Speak Out to Ensure the Fight Against SB 1070 Goes On!
On July 28, 2010 U.S. District Court Judge Susan Bolton issued a court ruling which temporarily halts the implementation of some of the most harmful provisions of Arizona’s law, SB 1070. The NALEO Educational Fund applauds Judge Bolton’s ruling as a first step towards defeating SB 1070, which violates the civil rights of all Arizonans and visitors, and subjects Arizona’s Latinos and newcomers to discrimination and racial profiling.
Judge Bolton issued her decision after a hearing on a lawsuit brought by the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ). She noted in her decision that the federal government has broad and exclusive authority to regulate immigration. Thus, she indicated that the SB 1070 provisions she halted are likely to be found unconstitutional because they are either covered by or conflict with federal law.
Judge Bolton’s decision, issued a day before the scheduled implementation of SB 1070, is only a partial and temporary victory. First, she did not strike down several other provisions of the law, which went into effect the following day. Second, Arizona Governor Jan Brewer filed an appeal of the judge’s ruling. Finally, the judge’s decision only halts the SB 1070 provisions temporarily, and there will eventually be a full trial on the DOJ’s lawsuit.
As a Latino elected official or community leader, you can play a crucial role in continuing the fight for the full defeat of SB 1070 by speaking out in favor of Judge Bolton’s preliminary decision. You can also educate your constituents and stakeholders about the harmful effects of SB 1070 and similar legislation that may surface in your community, and advocate for Congress and the President to make comprehensive immigration reform a reality.
The NALEO Educational Fund has several resources available for your outreach efforts:
We urge you to release a similar statement to your constituents and stakeholders.
Please consider tailoring the language of your release to reflect the concerns of your
specific community and include a personal quote.
There are six other lawsuits pending against SB 1070. The NALEO Educational Fund will continue to provide you with updated information about those suits and other opportunities to advocate against SB 1070. Should you have any questions or need additional information, please contact Gloria Montaño Greene, Director of the Washington DC Office, at gmontanogreene@naleo.org or (202)546-2536.
SB 1070 is an unconstitutional and costly measure which will jeopardize the public safety of
ALL Arizonans. It gives local police responsibilities for enforcing immigration laws that will
divert them from the important job of protecting our neighborhoods. It will deter immigrants
from cooperating with police to help them solve crimes.
SB 1070 is a terribly flawed law that violates the civil rights of ALL Arizonans and individuals
visiting Arizona. It allows local law enforcement officials, who are not trained in federal
immigration law, to make intrusive and unnecessary inquiries into the immigration status of
residents and travelers. It presumes everyone is guilty, contradicting the fundamental American
belief of innocence until proven otherwise.
This sample opinion piece is intended to serve as a starting point to help you craft a more
personalized opinion piece for your local media outlets. Please feel free to make changes
that reflect the social, political, and economic conditions in your local community.
Puntos de Discusión
SB 1070 es una medida inconstitucional y costosa que pone en peligro la seguridad pública de
TODOS los Arizonenses. Da responsabilidades a la policía local para hacer cumplir las leyes de
inmigración que la desvíen de la importante tarea de proteger nuestras comunidades. Disuadirá
a los inmigrantes de cooperar con la policía para ayudarles a resolver crímenes.
Ejemplo de editorial (PDF)
Este editorial es una muestra sirve como punto de partida para ayudarle a redactar un artículo
de opinión más personalizado para los medios locales de comunicación. Siéntase libre de hacer
cambios que reflejen los aspectos sociales, políticos, y condiciones económicas en su propia
comunidad.
President Barack Obama at the NALEO 25th Annual Conference addresses the issue of comprehensive immigration reform.
For more information about our efforts on SB 1070, please contact:
Gloria Montano Greene
Director, Washington, DC Office
600 Pennsylvania Ave., SE
Suite 230
Washington, DC 20003
Tel: (202) 546-2536
Fax: (202) 546-4121
Email:gmontanogreene@naleo.org
QUICK POINTS
Judge Bolton’s decision to temporarily block provisions of SB 1070 bars the state from enforcing sections that generally:
Require police officers to ask individuals they stop, detain or arrest for their immigration status based on reasonable suspicion that they are undocumented;
Mandate individuals to carry "immigration papers"— effectively making undocumented status a state crime;
Make it a crime for unauthorized immigrants to solicit, apply for or perform work;
Allow police officers to conduct a warrantless arrest if the officers decide the individual can be deported. The decision to deport an individual must continue to be made by a judge.
Judge Bolton’s decision allowed the parts of SB 1070 to take effect on July 29, 2010 that:
Make it a crime to stop in traffic to hire a day laborer or for a day laborer to get into a stopped vehicle;
Deny local police agencies the ability to adopt their own policies on the most effective way to enforce federal immigration laws;
Subject local municipalities in Arizona to frivolous and costly lawsuits if an individual from the community believes the local government agency is not enforcing federal immigration law.
