Immigration

Brewer on Immigrant Prisoner Release: Misplaced Blame

by

by Pamela Powers Hannley Arizona Governor Jan Brewer is pissed off at President Obama for releasing immigration prisoners from jail. She believes that the administration is playing some sort of high school payback game to punish Arizona. Puleeezzz. If Brewer wants to blame someone for the nationwide immigrant prisoner release, she should blame Arizona Senators … Read more

Dealing with the Devil: Should Maricopa County Latinos ‘Play Nice’ with Arpaio? (video)

by

by Pamela Powers Hannley

Earlier in February, Maricopa County Latino leaders, organized by Phoenix City Councilman Michael Nowakowski, met with Sheriff Joe Arpaio and offered prayers and support– not protest signs or recall petitions.

Should Latinos play nice with Arpaio in hopes of winning him over, or should they work to recall the “toughest sheriff in the US”, stop deportations of hard-working, law-abiding people, and push for immigration reform?

If there is any doubt in your mind that we all should fight back against the racism that Arpaio embodies, check out this video by Dennis Gilman after the jump.

Read more

Promise Arizona plans comprehensive immigration reform events

by

Posted by AzBlueMeanie:

The Arizona Republic reported today that Immigration advocates seek new strategy after previous backlash (excerpts):

On Tuesday, the immigrant-advocacy group Promise Arizona is launching a five-day bus tour that will make stops at the offices of Arizona’s nine House members and two senators, as well as other stops in Phoenix, Tucson and Yuma, said Petra Falcon, the group’s executive director. Riding on the bus will be immigrants who will share their stories about their families being split apart by deportation, Falcon said.

The bus tour will kick off outside Comerica Theatre in Phoenix, where Ricardo Arjona, a Guatemalan rock star, will perform. Arjona’s 2005 Latin pop hit “Mojado” pays tribute to illegal immigrants.

Falcon said Promise Arizona also plans to send about 15 members to Washington, D.C., for a pro-immigration-reform demonstration at the Capitol on April 10.

The demonstration will take place on the seven-year anniversary of the single largest day of protest in U.S. history, when more than 1 million people in multiple cities marched in support of immigration reform.

“It’s time to separate the Tucson Police Department from the Border Patrol.”

by

by David Safier

2_18_13_demonstr2I attended the 4pm rally at the Tucson Police Department to protest the arrest of Rene Meza Huertha by the TPD and the Border Patrol as well as the arrest of Raúl Alcaráz Ochoa who laid down under the Border Patrol vehicle to try and stop the arrest. Pamela Powers has  more details about the arrest in an earlier post.

The crowd numbered about 250-300 — that's a conservative estimate — and the media showed up to record the event. A number of people spoke, including Raúl Alcaráz Ochoa, pictured.

I spoke with City Council member Karin Uhlich after the event. She said we need "full and transparent information from the Tucson Police Department" about what happened during the arrest. "The mission of the police," she said, "is to keep the community safe. The future of the community is dependent on the relationship between the TPD and community members." She expressed concern that events like this jeopardize both the atmosphere in Tucson and the regular flow of people who come here from Mexico and elsewhere to visit and shop. "This is the kind of thing that could undermine our efforts to assure everyone that this is a safe and respectful community."

Another rally is planned for Tuesday, 12:30pm, at the Federal Courthouse.

More photos below the fold.