ACTION CENTER

(May 11, 2010 - ANAHEIM, CA) 

The Greater Los Angeles Area office of the Council on American-Islamic Relations today called on its members and all communities of conscience to contact Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger and State legislators to let them know that there is no place in our society for another SB 1070. Recently passed in Arizona, SB 1070 sanctions racial profiling under the guise of curbing illegal immigration.

On April 23rd, Arizona Governor, Jan Brewer signed SB 1070 into law.  The law institutionalizes racial profiling, as it requires every police officer in Arizona to stop and question anyone whom they deem to be an undocumented immigrant based on nebulously defined “reasonable suspicion.”

The law is vague about what exactly would trigger a “reasonable suspicion” and it seems highly unlikely that there is any race-neutral criterion to identify who is in the United States legally and who is not. The practical effect of the law will likely result in officers engaging in racial profiling by questioning and detaining individuals based on their race and ethnicity. The only way for individuals to avoid arrest is to provide government-issued identification to prove their legal status. In one case, officers have gone so far as to demand an individual’s birth certificate.

Additionally, the Los Angeles City Council voted to boycott Arizona over SB 1070.

SEE: Los Angeles to Boycott Arizona over Immigration Law (BBC News)

SEE: Arizona goes over the edge (NY Times editorial)

SB 1070 is an incredibly ill-advised law that raises questions about its constitutionality as well as the legality of sanctioning what amounts to racial profiling. The law will further erode trust between local law enforcement and impacted communities. Moreover, SB 1070 is already setting a dangerous national precedent by inspiring other states such as Minnesota and South Carolina to enact similar legislation. Other states including Colorado, Georgia, Maryland, Missouri, Nebraska, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma and Utah are also reportedly looking into similar legislation. If more and more states adopt similar legislation, immigrant and minority communities will have to bear the alarming consequences as racial profiling will become the norm, enshrined as state law.

SEE: Stay Away from Arizona (Truthdig)

The Arizona law has been challenged, since its passage. A police officer, who sued the state over SB 1070, asks in the suit that local law enforcement be exempt from enforcing the state’s new immigration law because the law will “seriously impede law enforcement investigations and facilitate the successful commission of crimes.” Additionally, the city councils of Flagstaff and Tucson have voted to sue the state over SB 1070. Organizations such as the ACLU and MALDEF are also gearing up to challenge the draconian law. 

Now is the time for us, as concerned citizens who value our constitutional principles, to take a stand and prevent the spread of this extreme and deeply flawed law. While there are presently no immediate plans to introduce such a law into California, a firm rejection of SB 1070 will prevent it from spreading to our state and others. Even if you think that your State legislators are opposed to SB 1070, it is still beneficial for them to hear from constituents that a dangerous racial profiling law will not be tolerated.

ACTION REQUESTED:

1. Contact Governor Schwarzenegger:
          http://gov.ca.gov/interact#contact

2. Contact both State Assembly members and State Senators by clicking on the link below:
          http://www.leginfo.ca.gov/yourleg.html (click on your lawmaker’s name to get additional contact info)

3. Inform your friends and family by forwarding this action alert to them and ask them to do the same.

TALKING POINTS:

a. SB 1070 is against our Constitutional values of equality and pluralism.
b. SB 1070 will encourage racial profiling of immigrant and minority communities.
c. SB 1070 could erode trust between minority communities and law enforcement officers and negatively impact crime-reporting.
d. We Don’t Want SB 1070 in California! Instead, we want comprehensive immigration reform that preserves human dignity and respect.

Please see below a sample letter that could be sent to the Governor and State Lawmakers:

Dear [Governor/State Senator/Assemblymember]

I am writing to express my disappointment and concern over Arizona’s recent immigration law, SB 1070. This law is highly discriminatory and is at odds with the principles of the U.S. Constitution. SB 1070 practically compels police officers to engage in racial profiling. I do not wish to see such a law adopted in my home state of California.

SB 1070 requires every police officer in Arizona to ask individuals for documentation proving their immigration status if the officer has a “reasonable suspicion” that they are in the country unlawfully. The law, however, does not define what will trigger a “reasonable suspicion” and leaves too great of a possibility for officers to fall back on race-based criteria. To avoid arrest, citizens and non-citizens will effectively have to carry documentation of their immigration status with them at all times.

Racial profiling is not only illegal, but it potentially erodes trust between law enforcement and impacted communities. Arizona’s SB 1070 is a dangerous law which threatens civil rights, and it has already inspired similar efforts in other states. As a concerned citizen, I reiterate that I vehemently oppose any effort to adopt similar legislation in California.

Thank you for your attention to this matter. 

Sincerely,
[Your Name]
[Your Address]
[City, State ZIP]