http://www.azstarnet.com/sn/hourlyupdate/200699

PHOENIX - A group of immigrant-rights activists is asking Hispanics to boycott certain events this weekend in protest of the state's new employer-sanctions law and stepped-up immigration enforcement by the federal government.

The boycott is aimed only at commercial events commemorating Fiestas Patrias, which celebrate Mexico's independence from Spain.

The groups organizing the boycott say it's wrong to make money off immigrants when there is so much hostility toward them.

"We are against the commercial events created by businessmen to use the independence day just to make a profit," said organizer Aldo Castaeda, director of the Phoenix Immigration Center, a document-preparation business. "The immigrant community is suffering."

Castaeda pointed to Arizona's employer-sanctions law, which prohibits employers from knowingly hiring illegal immigrants and takes effect in January. The law could cost many illegal immigrants their jobs.

And the federal government has stepped up enforcement of immigration laws, resulting in more arrests and deportation of thousands.

Some immigrant advocates disagree with the boycott and fear it could be counterproductive.
Hector Yturralde, president of immigrant-rights group We Are America, said he agrees with the organizers' goal, but not with the boycott.

"It works against the immigration movement, and it doesn't accomplish a darn thing," he said. "All it does is make the leaders feel good about themselves and puts them in the spotlight for another week."

Besides the Phoenix Immigration Center, this weekend's boycott is also supported by Immigrants Without Borders, Committee 15th of September, Hispanics for America and Unidos por Arizona

The boycott is the second organized protest this month. A weeklong work stoppage and economic boycott last week had limited success.