Excerpt: "A phone line hosted by the Arizona branch of the American Civil Liberties Union has received almost 4,000 calls in just two days, many from anxious parents who fear that their children could be left abandoned should they be picked up under the so-called 'show-me-your-papers' provision."

Alabama immigration law: anyone failing to carry immigration papers is now deemed to be committing a criminal act. (photo: Gary Tramontina/Polaris)

Undocumented Latinos in Arizona Are Terrified for Their Children

By Ed Pilkington, Guardian UK

20 September 12

Hotline flooded with calls from parents asking for help in event of being picked up under SB 1070 'show-me-your-papers' provision

atinos living without immigration papers in Arizona have begun bombarbing helplines and lawyers' offices with anxious requests about how to provide for their children should they be arrested under a controversial new police power that came into effect this week.

A phone line hosted by the Arizona branch of the American Civil Liberties Union has received almost 4,000 calls in just two days, many from anxious parents who fear that their children could be left abandoned should they be picked up under the so-called 'show-me-your-papers' provision. Hundreds have been asking for help setting up a "power of attorney", which gives a relative or friend who has US citizenship the right to care for minors in such an eventuality.

"People are terrified. They fear that they will go to the store to buy groceries and won't get home and their kids will be left alone at school," said Luz Santiago, a pastor in Mesa. She said she has personally handled about 50 requests for power of attorney since Tuesday.

The show-me-your-papers clause is the most deeply contested of the provisions of SB 1070, an Arizona law that was passed in 2010 that has set the benchmark for a wave of hardline immigration laws clamping down on undocumented families that have swept across several states. Under its terms, police officers are required to investigate the immigration status of anyone they come across during normal police work and whom they suspect of being unauthorised.

The law was snarled up in legal challenges that went up to the US supreme court. In June, the court struck down several elements of the legislation but allowed 'show me your papers' to go ahead pending local Arizona court approval.

That approval was granted this week and the provision is now in effect.

Phoenix, the capital of Arizona, is already braced for the new power having witnessed the impact of heavy-handed policing for years under the direction of the Joe Arpaio, America's toughest sheriff. Groups working with undocumented Hispanics are more concerned about other smaller towns such as Flagstaff and Prescott, which have large Latino populations but no experience of police officers acting as immigration agents.

Tucson, Arizona's second-largest city, is calling a forum next Tuesday in which community leaders will meet the police chief Roberto Villasenor to discuss implementation of the clause. Regina Romero, who sits on the city council and who has convened the meeting, said the clear fear was that police would be drawn into racial profiling.

"We live 45 minutes from the Mexican border, so who else other than Mexicans are you going to be picking up? You are not going to be looking for Canadians in this part of the country," she said.

Alessandra Soler, head of the ACLU in Arizona, said that there was already evidence that Tucson police were making contact inappropriately with US border patrol officers even for such mundane issues as help with translation. "It's extremely problematic when you have local police contacting border patrol when there is no good reason."

The ACLU and other groups have an outstanding civil rights action against SB 1070 still lodged with the state's appeal court. That legal attempt to put a stop to 'show me your papers' will continue to pass through the courts, and the intention of opponents of the provision is to beef it up with real examples of racial profiling that might now occur under it.

Lydia Guzman, the director of the hotline, said the aim now was to chronicle the impact of the new law. "The supreme court has given us the green light to present to the courts victims of racial profiling, so that's our challenge: show me the victims."

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-12 # randyjet 2012-09-21 07:12

There is no problem since the same thing happens to other criminals when they are caught. We do not give American crooks a pass because they have kids and the children will suffer if their parents go to jail. The FACT is that those who are here illegally for the most part have committed a crime. Over 60% of illegals entered the US illegally which is a CRIME. They need to be treated as the criminals that they are. Adios!

+7 # Activista 2012-09-21 08:58

MOST of the Mexican families in the USA are hard working families. The CRIME is committed by US Nazis/Nationali stic state SHOOTING people (some children) on the border.
Building walls around nations is another sign of totalitarianism.
What we are doing to these families (tearing small children from their parents) are INHUMAN - US is breaking BASIC HUMAN RIGHTS.
www.un.org/en/documents/udhr/index.shtml
Why America can not be like EU?

-5 # randyjet 2012-09-22 05:19

The EU has more stringent laws about ID and working there. They are also building a FENCE along their border with Russia and the Ukraine to keep them out. In fact, before I could legally work there, I would have to have a letter from the chief of police in my hometown verifying that I was of good moral character, I would have to register with the police if I rented an apartment, I would have to have my employer swear that I was needed and no native workers were qualified, etc.. I DO wish the US were more like the EU in regards to illegal immigration. The French do NOT have bilingual classes in their schools nor do most EU countries. Though they do demand that all students learn English.

