Austin has become a major human and drug smuggling hub and this is what the elected officials of the city think. I'm seeing a pattern, these elected officials are very ignorant of federal immigration laws and the requirement for non-citizens to carry their papers at all times. Back in the 70's I was also required to carry a 'draft card'....



by JIM BERGAMO/KVUE News

kvue.com

Posted on April 29, 2010 at 9:12 PM

Updated yesterday at 10:20 PM

Some Austin city leaders call for a boycott of Arizona. It's clear city leaders want to send a message, first by limiting travel for all city employees, and second, by ending any business or investment relationships with Arizona that don't impact the health and safety of Austin residents.

Last month, members of Austin's city council traveled to Phoenix, Arizona to study how that city was accommodating it's homeless population. But you may not be seeing any city employees in the Grand Canyon State after Arizona's controversial immigration legislation became law.

"So if I'm jogging around Town Lake in my running shorts and tennis shoes. I don't have my wallet; I don't have my birth certificate. So if that law were to pass here, and I couldn't prove my citizenship, I would immediately be detained and arrested," said Mike Martinez, Austin's Mayor Pro Tem.

Martinez says he's in favor of comprehensive immigration reform, but not Arizona's way.

"This is simply profiling, this is simply putting a target unfairly on Hispanics' backs," said Martinez.

So, Martinez has asked the city manager to look into what business ties and investments Austin currently has with Arizona that could be moved to another state. The suggestion has the support of Mayor Lee Leffingwell.

"It's kind of good practice for one governmental entity not to interfere with the business of another, especially when we have absolutely no control over it. But on certain occasions, I think it is essential and make our voice be known," said Lee Leffingwell, Austin's mayor.

City leaders say Austin's boycott may not have much of an impact, but if other cities do the same, Arizona will get the message. Austin residents were split.

"Economic sanctions are a tried and true method that our country has used to correct actions that we don't agree with, so I don't disagree with what the city council is doing," said Elizabeth Gray, an Austin resident.

"In today's business climate, if we can get a better deal doing business with Arizona versus another state, then I'm all for getting the best deal that Austin can get," said Clint Miller, an Austin resident.

City leaders want to be clear: nothing is set in stone at this point. Exactly what business ties can be severed will be revealed when the city introduces the proposed boycott resolution on May 13th.

http://www.kvue.com/news/Some-Austin...-92470949.html