¡Alto Arizona!

Arizona Candidate Challenged Over English Skills

By MARC LACEY, Published: January 25, 2012 | Source: New York Times

SAN LUIS, Ariz. — When Alejandrina Cabrera speaks English, her face takes on an expression somewhere between deep discomfort and outright despair. Her tongue, which darts around her mouth in her native Spanish, slows to a crawl.

“I speak little English,” she said in a hesitant and heavily accented interview in her lawyer’s office. “But my English is fine for San Luis.”

Mrs. Cabrera may be able to get her point across in English, but whether she is proficient enough in the language to serve on the governing board of this bilingual border city has deeply divided the 25,000 residents.

Chiquis & Raq-C: Jenni Rivera and Daughter Chiquis Protest Controversial Arizona Law, Video Diary

Ending Violence Against Immigrant Women

On February 10th, 2011. Rep Grijalva and others hosted a Congressional Hearing on Emerging Issues in Ending Violence Against Immigrant Women.

Below is a short video excerpt of the testimony.

 

Read more about the hearings at Latina Lista

Support the National Woman's Caucus Against #ICE and Local Police Collaboration

Recently, a delegation of children from Arizona and throughout the country testified before Congress about the suffering they’ve experienced under this inhumane immigration system. Mothers, aunts and other women’s advocates visited members of Congress on the matter.

The National Women's Caucus Against ICE and Police Collaboration has written a letter asking President Obama to stop ICE and local police collaboration programs, such as 287(g) and "Secure Communities," which opened the door to the passage of Arizona's SB1070.

See and sign the petition here: http://bit.ly/womens-petition

ABC's Diane Sawyer Puts a Face to Victims of #SB1070

by Jorge Rivas
Thursday, July 29 2010, 11:20 AM EST

Yesterday, in a segment titled "The Conversation: My Undocumented Life" ABC's Diane Sawyer interviewed a young woman named Erika, an undocumented Arizona resident who has been in the U.S. since age 11. Sawyer produced a beautiful short interview where she put a face to those being affected by the harsh policies going in to affect today in Arizona.

The Right Wing Unleashed: Deport U.S. Citizen Children?

By Ali Jost
2:06 PM Eastern - June 18, 2010

In Rep. Pearce's world "order" there would be no place for Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal, former Sen. Pete Domenici (R-NM), famous astronauts and Olympians

Mass round ups of undocumented immigrants in Arizona isn't enough for state Rep. Russell Pearce. This Republican legislator--who frequently warns of "the invasion" from our southern border--is now calling for mass expulsion of U.S. citizen children. Never mind the Fourteenth Amendment that has long upheld the principle of birthright citizenship--in Pearce's world "order," the U.S.-born children of immigrants who are here on temporary visas and the U.S.-born children of undocumented immigrants are not welcome.

Sadly, Pearce is not alone in his apocalyptic vision of the world. Gov. Jan Brewer, Rep. Steve King (R-IA), and a growing number of Republican bullies are dead set on squashing the U.S. Constitution and creating a veritable caste system. One of their strongest supporters, the anti-immigrant group FAIR, goes as far as to advocate for denying citizenship to all U.S. born babies "of illegal immigrants or other non-citizens."

Ummm... do they realize that there are more than 38 million non citizens (12.6 percent of the U.S. population) living and working in the U.S. today?

"Turning the Tide on Immigration Enforcement," National Women and Children’s Advocacy Day, Washington, DC, July 15, 2010

On July 15, women and children from around the country gathered in Washington D.C. to share their stories and shine a light on the real life impact of immigration enforcement policies, such as Arizona’s SB1070, 287g agreements and the so-called “Secure Communities” programs, on families. The women and children gave personal accounts of how these programs threaten future generations of immigrant families in the U.S. Their testimony was a way of saying "enough is enough" to legislation and policies that spread fear, violate people's civil rights and tear families apart.

The testimonies were presented at a hearing titled, "Impact of Immigration Enforcement Policy on Children," chaired by Congressman Raul Grijalva (D-Arizona).

Several children gave their testimony on this day. Below are the transcripts from 2 of the children who gave their testimony that day:

Mariana C.

"My name is Mariana C. I am seven years old. I am from Lakewood, New Jersey. My mom is a member of New Labor. I don't like the law SB 1070 because it separates families. I don't live in Arizona but I am scared that that law might come to New Jersey because I'll get separated from my parents. I tell God and the president and the people who help him to do something so they can stop this law and all children can be with their parents forever. Thank you."

Aldo M.

