Published: June 7, 2010
Updated: 9:17 a.m.

Cypress councilman wants to support Arizona

By MICHAEL MELLO
THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER

CYPRESS - City Councilman Phil Luebben wants his fellow councilmen to pass a resolution condemning boycotts of Arizona businesses, making Cypress the latest city to join the debate about Arizona's immigration law.

Luebben has announced he will introduce his resolution at the city's next council meeting on June 14.

The proposed resolution criticizes Los Angeles , San Francisco, Santa Ana and other California cities for opposing the Arizona law and promoting boycotts against Arizona.

The text of the resolution avoids a direct stand on the controversial Arizona law, though it does note "the city of Cypress understands Arizona's frustration and supports its efforts to try and address the negative impacts that illegal immigration has had on that state."

The proposed resolution focuses more on the boycotts against the state's businesses, calling them "mean-spirited," and suggesting they're unconstitutional.

The Cypress resolution instead notes "the City Council of the city of Cypress does hereby strongly support the businesses and residents in Arizona and encourages free trade and interstate commerce by and between the City of Cypress and the State of Arizona."

Last week the Yorba Linda City Council became the first in Orange County to support the Arizona law. Orange is poised to consider a similar resolution on Tuesday. Costa Mesa's council has taken a different approach, calling itself a "rule of law" city, saying immigration enforcement is welcome in that city.

Santa Ana was the first city in the Orange County to tackle Arizona's law. The Santa Ana City Council condemned the immigration law, voting to send a resolution of opposition to Congress, the White House and Arizona's governor. On Thursday, protesters rallied outside the Immigration and Customs Enforcement office in Santa Ana, blocking traffic to show their opposition for Arizona's laws and their support for the rights of illegal immigrants.

An effort by Villa Park Councilwoman Deborah Pauly to take a stand on the Arizona law died from lack of support from her fellow council members, who said their job is to focus on city issues.

A group of Orange County residents travelled to Phoenix over the weekend. They joined hundreds of people at the Arizona capital to rally in support of the immigration law.

A separate group will head to Phoenix this coming weekend to voice their opposition to the law, SB 1070.

The Arizona statute requires law enforcement officers who have already stopped someone on suspicion of a violation to question that person about his or her immigration status if there is "reasonable suspicion" that person may be in the country illegally. The law is due to go into effect next month.

Contact the writer: 714-704-3796 or mmello@ocregister.com

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