Arizona Law Demands Action Now!

Today, Governor Jan Brewer of Arizona signed the toughest illegal immigration law in the country, aimed at identifying, prosecuting and deporting illegal immigrants. The governor’s move unleashed immediate protests and reignited the divisive battle over immigration reform nationally.

The new law is the broadest and strictest immigration measure in the country and would make the failure to carry immigration documents a crime, thereby institutionalizing the criminalization of all immigrants in Arizona. It gives police broad power to detain anyone suspected of being in the country illegally and opponents argue that it makes racial profiling legal. The Arizona law takes effect in August and court challenges are expected immediately.

“Other countries have laws similar to this one, but Arizona is the first state in our country, a country built by immigrants to demand that we carry ID legitimizing our presence on American soil,” stated Guillermo Chacon, President of the Latino Commission on AIDS. “As an immigrant in this country, I find this law insulting and alarming. We must take action to let Congress know that their lack of action has hurt the back bone of this country and we will not stand for it.”

The Latino Commission on AIDS asks you to join the New York Immigration Coalition, the National Council of La Raza and Reform Immigration FOR America in showing our senators that we have the courage they lack!

As we approach May 1, the urgency of fixing our nation's broken immigration system cannot be overstated.  With every passing day, families continue to be separated, our economy suffers, and hardworking people are forced to live in the shadows of society, all because reform of our immigration system is long overdue.  Harsh state laws, such as the one just signed today in Arizona, continue to terrorize our community.

Urge your senator to publicly commit by May 1 to reform the immigration system in 2010!

May 1 is the deadline set by the Reform Immigration FOR America campaign for senators to show their courage and make public statements in favor of comprehensive immigration reform. The American people can wait no longer to reform our immigration policies.  Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid and Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi have recently committed to doing so, and President Obama promised us this change during his campaign.  Now we need your help to hold the rest of the Senate accountable and make sure a bill is introduced this year.  

(click here to send the Senator in your district a message.)
Show your courage and urge your senators to stand up for immigration reform now!