"I'm eight years old. I live in Lakewood, New Jersey. My mom is a member of New Labor. I want to stop the law 1070 because I don't want them to separate me from my mom and dad. They came here to work not to do something bad. They only want a better life for us. They're only workers, they only want to work. I am scared that they will take them away. They are hiding from policemen. I am a kid and I want all children to be happy. My voice represents the voice of the children in Arizona. Thank you for listening. Thanks."

#Arizona's Anti-#Immigrant Law Hits #Women the Hardest

Arcelia Hurtado, Executive Director, Equal Rights Advocates
Posted: July 2, 2010 01:12 PM

Rosa B. was raped at work today. Arizona's anti-immigrant law would also send her to jail if she reports it.

Rosa B.'s story is emblematic of the work that I do with Equal Rights Advocates (ERA), a national women's rights advocacy organization based in San Francisco. Her story also hits close to home. My mother was trained as a nurse in Mexico, yet when she first came to this country, she worked as a migrant worker. She was undocumented and her status forced her to endure unspeakable abuses at the hands of her employers. That was over 30 years ago, but I see her story repeated almost every single day in the stories of women across the country who call ERA in search of assistance. Any progress we have made over the last several decades, as evidenced by my own success, is severely imperiled by the single swoop of Arizona Governor Jan Brewer's pen.

The debate over SB 1070, the Arizona bill signed into law by Governor Brewer, has centered on the race-based anti-immigrant sentiment it will foster. An equally important, and gender-based dynamic, is that the law will disproportionately impact Latinas in Arizona due to their comparatively vulnerable economic status.

Valley group to testify in D.C. on effects of Arpaio, #SB1070

Posted: 06/08/2010

By: Christopher Sign

PHOENIX - A small group of Valley residents, including a 10-year-old girl, will testify in front of members of Congress on how anti-immigration moves have affected their lives.

According to a news release from Representative Raul Grijalva, the Thursday afternoon hearing will focus on how the group’s lives have been affected by Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio and the potential effects of Arizona’s new immigration law, known as Senate Bill 1070.

“I am excited to go there, I’ve never been on a plane, never been to Washington, D.C., “ said 10-year-old Catherine Figueroa moments before leaving for the airport. “My parents were sent to jail for three months when Joe Arpaio raided a carwash, it was bad, they just want to be here to work.”

No sympathy from governor for families separated by deportation

Reporter: Joel Waldman
Web Producer:  Forrest Carr

TUCSON (KGUN9-TV) - On Thursday afternoon Tucson area congressman Raul Grijalva (D-Arizona) will help lead a congressional hearing on immigration enforcement.  Among the issues to be examined is the effect that Arizona's immigration crackdown might have on families.  Grijalva is specifically looking at the controversial immigration sweeps conducted by flamboyant Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio, and will examine what life will look like if more law enforcement officers begin to conduct similar sweeps under the terms of SB 1070.

Valley #women tearfully testify on Capitol Hill

Posted: 06/10/2010

By: Susan Casper

WASHINGTON - Arizona's new immigration law came under fire Thursday on Capitol Hill. A small group of women from the Valley testified before members of Congress in Washington, D.C. They expressed how Arizona's illegal immigration crackdown is impacting their lives.

"My parents were in jail for three months," witness Christina Figueroa explained. "They were just working and Arpaio did one of his raids at the car wash."

The 10-year-old poured out her heart about how she was separated from her parents following one of Sheriff Joe Arpaio's workplace raids.

"I kept thinking that maybe I would see my parents when I got back home," Figueroa cried. "I would also have bad dreams where the deputies would take my aunt, her family and me to jail."

Figueroa's parents, according to the sheriff, were working in the U.S. illegally and charged with identity theft during a crime suppression sweep at a Valley car wash.

Figueroa along with a handful of other women from the Valley traveled to the D.C. with one message... "We want justice!"

Girl, #women describe discrimination in #Arizona (#SB1070)

WASHINGTON - Little Katherine Figueroa sat in a grand room inside a Capitol Hill building pleading through tears to members of Congress: "Please tell President Obama to stop putting parents in jail, all they want is a better life for their kids."

The 10-year-old girl sat with four women who, like her, told a handful of sympathetic Democratic members of Congress emotional stories of their encounters with immigration enforcement.

Katherine said her parents were arrested by deputies who work for Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio. The arrests made it hard for her to go to school, she said.

"I would also have bad dreams where the Arpaio deputies would take my aunt, her family and me to jail," Katherine said.

