OR Observations of the AZ Immigration Battle
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July 29, 2010
PORTLAND, Ore. - The day before Arizona's tough new immigration law was set to take effect, a federal judge stopped major portions of it with a court injunction. Her objections focus on some of the more controversial elements of the law, SB 1070, such as requiring immigrants to carry registration papers and allowing arrests without warrants.
In Oregon, immigrants' rights groups have been watching the legal battle closely. Francisco Lopez, executive director of CAUSA, predicts it will end up in the U.S. Supreme Court, unless Congress sees the controversy as a cue to take action.
"The President must play a stronger leadership role, and also, Senate Republicans should engage in passing a comprehensive immigration reform bill this year. Most Americans support comprehensive immigration reform, rather than having laws like the Arizona type."
The injunction is in line with other state-level cases in which the courts have also ruled that immigration is a federal issue, not to be regulated by state law, Lopez adds.
CAUSA and other groups are planning a rally today in Portland to show their support of Arizonans who oppose SB 1070. The court injunction does not apply to some portions of the new law, and those take effect today.
Rep. Mitch Greenlick (D-33, Portland) is hoping Arizona's struggles will pave the way for a legal path for immigrants to remain in the U.S. He says he's thinking in terms of demographics: Oregon's immigrant population is a source of reliable workers that will become even more critical as Baby Boomers age.
"I don't believe people are here taking away jobs U.S. citizens want. I believe people are here because they need to work, they need to support their families, and because there's a lot of work that our folks just don't want to do. You know, I am not gonna go be picking strawberries. I'm happy to have somebody pick those strawberries for me."
Greenlick is a member of the group "State Legislators for Progressive Immigration Policy." It's made up of lawmakers from 28 states who support policies they see as less divisive than the Arizona law.
Those who support the Arizona law say immigrants have become an expensive drain on the state and contend that the federal government has not done enough to enforce border security.
The rally is scheduled for 5 p.m. at the corner of N.E. Holladay and 13th Ave., Portland.