SAY “NO!” TO MICHIGAN’S “COPY CAT” LAW ON IMMIGRATION – HB 6256

The Community Voice/La Voz Magazine  July 2010 Issue Editorial

I remember as a youth using the terms “copy cat” and saying to other kids “Monkey see, monkey do” when they were copying an action.  We would often kid about other kids not having original ideas.  Well, there is no kidding here in Michigan!  Our State legislature is copying Arizona in considering a bill introduced June 10 by Reps. Meltzer, Marleau, Lund, Walsh, Knollenberg, Haines, Rogers Kowall, Rick Jones, Proos, Ball, Calley, Kurtz, Crawford, Horn, Daley, Moore, Haveman and referred to the Committee on Judiciary.  Get ready for more “craziness in Michigan”.

Considered to be an anti-immigrant initiative by conservative Republicans hoping to gain support among immigrant bashers, Michigan HB 6256 known as the “Immigration Law Enforcement Act” is already stirring up emotions.  I am ready to put a bumper sticker on my car that reads “Stop me and check my papers, I’m Canadian.”  I look at it as an opportunity to discuss racial profiling in America and an eroding respect for civil rights in 2010.  Also, to ask if we are going to set up additional minute men outposts on the Canadian-Michigan borders.

The Michigan bill is similar to Arizona SB 1070 that prevents illegal immigration. Provisions of HB 6256

bill allow police officers to arrest and detain people with sufficient reasonable suspicion they are in the U.S. illegally.  Those persons found to be in the U.S. unlawfully may be deported back to their country of origin.

Failing to provide proof of insurance, registration, operator’s license or alien registration documents while accused of an infraction can trigger reasonable suspicion.  Unfortunately, a foreign sounding accent, the way a person is dressed or the color of their skin may trigger the process of interrogation about one’s origins.

Alarm about potential racial profiling of persons who are minority persons of non-white, or non-Christian looking backgrounds are widespread among Hispanic, Arab, Muslim, and other mixed race persons.  It may be common soon to be stopped for “looking foreign”.

While police officials and sponsors of the House Bill 6256 are holding public discussion sessions in Wayne County (S.E. Michigan), the bill has already been denounced by Arab and Hispanic Community leaders in Michigan.  The Michigan Department of Civil Rights, the ACLU, The Michigan Hispanic Chamber of Commerce and Minority Press have expressed opposition to the bill.  Please add my name, Dr. José A. Flores and this publication; The Community Voice/La Voz Magazine to the list of individuals and organizations that detest anti-immigrant, racist legislation aimed at racial, ethnic and religious minority groups in Michigan.  Legislators please stop the madness!

We should be focused on putting Americans back to work, rebuilding our economy and finding a humane and just way of dealing with persons who do not have their proper documentation to be in the United States.  We should be more sympathetic to people who have live here for many years abide by our laws, contributed to our economy and paid taxes without reaping welfare or unemployment benefits from our state and country.

Immigrants have faithfully harvested our crops year after year, cared for our children, cleaned our homes, cared for our lawns, helped build our houses, buildings and roads during periods of critical labor shortages due to wars, natural catastrophes and economic boom times.  Surely we have benefited as a state and as a nation from the sweat of their brows.  They deserve a dignified and status among us.

Before any more laws are enacted by legislators and policy-makers in the State of Michigan, I would like to challenge to current State legislators, County Commissioners, City Commissioners, candidates for current public offices including Gubernatorial and Congressional candidates to spend a day in working in the fields harvesting crops.

A group of community leaders are formally issuing a challenge in West Michigan to “TAKE OUR JOBS” on July 24^th.  The group will meet any and all persons who want to work harvesting Cherries, Blueberries and other crops on this day beginning at 7:00 a.m. at La Familia, 1066 Grandville Ave. S.W. (Parking Lot).  We will caravan to local orchards near Grand Rapids and harvest fruit for the day.

We pray that this experience will open some eyes, touch some hearts and change some minds about the value of immigrant labor and the jobs they perform.  Please call me for more information:  616-581-6271 or email me at drjflores1@gmail.com

Popularity: 19% [?]

Short URL: http://lavozweb.com/?p=292