Raul Grijalva Gets Death Threats: Arizona Rep's Office To Close After Threats Over Immigration Bill

TUCSON, Ariz. (AP) - U.S. Rep. Raul Grijalva says he's closing his Arizona offices at noon Friday after receiving multiple threats over a state immigration measure.

Grijalva says he's opposed to the bill that would make it a crime under state law to be in the county illegally.

The Democratic congressman says his offices in Yuma and Tucson have been flooded with calls this week over the issue, some from people threatening violent acts and shouting racial slurs.

Grijalva says neither his staff nor constituents should be subjected to that.

He's urging any organizations opposed to the immigration measure that are thinking about holding events in Arizona to seek venues in other states.

The Arizona Daily Star reports that Grijalva spokesman Adam Sarvana released a statement Friday saying that the congressman's office received "some pretty scary calls," including one from a man "who threatened to go down there and blow everyone's brains out then go to the border to shoot Mexicans."

According to the Daily Star:

Grijalva staffer Ruben Reyes said the office has been flooded with calls all week about Senate Bill 1070. About 25 percent are "very racist" in nature, Reyes said, characterizing some as "telling that tortilla-eating wetback to go back to Mexico."

Local station FOX 11 writes that "there are unconfirmed reports that Arizona Governor Jan Brewer will sign SB1070 into law later today."

Comments

[Byron Huntington]

04:57 AM on 05/16/2010

U.S. Rep. Raul Grijalva Is a tratior to this great state of Arizona and must be removed from office before he sell arizona to mexico

[Maritza Mendizabal]

02:39 PM on 05/03/2010

It is a SCANDAL what is happening in Arizona. Remember your history. Arizona belongs to Americans, Americans of Mexican Descent (also North Americans) American Indians for 1,000
years -- how can a handful of people want to go back to the 19th century when the gold rush and expansion killed so many Mexicans and American Indians the owners of the lands?

[IDIOTA]

08:08 PM on 04/30/2010

There is a lot of anti-Mexican hatred out there, and some of it is from non-Mexican Hispanics. This is not okay. Arizona is daring Obama to exercise federal authority, and if he fails to do so, then they will be emboldened. If does act -- because an increase in violence in AZ is imminent -- then that will enraged the already enraged racist teablabbers and birthers.

[dabblesome]

10:31 PM on 04/28/2010

This guy isn't an American. He is a Mexican agent

[charles77]

02:37 PM on 04/27/2010

Comprehensive Immigration Reform is not going to pass because NOBODY believes the Government will actually do any enforcement. We legalized 4 million in 1986 and 15 million more came. As soon as we legalize the next 15 million, many millions more will come to wait for the NEXT amnesty, sorry, Comprehensive Immigration Reform.

The last great Comprehensive Immigration Reform (Simpson-Mazzoli) was supposed to be a compromise.

The People would agree to amnesty for those here illegally and the Government would agree to enforce laws against employing illegal immigrants.

After the law passed, the Left and Right turned around fought every enforcement measure to completely eliminate employer sanctions. Kennedy was one of the worst.

So lets finish implementing our current Immigration Reform (Simpson-Mazzoli) and enforce “no-match” letters and require E-Verify for a while and be fair.

The Government needs to show some good faith and keep their promises from Simpson-Mazzoli act. Enforce our current law for a while before you ask the American people to once again trust you when you say your willing to actually do any of the enforcement that will be part of any new Immigration Reform.

Sources:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/E-Verify
http://www.ssa.gov/employer/noMatchNotices.htm
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Immigration_Reform_and_Control_Act_of_1986

[Snowbird47]

12:46 AM on 04/27/2010

I am a Latina/Hispanic/Mexican American businesswoman here in Tucson and Raul DOES NOT speak for me! The Hispanic Chamber of Commerce members I'm friends with think he's an embarrassment -- he can barely utter a complete sensible sentence. He was made a fool of on local radio by a novice host because he doesn't understand these bills he supports -- the man is a simpleton and only the most uneducated _____ support this clown! This immigration bill is over his head, he says it will fuel racism.... He is losing his grip on the most poorly educated southsiders because if they can't crawl across the border to move into his crime-ridden district, he'll have no future base. People like me depend on our local state representatives to go to bat for our state to draw as much business here as absolutely possible!! But this fool is flattered that the highest office is beckoning -- he is being used by the Obama administration to fuel controversy by violating MY CIVIL RIGHTS as a long time Retail Business Owner by sending business elsewhere. He disgusts me and I can't wait to see him get his just reward -- no future losers moving into his district!!!! YES!