0 # Activista 2012-09-23 19:07

Randy - "They are also building a FENCE along their border with Russia and the Ukraine to keep them out" etc. Please tell me more about this fence and registration with police. The year is 2012 - when/where did you get this "information" How long did you spend in EU.
Only fence against people is built in Texas and Israel. The rest of the World is democratic and civilized.

0 # lexy677 2012-09-24 21:31

I don't know about the Fence in Europe but everything else you say is true. I have 2 children with a European woman and I can't even live there for more than 3 months in a year. I was recently fined $600 for overstaying. Illegal immigrants have it good here.

+12 # Ninure 2012-09-21 07:22

I'm sure Jesus would approve...NOT!

+8 # MidwestTom 2012-09-21 08:29

You can talk all that you want about minimum wage and earning a good living, but in the free trade world all things and made and grown by the lowest cost producer. You probably do not remember Ross Perot who said that NAFTA, signed by Bill Clinton,(a regular at the Bilderberg meetings) will create a GIANT SUCKING SOUND as American jobs go to Mexico.

+8 # Activista 2012-09-21 10:28

It was GIANT SUCKING SOUND as American jobs go to China.
Be glad that there is a Mexico and open borders. You can not live on Social Security in New York, you can live and have decent medical care in Mexico.
We should start to treat the Central and South America countries as a neighbors, NOT as colonies. More and more are turning to Brasil as their trading partner - with US loosing their market share.

-4 # FTBLE 2012-09-21 09:30

You enter a country illegally- this is a crime. You live in a country illegally- this too, is a crime. At any time, you could be found out and deported- a risk that could be realized at any time. Responsible persons would realize there are 2 choices if they were to be deported: 1) set up some sort of provisions with relatives (or whomever) to take over the care of the kids, or, 2) TAKE THEIR CHILDREN WITH THEM. No authority is forcing anyone to be separated from their children, though we are led to believe deportation goes hand-in-hand with separation. Simply not true when option 2 is ALWAYS on the table.

+5 # Activista 2012-09-21 10:43

"You live in a country illegally- this too, is a crime"
When this crime became a crime - before or after the America was occupied by pilgrims?
Or before or after Mexican invasion?
In Mexico, terminology for the war include (primera) intervención estadounidense en México (United States' (First) Intervention in Mexico), invasión estadounidense a México (The United States' Invasion of Mexico), and guerra del 47 (The War of 1847).

-4 # randyjet 2012-09-22 05:32

I see that you flunked US history. The Pilgrims did NOT simply occupy the land. In FACT, they paid for it as did the Dutch in Manhattan. The US immigrants brought their families to live peacefully with the Natives. The SPANISH on the other hand came as a military conquering force. How much did the Spanish pay for the land they occupied? As I recall, they STOLE it all, made slaves out of the natives, exterminated most of them, and committed the worst genodice in history until WWII and the Nazis.

I guess you also think the US started WWII as well, since the US declared WAR on Japan before they did so. You should recall that Mexico attacked US forces which were on the NORTH side of the RIo GRance which had been tacitly accepted as the border for over ten years by both Texas and Mexico. I think that you need to learn how to think and learn some history.

-5 # Lawrence 2012-09-21 14:51

So, go back to your homeland, apply for a visa, enter legally. Wait your turn in line like all the people doing it the right way.

Mexico's statutes against illegal immigration are more stringent.

-2 # Lawrence 2012-09-21 15:00

ALL countries have immigration regulations and restrictions. NO country can allow unrestricted immigration.

What if... All welfare came to an end, and 20 million or so Americans decided to pick up and move to Mexico because there's no winter and prices are lower? They'll just walk across the border, and once they're there, what can they Mexicans say? They have to let them stay, right?

The US doesn't prohibit Mexicans from immigrating, it asks that it be done in a controlled fashion, in numbers that can be absorbed.

+4 # Activista 2012-09-21 18:08

Lawrence - go sometimes to Baja in winter - there are more Americans than natives. Changing countries, learning new language, working 3 jobs is NOT easy.
I wonder why anybody wants to waste his/her life in the bankrupt US.
In 1968 when I came here it was completely different story.

0 # MidwestTom 2012-09-21 15:38

I feel sorry for the kids here. The people that have caused this mess are the ones who refused to close and guard our southern border. If we open it wide open they will replace literally millions of Americans. The Latinos that we have hired are all good workers, they live extremely cheaply. By that I mean they live several to a room in old hotels, or in small campers, or several families in one house. The more we let in the more Americans will be forced to live the same way.

Our history with the Latinos is that they are generally unskilled, but very hard workers and quick learners.

