Pasadena condemns Arizona immigration law

Pasadena OKs resolution against Arizona's immigration law
Brenda Gazzar, Staff Writer
Posted: 05/17/2010 10:38:08 PM PDT

PASADENA - In a 5-2 vote, the City Council on Monday condemned Arizona's controversial new immigration law and called upon Congress for comprehensive immigration reform.

Council members Margaret McAustin and Terry Tornek voted against the resolution. Councilman Steve Haderlein was absent.

Los Angeles, San Diego and San Francisco are among several cities to wage a boycott of The Grand Canyon State for enacting a tough law aimed at curbing illegal immigration. However, Pasadena city officials opted to take a more moderate stance.

In a separate motion by Councilman Chris Holden, the Council agreed to send a clear statement to congressional and national leaders to take up the issue of comprehensive immigration reform immediately.

"Simply failing to be in possession of certain documents should not subject any American to arrest," Councilman Victor Gordo said. "A few years ago I was cited by a (California Highway Patrol) officer for having left home in a hurry and having left my wallet. No American should be subject to arrest for making that simple mistake."

Arizona's new law would mandate police ask for proof of U.S. citizenship from those suspected of committing a crime, as long as officers had reasonable cause to believe the suspect was in the country illegally.

Critics have charged it would lead to racial profiling and discrimination against Latinos.

Gordo proposed the Council support a resolution put forward by
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Phoenix Mayor Phil Gordon to the U.S. Conference of Mayors that asks the implementation of Senate Bill 1070 be delayed until the matter is resolved by the courts. The resolution also asks Congress to enact comprehensive bi-partisan immigration reform.

"We should not remain silent when a law anywhere in the United States has the effect of stigmatizing any Americans," Gordo said. "In this case, Senate Bill 1070 has the effect of stigmatizing American Latinos and I think that's wrong."

Some residents at the council meeting called Arizona's law discriminatory.

"We have to teach our children that when the law is wrong, we have to take a stand on it," Randy Ertll, executive director of El Centro de Accion Social.

Meanwhile, Pasadena resident Edna Jones spoke out against the resolution.

"With all the problems Pasadena has, what gives it the right to interfere in another state's business," Jones asked. "I applaud (Arizona) Gov. Jan Brewer in signing this law against illegal immigrants ... entering her state. As governor, she has the duty to protect the citizens."

McAustin said Pasadena should focus on its own business.

"We spent more time on this issue than we did on the budget ... I think we need to keep our priorities straight," McAustin said.

But Councilman Steve Madison said he thought the issue was one that affects Pasadena because 33 percent of the community is Latino.

He said it was the federal government's role to address the issue of immigration reform rather than the states'.

After carefully considering the issue, Councilwoman Jacque Robinson said earlier Monday she thinks a boycott would not have the intended impact.

"I think the ramifications of it are too far reaching," she said. "At the end of the day, it would not be good for everyday employees and residents in the state of Arizona, and those are the individuals that we're trying to support through our actions."

brenda.gazzar@sgvn.com
626-578-6300, ext. 4496

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