as a threat to her livelihood. Her father brought their family to the U.S. from Torreon in the Mexican state of Coahuila because he couldn't find work there and wanted a better future for them.
She's been a visible part of the legal battle because she sees importance in her education mission, particularly for those who don't get involved in immigrant-rights groups or don't watch television to keep up-to-date on the law. "That's what I'm afraid of — that a lot of the people don't know what to do," Ramirez said.
What do you think?
Written by Felicia Fonseca, reported from Flagstaff, Ariz., Associated Press
Written by Jacques Billeaud, Associated Press
Copyright 2012 The Associated Press.
Comments
Re: Arizona Education Campaign
No matter where you fall on the immigration debate, we cannot blind ourselves to what is happening in Arizona. If people are being deported as a result of their new law, it matters right now. Our justice system is based on an adversarial process and we need to continue to advance the information flow on this issue so we can be informed of the consequences and effects of what we are facing.
Immigration
I think that if people are here legally, then why is it a problem to have to show ID? I do not think that people should be in our country legally due to the state that our country is in. We have so many people and our economy isn't the best right now. We don't have enough money to be dealing with immigration. I believe that people should come here if they want to have a better life because that is what my family did but I strongly believe that people should get their citizenships as soon as possible. It is becoming such a problem and that is why Hispanics in Arizona are facing such a tough time to being targeted as illegal. Our provisions and immigration laws should be enforced.
I understand that people do
I understand that people do not want to be profiled because of the way they look. This idea is frustration to me as well but I do not believe that is the point of this law. The fact that there are people trying to instruct their communities on how to "respectfully" brake the law is frustrating to me. I believe that learning how to lie to a cop makes what you are doing even worse. It is frustrating to me that illegal immigrants can so easily live in our nation mainly because my family worked so hard to legally immigrate to America. I feel that what they are doing is not only wrong but also extremely disrespectful.
Arizona Immigration Law
This topic really sparks my interest because I do not agree with racial profiling. I think it is wrong and police should not be able to pull you over by your race, color or ethnicity. I believe it is kind of a form of racism in America, when in the end you can’t change the color of your skin, or the culture you came from. Someone I know has been pulled over in California by the type of car he was driving because it is kind of beaten down and he was in a rough part of town late at night. It’s really sad that police think “these type of people” are up to no good or causing mischief. They would probably not like to be treated that way if they were in someone else’s shoes. I agree with Natally Cruz and Leticia Ramirez’s position because they are fighting for their rights and showing that they can take a stance.
Immigration
I think Arizona's new immigration law does nothing but opens doors for legally practicing racist behaviors. This law is more of a reminder for minorities that the past is not really in the past, where minorities had no legal rights and were always tortured one way or another. To my point of view this is another way to put-down a group of minorities. If stopping illegal immigrants from entering US was their main reason, why didn't they do something about the boarders, or focus the law more toward those illegal immigrants who have been offenders, not those who have worked hard to made their life better. No their main reason was defiantly discrimination.
With this the law and the law enforcers are doing nothing but creating another reason for the minorities not to trust laws and the law officers. That is not all "self policing" level is going to go down as a result of no trust in the government the laws it allowed to pass. Nowhere in the world we have enough police to keep everything under control and prevent any act of terror. It is because of all of us who report any suspicious activates that gets the police to act quickly and efficiently. If a community stops trusting the government and it's law enforcers, think how corrupt a city or state can become. Most of the Middle East States that are facing conflicts today are because their people have lost trust in their governments and want it out. No amount of police or amount of weapons can stop a state from over throwing their government. If we are not careful we might face an issue like that of the Middle East.
The thing about this law is
The thing about this law is that it is protecting the legal citizens of the state, by keeping the roads safer from illegal immigrants. I don't understand what the big hoo-haw is...if you are illegal...you are illegal. Doesn't matter if you are red, orange, yellow, green, blue, purple, brown, black, or grey. Illegal is illegal...the definition that we can all agree on according the Meriam Webster is: "not according to or authorized by law."
That being said, illegal immigrants are stealing resources and jobs away from people that are here legally and need them and deserve them. I have no problem with people coming to this nation to try and start anew and build a better life, but what is the problem with doing it legally? If we went to other nations and started to feed off their resources and taking advantage of their government resources we would not be around that often. Why should the US Government give away healthcare, school opportunities and everything else that we give away to "reward" this illegal behavior. Illegal immigrants are stealing from all of us, but yet we reward them by giving them amnesty to 3 million in 1986 (Ronald Reagan). If you steal and take advantage in any other situation you aren't rewarded in the end.
And with asking for papers to see if you are legal or not, I don't understand what the big deal is. You already give over your license and registration, it is just one more paper to give over to the cop whether you are of any race, religion, or creed. Everyone should have to do this in every state no matter what you are.