+3 # Activista 2012-09-21 18:19

"they are generally unskilled, but very hard workers and quick learners."
Mexico graduates more engineers than USA -
Currently, 451,000 Mexican students are enrolled in full-time undergraduate programs, vs. just over 370,000 in the U.S. The Mexican students benefit from high-tech equipment and materials donated to their schools by foreign companies, which help develop course content to fit their needs. Many of these engineers graduate knowing how to use the latest computer-assist ed design (CAD) software and speaking fluent English.
Again - filling the void in the market-place. I saw Mexican crew repairing houses - excellent craftsmanship and hard work.
Open border both way - free flow of people, goods, ideas - THIS IS FREEDOM.

0 # MidwestTom 2012-09-24 05:07

Good Point, in Mexico the best and brightest are not drawn to the gigantic wages of Wall Street, so they actually want to study for a degree with practical applications. We were like that 50 years ago. Here many of the best and brightest become lawyers or Wall Streeters, and our good engineering schools are full of foreign students.

+2 # Anarchist 23 2012-09-21 19:34

Economic exploitation has been bnehind most of the illegal immigration. Before NAFTA big growers used the bracero program and allowed part time immigrants, braceros, to come and work under horrible conditions on their huge farms. You might remeber a beautiful folk song called 'Deportee' on a real live incident. Heartbreaking. Then NAFTA ruining the rural economy of Mexico. We should have a sensible immigration policy like Switzerland. If you have been here 5 years and are currently employed, please apply for a green card which will be automatically granted. If you have been here 15 years, decide whether or not you wish to become a citizen. If you do, you take the course, pass the test, swear the oath and you are a citizen. I live here in SW and people are usually just people trying to get along. Remember, someday it might be you having to go elsewhere to afford to live!

+1 # Activista 2012-09-21 20:04

I agree with you - except except for Switzerland - my friends immigrated there - when visited them - after long drive from Frankfurt - I did not park "straight" and they got so scared that neighbors would get angry - they did not get their papers yet.

0 # lexy677 2012-09-24 21:44

@Anarchist
"if you have lived here(Switzerlan d) 5 years and are currently employed, please apply for a green card......." What the hell are you talking about???. I have two little children there; I visit every year and dude don't misinform people. IT IS NOT LIKE YOU SAY!!!. If you have been there LEGALLY for 5 years THEN you may apply for residency. They are now part of the "schengen" agreement and as an American I cannot stay beyond 3 months without serious penalties INCLUDING JAIL TIME. Don't talk about what you don't know.

-3 # Rick Levy 2012-09-21 18:42

What did these illegals (yes,illegals, not "undocumented aliens") would happen when they got caught? They should have considered the possibility of separation from their American-born children before they decided to cross the border and have anchor babies to begin with.

+5 # Anarchist 23 2012-09-21 19:37

Don't you have even the slightest distaste for the 'Papers please' flavor of fascism in this law? 'First they came for the communists...' Pastor Neimoeller's words are still pertinent as a warning to these times.

0 # Activista 2012-09-21 20:23

Exactly - we are building totalitarian - apartheid/racis t system.
1% scream about free trade .. what about free movement? Building walls and electric fences, shooting people on the border - this is NOT democracy - this is totalitarian society.

0 # randyjet 2012-09-22 05:13

Ilove Europe and its freedom, but they DO have the papers please laws. So your contention that requiring people to have ID is not such an onerous or unreasonable or even Nazi thing. Grow up!

-1 # Activista 2012-09-21 20:16

"cross the border and have anchor babies to begin with?"
do not make USA apartheid as is practiced by Israel.
we should forbid any sexual contact/marriag e as in Apartheid Israel? .. project of "fences and other physical obstacles" to prevent Palestinians crossing into Israel ...

0 # RMDC 2012-09-23 03:47

What's wrong with Arizona. How did it become the racist capital of the US? I've only been to Flagstaff and it seems like a pretty nice town.

I think all of Arizona should be returned to Mexico. It was stolen by the US after a war. That kind of territorial annexation is now illegal. It was not then, but just to be current, the US should return Arizona to Mexico and then all whites might be asked to show their papers every time they go out into the public. Spanish would be the official language.

-1 # Activista 2012-09-23 14:06

U.S. Grows An Industrial Complex Along The Border : NPR | Free ...
www.freetalklive.com/.../us_grows_industrial_complex_along...
1....
In today's dollars, the bill for U.S. immigration enforcement since 1986 comes to $219 billion — roughly the cost of the space shuttle program."
80 000 ICE government workers - defense contractors selling crap to government - like the war on terrorism - scare people ..
Immigration is well down - sinking as US economy sinks. US "investing" wasting 50% of its resources on militarism - do not blame Latinos for it.

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