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Thursday, April 22, 2010

HIAS To Governor Brewer: Veto Immigration Bill; "Bill Would Force All Arizonans To Live Under A Cloud Of Suspicion And Fear"

Posted by Genever McBain

(New York, NY) – HIAS, the international migration agency of the American Jewish community, strongly opposes the Immigration; Law Enforcement; Safe Neighborhoods Act, SB 1070, currently before the Arizona legislature, and today urged Arizona Governor Jan Brewer to veto the bill when it reaches her desk.

According to Gideon Aronoff, President & CEO of HIAS, “If passed, this pending legislation would do more harm than good. The Jewish community has long called on our national leaders to reform our immigration laws to ‘welcome the stranger’ and to create an effective federal immigration system characterized by the rule of law and the humane treatment of newcomers.

“Yet if SB 1070 becomes law, it would create tremendous hardships for both law enforcement authorities and Arizona residents by making state and local law enforcement officers’ jobs nearly impossible, and by forcing all Arizonans – U. S. citizens, legal immigrants, and undocumented immigrants – to live under a cloud of suspicion and fear.”

“Among the more egregious elements of the bill is the authorization for police to impound vehicles transporting anyone found to be an undocumented immigrant. Potentially, driving to Sunday school could become an illegal activity. If Arizona passes such legislation, it will take itself out of the mainstream of American life and betray the proud history of a nation built by immigrants.”

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