Immigrant Rights Activists Deliver 9,000 Messages To Gov.
Donna Rossi
Reporter, KPHO.com

POSTED: 6:10 pm MST March 18, 2010
UPDATED: 6:29 pm MST March 18, 2010

PHOENIX -- Representatives of several immigration rights groups showed up at the state capital Thursday morning wanting to hand-deliver nearly 9-thousand postcards to Gov. Jan Brewer.

The cards were signed by people who oppose pending legislation that would create sweeping changes to state enforcement related to illegal immigration issues.

A bill working its way through the House of Representatives would make it a state crime to be in Arizona illegally, would allow police to ask about immigration status during any lawful contact, and make it illegal to transport or harbor an illegal immigrant. A similar bill has already passed the Senate.

Opponents of the bill believe if passed, illegal immigrants would be afraid to report crime or call police for help, giving criminals more freedom to do whatever they want. Sponsors of the bill believe illegal immigration contributes to the violence in the valley and want to give local law enforcement agencies more power to crack down on issues related to illegal immigration.

The immigration rights activists were not allowed to speak to Brewer in person, but her legislative director met with the group to hear their concerns.

The postcards delivered Thursday are in addition to 6-thousand similar postcards delivered to the capital last week by the same activists.

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