Immigrants across the country will once again take to the streets come May 1 in support of comprehensive immigration reform, but this time there’s renewed focus. That’s because of a new law in Arizona requiring police to question people authorities believe are in the U.S. illegally. Here in Milwaukee, immigrants and advocates are hoping to send a message this Saturday with record turnout. WUWM’s LaToya Dennis has more.
Every year since 2006, Voces de la Frontera has rallied along with other immigrant advocacy groups across the country. This year, organizers want to send a message to Congress and Arizona. Primitivo Torres is president of Voces.
“Nobody’s disputing a country or a state’s right to control its borders. But this law goes way beyond restricting illegal immigration, it legalizes racial profiling,” Torres says.
Beyond being allowed to question people who are believed to be here illegally, Arizona police could arrest those not able to produce documents proving they have a right to be in the U.S. For years, Arizona has urged Washington to do something about illegal aliens. It’s been estimated that around 600,000 illegal immigrants live in Arizona.
“Being in the U.S. without documents is not a crime. It is a civil status violation, but rhetoric aside, there is no crime called being illegally present,” Karyn Rotker says.
Karyn Rotker is an attorney with the Milwaukee branch of the American Civil Liberties Union. She says the federal government is the only group allowed to create immigration law.
“Not a state, not a local government. Those are powers the U.S. Constitution reserves to the U.S. government. And case after case shows that it is the U.S. government, not municipalities and not state governments, that get to create immigration laws,” Rotker says.
Rotker says if Arizona moves ahead with this law and a lawsuit is brought, she doesn’t think it will hold up. But Darryl Morrin is calling on Arizona to repeal the law before it takes effect this summer. He’s the Wisconsin director of LULAC, a Latino advocacy group.
“It’s a clear violation of everyone, every individual’s civil liberties,” Morrin says.
According to Morrin, one of every seven people in the U.S. is Hispanic, and he says it’s time for Congress to pass immigration reform.
“We are now too large to be taken for granted and overlooked. We caution every state and national party leader, if you fail to pass comprehensive immigration reform this summer, we will remember and your failures will become apparent this fall,” Morrin says.
Morrin says he thinks the passage of Arizona’s immigration law will encourage people to show up to the rally on Saturday. Participants will march from Voces de la Frontera headquarters on S. 5th Street to Mitchell Park. Milwaukee will be one of several cities across the state taking part in the annual event.
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