Thread: Proposed Michigan bill targets illegal immigrants

March 27, 2011

Proposed Michigan bill targets illegal immigrants
Iris Perez

A controversial proposed bill in Michigan is targeting illegal immigrants.

The bill would allow police to arrest people on the suspicion that they're undocumented. Many call it the "Arizona Copy-Cat law," which, according to some, would mandate racial profiling.

A crowd marching Saturday in honor of Cesar Chavez, a man who dedicated his life to immigrant rights, couldn't help but discuss why they feel targeted by House Bill 4305.

"We stick out like a sore thumb. They see a person of color, brown color, you don't have the proper documentation, "we're getting rid of you." And that's what they're trying to do," said Dan Reyes.

If passed, the legislation would allow police to arrest people on suspicion that they're deportable. This idea is the same controversial issue immigrants in Arizona have been facing with a similar bill since last year.

"If you're an undocumented worker, say, from Russia, the skin is light-complected, they're not going to be profiled," said Lorenzo Rivera of the Labor Council for Latin American Advancement.

"I think it's very damaging. I think it's going to cripple our economy because people won't be shopping where they need to because they're going to feel targeted," said Rose Klein of the Labor Council for Latin American Advancement.

Supporters of the bill believe it would be a good thing for the country, state and economy.

"It is to uphold the laws of the United states of America and the state of Michigan since our federal government decided it is not going to enforce our Constitution," said Rick Wilson, an activist and writer.

"We are currently spending over a billion dollars a year in social services to people who are illegally in this state," said David Krueger of the Genesee County Republican Party.

Mayor Dayne Walling is against the bill.

"Those individuals may not have served in local government and understand how this actually impacts a police department. We need to focus our resources on our real public safety problems," Walling said.

"We will fight it. We will fight it to the last drop of our living days," Rivera said.

Some who oppose this bill plan to protest in Lansing in front of the capitol building on Wednesday, April 13 at noon. They say they want Gov. Rick Snyder to veto the law if it reaches his desk.


http://abclocal.go.com/wjrt/story?secti ... id=8037292

Go Michigan! We sure as h$$l don't want things to get so out of control that we will never be able to recover Michigan again, which is the case in AZ these days.