[davecarlson]

11:40 AM on 04/26/2010

U have all the R Words down pat, Race and Rights but what about RESPONSIBILITY. Lawbreakers suffer the consequence for breaking the law. Lawbreakers should not have a problem with that. They have no right to break the law. Citizens and guests in this country have a RESPONSIBILITY to abide by the laws. People can protest that all they want. But Lawbreakers will do it in jail or be deported.......

If the illegals wanted to get legal they can do so, however they prefer 2 B Lawbreakers, consider this:

A Zogby poll found that 58 percent of Mexicans believe California and the Southwest rightly belong to them. Although this belief is bred by a tendentious view of history, it doesn't change the end result. It has spawned groups such as Movimiento Estudiantil Chicano de Aztlan (MEChA), which advocates conquering the Southwest in the name of Mexico. More significantly, it causes many average Mexicans to have no compunction about imposing their culture and language on the country that has so generously given them support. They R not compelled to abide by our laws.....

The illegals, Muslim, Mexican, and others prefer 2 B illegal, they can live in shadows and continue their lifestyle without responsibility. They consider that a right, but it is not right, and it is not responsible. It is reprehensible and unconscionable....

[CrestedSparrow]

02:47 PM on 04/26/2010

What is reprehensible and unconscionable and irresponsbile is the inability to change fixed attitudes of racial superiority in this country, and the gross failure of those who believe and engage in racism, no matter to what degree whether overt or covert, to treat people of color fairly and as equals. You cannot exploit a group of people for decades, blame them for your monetary woes when things get tight, then discard them like garbage when you no longer have use for them-which, by the way, is how many describe illegals and their American look-alikes. "No compunction about imposing their culture and language on this country...."? Where do you think you live anyway? This country embraces many people and languages: Spanish, Mandarin, Cantonese, Vietnamese, Russian, Tagalog, so on and so on. Wherever there is a concentration of these language-speaking groups, the language is recognized and incorporated into normal daily life. And that is how it should be. We as a country should be doing more to teach, learn, and incorporate other languages into our society. It is good for everyone because it is inclusive rather than exclusive. I have only one thing to say about "..the country that has so generously given them support": Not! People of color and the disenfranchised continue to fight for a fair handshake in all aspects of life: education, jobs, income, housing, government, media, etc.

[bluepond]

09:34 PM on 04/26/2010

fanned. Oh, and the imposition of language and culture was done by the recently arrived anglos, not the indegenos and hispanics already living in AZ for centuries.

[PWM]

09:34 AM on 04/26/2010

There are several problems with this bill:

1) It violates the Constitution because immigration and borders are federal jurisdictions.
2) It violates the 4th Amendment, as it requires people to prove their citizenship. In some cases all this requires is a driver's license, but it is not always that simple. For example, someone visiting, from let's say Utah, where citizenship is not required to get a driver's license, can be arrested for not being able to prove their citizenship. Another example, no everyone has a driver's license, and this law would require police to check status. Are people required to have their passports on them at all times - afterall, it is pretty well the only real proof of ID.
3) It will encourage illegals and legals to leave the state, causing millions and even billions of revenue not to be spent there - I hope AZ likes the economic turndown, it is going to last a long, long time.
4) It will force rents, mortagages, ect to go up as cheap labor leaves and the market will determine wages. Be prepared to pay someone $15/hr to clean and cut lawns.

[Pinky107]

12:23 AM on 04/27/2010

1. They haven't done the job.
2. You obviously are NOT aware that EVERY state offers photo ID cards for anyone not having a driver's license for any reason.
3. That is exactly what we hope they will do: Go home! They send billions of dollars back to their country of origin while they cost the taxpayers' money by using public services here.
4. There are many U.S. citizens who already do those jobs for less than $15/hr. and would be happy to have a job to go to in the a.m.

Not of arguments hold water.

[Pinky107]

12:25 AM on 04/27/2010

My apologies for mistakes in typing. The last sentence should read: None of those arguments hold water.

[Dru787]

04:07 AM on 04/26/2010

Wait a second, you mean to tell me if I'm in the country ILLEGALLY, I can't stay? I mean, all I'm doing is getting FREE health care, getting pregnant so I can have an anchor baby, and send all my money back home..

