For the past days I have been troubled and continue to struggle internally with law 1070. As a Latina and as someone who believes in equality, I am deeply concerned about the impact Arizona's new immigration law will have on hard-working Latino families.
So, I decided to fly to Phoenix yesterday and see the situation first hand. I went to raise awareness about its dangerous consequences and offer my support to the Latino community and to those who defend human rights.
I'm not a citizen of the United States, but I've always been an admirer and defender of its principles. To the rest of the world, the United States represents the dream of a better life based on justice and freedom for everyone -- no matter the color of your skin. This law goes against those values and against the principles of every American I know.
I love America, and what America inspires in all of us. The knowledge that there were countries like America where opportunities exist and where everything is possible with, as President Roosevelt once said, "a bit of courage, hard work, self mastery and intelligent effort" inspired me, and so many millions of others, to try to succeed.
I don't want to see this law tarnish what this country stands for. If it goes into effect in the next few months, it will not only hurt thousands of hard working Latino families in Arizona, it will also hurt the spirits of the entire Latino community -- each of the 45 million Latinos who live and work in the U.S. and who help make this a better nation.
I can't help but wonder what the thousands of Hispanic soldiers who are overseas risking their lives serving this country might feel when they hear that a cousin or even their own mother or father have been detained in the street or arrested for not carrying documentation.
Are they supposed to hang their uniforms or keep on fighting?
This law not only hurts the whole state of Arizona but the fundamental core values of America, the fabric of society itself. The true victory of a democratic nation is when its people can walk the streets without fear. I'm sure if the founding fathers were witnesses today they would oppose Governor Brewer and urge this nation to protect the constitution they fought so hard to build.
Can anyone call a law that singles out all Latinos because of the color of their skin and leaves them vulnerable to abuse legal and constitutional?
Other states have already begun working on similarly unjust and unequal laws. If these laws are allowed to stand, they will deprive people of protection from the government and access to vital services like state hospitals, food and child care programs. It will divert police resources away from keeping families safe and it will hurt the businesses and communities that depend on Latinos.
Yesterday, I met with Latina women who have been victims of domestic violence. With tears in their eyes, they asked me what they were supposed to do to defend themselves or their children from their abusers now that the state has turned its back on them. Under the new law, they will be unable to go to a shelter or call the police to report the harm inflicted on them and their families for fear of being harassed or arrested.
America's greatness has been forged by the dreams of its immigrants. If it is progress and growth we want, we can't afford to crush those dreams. This law won't bring safety or protect America; it will cause chaos. It won't create unity; it will create division. It won't bring about progress; it will set us back.
It's understandable that in times of economic crisis fear and confusion take over -- people look for someone to blame -- but let's not forget what Latinos have given to this country and the workforce that they signify. Latino immigrants, with and without papers, have generated wealth and economic growth in the United States for generations.
It is a misconception that Latino immigrants take away employment opportunities. On the contrary, we help generate them. In part, it is the tireless work of Latino laborers that has prevented many American companies from leaving the country and moving manufacturing to markets like China. The sweat of these workers creates economic growth and more opportunities for all.
Some of the darkest moments in human history -- persecution of Jewish people, segregation in the American South and ethnic cleansing around the world -- began just like this, with governments singling out groups of people and discriminating against them. It is this kind of discrimination that Lincoln, Kennedy and Martin Luther King fought against. Let's not undo their work.
Yesterday during our meeting in Arizona, Holocaust expert Dr. Michael Berenbaum said:
"We don't live in Nazi Germany and we won't provided that America remains faithful to what makes us the United States of America. It is precisely in times of economic dislocation when a country should return to its fundamental principles."
When I see leaders like Mayor Gordon and others who have decided to stand against this law, to defend human dignity and civil rights, it makes me believe in the America Dr. Berenbaum talks about, the America I've always loved.
Before I left Arizona I also met with some of the hard-working families whose dreams are being threatened. Families that will be torn apart by this law:
I stand beside these, and all American families who believe in basic fairness and human rights.
Those of us who are singers are not knowledgeable enough to talk about the intricacies of the law. But I do know that a constitution exists to defend the rights of all people living in a nation, with or without documents. I do know that the United States Constitution is the envy of many free societies around the world.
Millions of people have fought and died for these rights, most importantly the Americans who created them. I sincerely hope that this law is not the beginning of a new wave of discrimination that undermines the freedoms they fought for.
To Mayor Gordon, President Obama and all the other leaders who have stepped forward to condemn this unjust law, thank you for your leadership and your commitment to America's founding principles.
To the Latino community and all other Americans who oppose this law, please know that I will be with you. Let's keep our spirits up, stay united and protect one another, now more than ever. We've got to join forces and struggle until Congress and the Supreme Court find a just, humanitarian solution to the issue of undocumented immigrants in this country.
To the members of Congress and policy makers, I ask Republicans and Democrats alike to come together and protect the spirit of America.