The testimony was delivered in a packed committee room in what organizers called an "ad-hoc hearing." The partisan event was assembled by Arizona Democratic Rep. Raul Grijalva to pressure the Obama administration and Congress to overhaul immigration laws and to challenge Arizona's tough new immigration law.

#SB1070: Todavía no entra en vigor y ya causa estragos (#women)

Maribel Hastings Escritor, AOL Noticias

WASHINGTON, D.C. - "Lo irónico es que la universidad más prestigiosa me ha aceptado y sin embargo, el estado al cual llamo mi hogar me criminaliza". Así describió Silvia Rodríguez, una joven estudiante de 23 años de edad que fue traída de México a Phoenix, Arizona, por sus padres cuando tenía apenas dos años y medio, los efectos de la ley SB 1070 de Arizona y de otras medidas policiales sobre las familias, niños y mujeres en ese estado.

Rodríguez testificó en una audiencia especial ante el Congreso convocada por el congresista demócrata de Arizona, Raúl Grijalva.

La SB 1070 entra en vigor el 29 de julio, pero ya sus efectos se sienten en Arizona donde la ley realmente ha sido llover sobre mojado pues ya llevan años lidiando con el programa 287(g) que el alguacil Joe Arpaio ha implementado en el condado de Maricopa echando mano de perfiles raciales.

Los efectos, explicó en la audiencia la doctora Sylvia Herrera, investigadora con la organización Puente, se sienten a todos los niveles: separación familiar, mujeres víctimas de violencia doméstica que no se atreven llamar a las autoridades o buscar servicios y muchas incluso se van a California a buscar ayuda; bancos de sangre que no aceptan las donaciones de sangre de hispanos, niños que temen ir a la escuela por el temor a no encontrar a sus padres al retorno. "Es una montaña rusa emocional", declaró Herrera.

Catherine Figueroa, de 10 años de edad, narró cómo todavía tiene pesadillas "y todavía le tengo miedo a los policías". Sus padres fueron detenidos por tres meses tras una redada en Phoenix.

Mujeres de #Arizona piden a Obama que impugne la ley #SB1070 y cumpla la promesa de la reforma (#women)

Por Agencia EFE – hace 4 días

Washington, 10 jun (EFE).- Cuatro mujeres y una niña de Arizona instaron hoy al presidente Barack Obama que impugne una ley que criminaliza a los indocumentados en ese estado y cumpla su promesa de reformar el sistema migratorio, en una audiencia marcada por sollozos y punzantes testimonios.

"Por favor ayúdenos. Los niños no saben qué hacer sin sus padres", dijo Katherine Figueroa, una niña de 10 años y cuyos padres fueron arrestados brevemente tras una redada laboral por órdenes del alguacil del condado Maricopa, Joe Arpaio.

"Por favor díganle al presidente Obama que deje de poner a los padres en la cárcel, porque lo único que quieren es una mejor vida para sus hijos", agregó Figueroa entre sollozos, en una sala del Capitolio repleta de activistas, cámaras de televisión y miembros de la prensa nacional e internacional.

La menor, nacida en EEUU, se ha convertido en uno de los rostros más visibles de lo que grupos pro-reforma califican como una "crisis humanitaria" en este país.

Implora niña a Obama frenar #SB1070 de #Arizona

Notimex en Washington | Mundo

La niña Katherine Figueroa, nacida hace diez años en Estados Unidos de padres indocumentados, imploró al presidente Barack Obama que frene la ley antiinmigrante SB1070 de Arizona y la cooperación de la policía local con agentes federales de inmigración.

“Por favor, díganle al presidente Obama que deje de poner a nuestros padres en la cárcel, todo lo que ellos quieren es un mejor futuro para sus niños”, dijo la menor la semana pasada a legisladores en una audiencia ante el Congreso patrocinada por el representante Raúl Grijalva.

La SB1070, que entrará en vigor el 29 de julio próximo, autoriza a la policía indagar la situación migratoria de un detenido si tiene sospecha razonable que es indocumentado, pero grupos pro inmigrantes han advertido que esa ley se prestaría a arrestos discriminatorios.

La menor rechazó también el programa 287g, que al igual que uno similar denominado Comunidades Seguras, se enfoca en extranjeros en las cárceles con antecedentes criminales para su deportación.

Figueroa relató que el año pasado sus padres fueron encarcelados por tres meses tras ser arrestados en una de las operaciones contra inmigrantes indocumentados que impulsa el alguacil del condado de Maricopa en Arizona, Joe Arpaio.

