Thread: Activists demand protection laws for immigrants

Activists demand protection laws for immigrants

Thursday, March 1, 2007

By SAMANTHA HENRY
HERALD NEWS



TRENTON -- A coalition of immigration rights activists, including several from North Jersey, gathered on the State House steps Wednesday to urge municipalities to adopt ordinances protecting immigrants. They also demanded an end to raids by federal immigration authorities, and called on Gov. Jon S. Corzine to take a stand on protecting immigrant rights.


"The silence of this administration is perpetuating the state of terror our communities are living under," said Romi Herrera of Paterson, a member of the Peruvian American Political Action Committee. "We want our representatives to stop this silence, and it's also a call to them to get local ordinances passed."

The idea of having municipalities adopt so-called "sanctuary ordinances," according to organizers, is to ensure that local officials, especially law enforcement, are prohibited from asking immigrants for proof-of-status in situations such as traffic stops or as a prerequisite for receiving city services.

Organizers of Wednesday's event said there were seven municipalities in the state currently considering such measures and that Trenton already had one on the books.

One of those cities is Paterson, where Councilman Rigo Rodriguez, who did not attend the press conference, said he was studying the issue.

"I think it's a great idea," Rodriguez said. "I think immigrants are victims of abuse of power; sometimes officers stop them and ask them for paperwork they shouldn't."

Rodriguez said he might consider introducing a sanctuary ordinance to the Paterson City Council.

Prospect Park Councilman Richard Esquiche said he was also studying the issue, and hopes to discuss it at an upcoming council work session.

The idea of adopting municipal ordinances to deal with perceived shortcomings in federal immigration law is one that both pro- and anti-immigrant groups have embraced.

In January, The New Jersey State League of Municipalities formed a task force to study the impact of illegal immigration at the local level. Last year, the township of Riverside in Burlington County became the first in New Jersey to adopt a restrictive immigration ordinance, which levied fines for knowingly hiring or housing undocumented immigrants. Similar ordinances have been proposed in other municipalities, prompting heated debate and lawsuits challenging their constitutionality.

Martin Perez, president of the Latino Leadership Alliance of New Jersey, stressed at Wednesday's event that his group's support for sanctuary ordinances was not an attempt to mirror the tactics of the opposition.

"The difference between our movement and those who have tried to use local ordinances to oppress immigrants is that they are in violation of federal law," Perez said. "What we are asking is for municipalities to remain committed to protecting their immigrant communities."

While the debate over how to deal with immigration issues rages on at the local level, lawmakers are preparing to take it up again in Congress. An immigration reform bill, sponsored by U.S. Sen. Edward Kennedy, D-Mass., is expected to be introduced soon.

Reach Samantha Henry at 973-569-7172 or henrys@northjersey.com.


http://www.northjersey.com/page.php?qst ... VlRUV5eTM=

I love the way they always refer to these criminal aliens as immirgrants! Basically this article says these people who are the criminals are the ones who should be protected! And how dare we uphold the law! They have rights and we don't! HOW DOES ANYONE WITH A SLIVER OF A BRAIN NOT SEE WHAT THIS REALLY SAYS!

A coalition of immigration rights activists, including several from North Jersey, gathered on the State House steps Wednesday to urge municipalities to adopt ordinances protecting immigrants.

Elected representatives are elected by American citizens, which means their first responsibility to to protect those of us that elected them, not criminal aliens! I would submit to you, it's us that need protected from the criminal aliens.

ICE can protect the criminal aliens all the way to the border!

This is utterly ridiculous! Why legalize a protection racket.

The idea of having municipalities adopt so-called "sanctuary ordinances," according to organizers, is to ensure that local officials, especially law enforcement, are prohibited from asking immigrants for proof-of-status in situations such as traffic stops or as a prerequisite for receiving city services.

Shouldn't lawmakers be more concerned about the safety of American citizens when exposed to illegal aliens?

Wish I had a dollar for everytime I hear the word 'demand.'