If there is no problem allowing Latino immigrants to clean our cities, watch over our cars, build our homes, manufacture our products, add to our culture, or drive new business and innovation, then there must be the courage to normalize their situation.
I hope America can find that courage, if only for the sake of the human condition: because we are all equal before God and before the law. Let's hope America lives up to the example and message of equality and freedom that this great country has shared with the rest of the world.
Is it so hard for the Libs to admit it is not moral to do something illegal? Put that in your moral pipe and smoke it.
Kudos to AZ and any State that wants to follow FEDERAL LAW. And yes, I'd say this for the Swedish Bikini team if their are a bunch of illegal aliens. Boot their areses out of here if they didn't come here legally.
Governor Joe Arpaio........be afraid, be very afraid!
Election 2010
Joe Arpaio Will Run for Governor, Claims ABC 15; Paperwork "Filled Out and is Ready to File"
http://blogs.phoenixnewtimes.com/valleyfever/2010/04/joe_arpaio_will_run_for_govern.php
"ABC 15 is reporting that Arpaio already has made the decision to take the plunge and will announce his candidacy on Monday.
According to "several high-ranking sources within the Sheriff's Department," all the necessary paperwork "has been filled out and is ready to file."
http://www.abc15.com/content/news/blogs/story/Sources-say-Arpaio-will-announce-run-for-governor/F51eKWaaTE21_FC-V4o4cA.cspx
http://blogs.phoenixnewtimes.com/bastard/2010/03/russell_pearce_for_sheriff_yes.php
Shakira please ask the Mexican Gov't to change the law that says a Mexican citizen can place an illegal immigrant under citizens arrest.
Please ask the Mexican Border patrol to stop using machine guns on the southern border, and arrest those officers who routinely rob, beat and in some cases strip the Honduran and Guatemalan migrants that ride the train north.
Until you do this you are holding the USA to a standard that no Hispanic Country currently has, and that is an OPEN BORDER that looks the other way against transgressors.
We have the right, no, the duty to stop whining and get rid of the flat out racists in control of ONE political party.
4th amendment: The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no Warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by Oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized.
The AZ law is not only violating the ethnic American Civil Rights by the 4th amendments (if you don’t believe so, then what is the “probable cause?” But is too violating our 8th Amendment by CRUELY punishing ethnic people by forcing Americans to show their papers, which violates out 4th amendment
8th Amendment: Excessive bail shall not be required, nor excessive fines imposed, nor cruel and unusual punishments inflicted.
Gov. Jan Brewer (R-AZ) doesn't know what an "illegal immigrant" looks like
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F2VSGEWzEW0
How is it not violating American Civil Rights, if the law’s base begins with our rights being violated as Americans’? ANYONE?
Now- if the busted light man cannot produce any ID and cannot reasonably explain why he doesnt have any legit ID... that is 'reasonable suspicion' enough to think that this person is here in the country illegally.
that 8th amendment stuff is baloney too.....its not excesive to fine someone $500 bucks , or jail them for six months , and/or deport them, if they illegally broke into this country.
PS- about 45% of all the cops enforcing this law will be hispanic
These issues have been tested and I am sure will be tested again. Minority rights ARE derived form the constitution and the law not taken away. Amendment 14 speaks exactly to this situation and affords all aleins (legal and illegal) the same protections as citizens under the constitution and the law!
So let's generalize and get it wrong as long as our political conclusions match our constituency.
but were not suppose to know that latino pro amnesty groups are about as racist as they come...
Accuse your opponent of what you are already doing, right.
who do you expect cops to nab along the border, irish nuns?
You are incorrect in your statement;
"Can anyone call a law that singles out all Latinos because of the color of their skin and leaves them vulnerable to abuse legal and constitutional?
You imply that all Latinos are of a darker pigmentation. This is quite false as we define Latino or hispanic as culture and people of countries formerly ruled by Spain, usually with a majority of the population speaking the Spanish language. As you well know, the ethnic make up and and ancestry of latinos varies widely, ie from European ancestry to those of western african ancestry.
You then go on to state that illegal immigrants "have generated wealth and economic growth in the United States for generations.", as well as "It is a misconception that Latino immigrants take away employment opportunities. On the contrary, we help generate them."
Academic research suggests otherwise;
Over the past few 15 - 20 years these "undesirable" jobs were from mostly agriculture related sectors. Now, according to National Public Radio, about 3 percent of illegal immigrants work in agriculture; 33 percent have jobs in service industries; and substantial numbers can be found in construction and related occupations (16 percent), and in production, installation, and repair (17 percent). Would most americans and LEGAL immigrants consider these sectors undesirable? I think not.
"Those of us who are singers are not knowledgeable enough to talk about the intricacies of the law" you should follow your advice and take it a step further to include not make, claims that are in contradiction to academics spending more than 10 mins studying this issue. I understand your eagerness to stand up for what you believe is right, however, for you to use your celebrity as a soapbox for this kind of misleading rhetoric is disingenuous and wrong.