So basically I'm STEALING from the United States! How Cool is that!!!!

suckers!

[blueballs]

06:39 AM on 04/26/2010

Take you brainwashed Tea-Bag soaked brain elsewhere, my friend. Faux News would be a better site because MOST here are smarter than your rhetoric implies.

[PWM]

09:44 AM on 04/26/2010

The US also steals from these people by working them at lower than legal wages and by ignoring the labor laws.

[Pinky107]

12:29 AM on 04/27/2010

Now you are being racist. By your saying "The US", you are implying all the citizens. Therefore, you are being racist. The illegal alien is guilty of stealing from the low income workers by keeping wages when they agree to work for less than the Americans have been willing to work for.

[ksker]

01:37 AM on 04/26/2010

I guess it's not "moderate" on huffington post to say that there are stupid people who carry guns.

[patisok]

01:17 AM on 04/26/2010

When it comes to foul mouths Tea party and GOP win every time. What they have done in Az. will cost them big time. GOP loves to hate and this time they bite the big one. Hispanics will be done with them for a long long time.

[PalinFan1]

10:36 PM on 04/25/2010

I bet the police officers of AZ love the new BullsEye painted on each of their chests. Unintended consequences are a doozy. Enjoy that 200% increase in high speed chases as well.

[Pinky107]

12:38 AM on 04/27/2010

Your thinly disguised threat is just that: thinly disguised! It could even be construed as a viable threat, you know, given the Patriot Act's far reaches. I'd suggest you cool that type of rhetoric unless you want to be targeted by the Patriot Act enforcers. Palin really put herself our there with those crosshairs all over the country. But you're the one who could suffer for her agitation.

[CPAwADD]

06:41 AM on 04/27/2010

Did they teach reading comprehension when you were growing up? He is not making any theat whatsoever. He is merely pointing out the obvious unintended consequences and even goes so far as to point that out by calling them unintended consequences..

He made no threat, not even a thinly veiled one. His concern is for the police.

[beverlyj]

06:48 PM on 04/25/2010

Arizona can look forward to a big drop in tourist revenue. I I just cancelled my annual trip to Sedona. I wouldn't set foot in that moral wasteland.

[PWM]

09:35 AM on 04/26/2010

I would never good there as I don't feel the need to prove my right to be in this country. Best way to protect one's 4th amendment rights is to avoid places that would violate it.

[Pinky107]

12:48 AM on 04/27/2010

PWM, that isn't called "protecting" one's rights. It's called lacking the courage of your conviciton. In other words, you are a coward by avoiding what you perceive is a challenge to your rights. That's pathetic! Could it actually be that you know your rights wouldn't BE violated but you're having fun playing the game? I thought so.

[Pinky107]

12:43 AM on 04/27/2010

beverlyj, I doubt the Arizona Board of Tourism is going to miss you. Nor will they miss the citizens of any of the Latino countries. They don't come here to visit. They come to take the low wage jobs cleaning up after the likes of you and me who come to visit and serving us when we're here. So you aren't hurting anyone but yourself and the Latinos by boycotting tourism to AZ. Funny how that works, isn't it!!!

Actually, to tell you the truth, I'm in the process of researching as to where EXACTLY in AZ I want to move. The dry air certainly would be kind to my arthritus. I'm not about to let something like politics stand in the way of my pursuit of happiness -- legally done, of course.

[ayisha]

03:42 AM on 05/04/2010

there have already been a number of large conventions and such previously planned for Arizona that have been cancelled in light of this law. if you believe that only illegal workers in the state will be hurt by this, you obviously have no idea of how much money is pumped into a local economy from these types of events (hotels, restaurants, etc.). additionally, Arizona is a major domestic tourist attraction, and many small businesses will suffer from the loss of revenue with so many travellers opting to spend their their holidays elsewhere. for many businesses, the summer holiday season is when they make most of their money for the year, so the timing of this whole thing is especially unfortunate in that respect. good luck with your arthritis, but that southwest road trip we keep talking about is seeming less and less attractive 'round these parts... we prefer to pursue happiness with a clean conscience.

[hooktender]

05:28 PM on 04/25/2010

What would be lost?

[PWM]

09:36 AM on 04/26/2010

Money and cheap labor. So much for cheap fruit in the stores.

[seb4book]

04:40 PM on 04/25/2010

until the border is closed, none of this matters