“Fue muy duro para mí cada vez que iba a la escuela. Pensaba que quizás vería a mis padres al regresar a casa. Tenía pesadillas que los policías se podrían llevar a mi tía, a su familia y a mí a la cárcel. Todavía tengo miedo de los policías”, relató.

There are No Such People as Illegals” and No Such Things as “Illegal Aliens”

by BAR managing editor Bruce A. Dixon

It's been said before, but some things are worth saying again and again until we get them right. So everybody repeat after me: There are no such people as “illegals” and there are no such things as “illegal aliens.” The terms “illegals” and “illegal aliens” are nothing but good old fashioned hundred percent white American hate speech, and any time we allow a friend, enemy, family member or co-worker to utter either in our presence without rebuke or reproach, gentle or otherwise, we are co-signing American white nationalism and white racism, pure and simple. And as black people, when has that ever been in our interest?

Language is a lot more than thinking out loud. Language sets the boundaries for which thoughts are permissible and which thoughts are, well, unthinkable. People can't be stripped of their human rights unless we invent the language that makes them subhumans, or non humans. Aliens. That's why white American nationalists insist on calling brown people “aliens,” and “illegals,” and insist that everybody follow their lead. It's a lead to a place we must not, we dare not go.

Highest Grossing female Mexican Regional Tour Artist, Jenni Rivera, Lends Voice to Defend the People of #Arizona

For Immediate Release  // Excuse Cross Postings // Please Forward

Contact: 
Mario Larios, 011 (5255) 55 75 5208  mario_larios@hotmail.com
Sarahi Uribe, NDLON.  202.285.9673

Date: 
May 27, 2010

 

Highest Grossing female Mexican Regional Tour Artist, Jenni Rivera, Lends Voice to Defend the People of Arizona
Joins International Movement for Human Rights Against SB 1070

 
(Phoenix, AZ) La Gran Señora, Jenni Rivera, joins the movement against SB 1070 with a live concert at the end of Saturday’s march from Indian Steele Park to the State Capitol.
 
The legendary winner of “Best Artist of the Year” in 2009 from Premios de la Radio and leader of the Regional Mexican genre, Jenni Rivera, answers the call of the people of Arizona for a leader and a voice to represent their struggles. While other artists have contributed their names, Jenni has offered to present herself on May 29, 2010, at the Capitol stage at the culmination of the march that will bring thousands of people together to join in Jenni Rivera’s plea to end this vicious attack on the immigrant and Latino community as whole.
 
As the daughter of immigrants herself and a proud mother of five, Rivera takes her role as a Mexican American artist seriously. She performs to be the voice of her people, to assert dignity in the face of this insulting law. Jenni Rivera has connected with fans through her own struggles and is an icon of perseverance and hope.

Sen. Russell Pearce's E-Mails Reveal Future Plans

Immigration Enforcement Debate May Not Stop With SB 1070

Video

• 'Anchor Babies' Could Be Arizona's Next Target

Morgan Loew

CBS5 Investigative Reporter

PHOENIX -- E-mails to and from Ariz.state Sen. Russell Pearce reveal the immigration enforcement debate may not stop with SB 1070, the controversial immigration law.

Pearce, R-Mesa, the author of Arizona’s immigration law, has been writing to some of his constituents about what he plans to accomplish next.

In e-mails obtained by CBS 5, Pearce said he intends to push for a bill that would enable Arizona to no longer grant citizenship to the children of immigrants born on U.S. soil.

Pearce writes in one e-mail: "I also intend to push for an Arizona bill that would refuse to accept or issue a birth certificate that recognizes citizenship to those born to illegal aliens, unless one parent is a citizen."

• Document: E-mails to and from Pearce

Arizona Law Compounds Immigrant Women's Vulnerability

By Irasema Garza, President of Legal Momentum
Posted: May 9, 2010 06:22 PM
via Huffington Post

Imagine that legislators from a cash-strapped state pass a law which diverts local police department resources away from violent crime, forcing them to spend important time and energy arresting individuals who left home without their driver's license. Imagine that the same measures had the practical effect of leaving residents hesitant about contacting police to report crimes and nervous about leaving their homes for fear that a normal grocery trip may end in an arrest, causing local businesses to suffer. Finally, imagine that the law passed greatly increased the likelihood that unprincipled and abusive individuals now have greater leverage with which to exploit their workers, or threaten wives and girlfriends.

Most voters would consider such outcomes to be untenable. Add in the element of "immigration," however, and the normal rules, and measures of effectiveness -- like safety, economic efficiency and protection of civil liberties -- are all cast aside, at least in Arizona.