Arizona's draconian immigration law is creating a wave of Latino social network activism. Following the signing of S.B. 1070, one of the most anti-immigrant laws in the country, Latinos have chosen to mobilize online in numbers rarely seen before. Within 24 hours of launching the "Do I Look 'Illegal'?" campaign, the Latino page Cuéntame has seen an immediate response -- with thousands adopting the mantra and ready to take action.
The Arizona bill has hit a nerve within the Latino community, with emotions ranging from disappointment to right out anger. The idea behind the "Do I Look Illegal" campaign is precisely to channel those emotions into a new form of social network activism. It is aimed at highlighting how the Arizona law essentially institutionalizes the discrimination and persecution of the Latino community through racial profiling.
Along with the visual campaign, there is a nationwide boycott-taking place and a video series being produced to highlight the movement. For a very long time Latinos have represented a strong economic engine for Arizona. It is often one of the most under-rated and misrepresented aspects of the Arizona economy. The spotlight almost always focuses on the effect of undocumented individuals in the state, and as the signing of S.B 1070 shows, the response is almost always backwards, misguided and a direct attack to the community as a whole.
Latinos taking part in this new wave of social network activism have not only spread the message by wearing "Do I Look 'Illegal'?" T-shirts, signs and posts but are spreading the message of the campaign online via status updates, pictures, blogs, video and making full use of all the social media tools. Available. It is reminiscent of the Twitter green movement that took place last year. As such Cuéntame along with other Latino groups continue to plan actions in Arizona and Los Angeles with on-the-ground organizations to protest S.B. 1070.
Ultimately the "Do I Look 'Illegal'?" movement shows that not only have Latinos arrived in full force to the world of social media activism but that these actions are prompting massive on the ground efforts which represent the first major Latino mobilization in light of the 2010 mid-term elections.
Follow Axel W. Caballero on Twitter: www.twitter.com/axelwoolfolk
Below is information about the demographics of an illegal immigrant in Arizona.
http://www.dhs.gov/xlibrary/assets/statistics/publications/ois_apprehensions_fs_2005-2008.pdf
The typical illegal immigrant crossing the border into Arizona is a male (84%) between 18 and 34 years old and their country of origin is Mexico (91%). Women, children and families are not your typical illegal immigrant crossing the border.
No matter which government agency (federal, state or local) enforces immigration laws, the people pursued will match the demographics (young Mexican males) and the agency will be accused of racially or ethnically profiling the illegal immigrants.
I grew up in Detroit, a city where I was the minority and African Americans are the majority. The experience has provided me with a perspective on race and ethnicity that most white males cannot relate. I believe immigration laws should be enforced and not want people racially profiled.
I am looking for a rational answer that considers human rights and the enforcement of immigration laws. Can a supporter from the "Do I look Illegal?" group suggest way to enforce immigration laws? Be specific include who, when and how.
“There is not going to be an amnesty this year, or next year. The majority of the American people don’t want it, for good reason. They want to secure the borders first,” he said. “Amnesty before we secure the borders would only encourage yet another wave of illegals and hurt the wages of unskilled Americans (and legal immigrants).”
“But every time Democratic politicians in D.C. need to rev up the Latino vote, they dangle the false promise of an amnesty bill. At some point. Latino voters are going to realize they’re being used.”
I obeyed the law, unlike the illegals. Many of us are tired of the screaming and whining from lawbreakers and their supporters. Either follow the immigration laws or take the chance of being deported - no ifs, ands or buts. I sure can't deliberately break a law and be rewarded for doing so - why should they get that break?
Growing up in CA and going to school with and working with all different ethnic backgrounds for 47 years makes a person blind to color. BUT I am not blind to laws and lawbreakers. Please tell me what law I can break and get away with it - even be rewarded for breaking the law. After all, if illegals can do it, why can't I?
In years past, that use to count for something. I guess with Brown skinned Latinos it does not. My observation (and its not scientific) many Latinos (citizens) who were not politically active are rapidly becoming so. GOP beware. You just knocked over a hornet's nest
The Lewinsky affair distracted the Executive and other lawmakers from pursuing security issues of the time. Have we not learned this? Now similar distractions with healthcare reform and many other issues (eg. birther, etc.), prevents those in-charge from discussing important issues; coming to consensus; and getting the job done.
Amnesty is not same as citizenship. Providing amnesty permits individuals to come out of the shadows. Then they and their employers can start paying taxes. Many may opt for a 5-10 year work visa. If the immigrants were given amnesty, perhaps they'd move out of the border-states.
In upstate NY, recent immigrants from war-torn parts of the world (Bosnia, Burma, Somalia, etc.) have significantly helped the local economy. Their children achieve above average in school grades.
Minorities and progressives within Arizona could implement their own economic boycott and punish the Republican Party within their state, and nudge their senators.
A first step is to select the LARGEST CONTRIBUTOR to the Republicans in 3-5 sectors of the economy, and boycott them. As a suggestion the sectors I would look at would be Retail, Grocery, Gas station-operators, Fast-food chain operators, Soft-drink beverage, Beer company, Hotel chain.
Economic Pressure from within Arizona, which will only grow with every month, will work faster than legal action to achieve a comprehensive solution.
Illegal aliens are here from many countries, including European ones. Let’s not forget that in “identifying” illegal aliens you will be profiling American citizens.
This seems like a huge waste of time and resources. Go after sexual predators; go after the people that sell drugs to kids. Go after real criminals that do not want to better themselves and do not contribute to society in any useful way. Someone picking fields or building houses is not a violent criminal. Lets not forget that they are consumers and feed into the economy.
If investigations should be conducted, they should be at the higher level. There are people employing illegal immigrants, and we use their services daily. Wake up people, illegal aliens are not the problem!! Immigrants are everyday people that do not live lavish lives. They are not the ones running this country to the ground. If we stop creating an environment that requires cheap undocumented labor, they will not come here.
At least we're having the opportunity to talk about how this law impacts "Real Americans" like my kids who happen to be of the same complexion as the demographic targeted by the law. Surely our lawmakers can come up with a better way to enforce laws than using a broad approach that could snare innocent people like my kids as collateral damage.
Alienate the fastest growing voter group in the country.
In another 10 years It's going to really suck to be you.