Reactions over Ariz.
law ruling range
from relief to rage
Posted 14m ago
By Alan Gomez, USA TODAY
PHOENIX — Leticia Espinoza's neighbor was ready to
go. The illegal immigrant from Mexico was terrified
of the Arizona law set to go into effect today that
would have granted police officers unprecedented
powers to stem illegal immigration.
Within an hour of learning that a federal judge had
blocked enforcement of the most controversial
aspects of the law, Espinoza said her neighbor came
running into her house.
"She screamed, 'I'm not leaving anymore,' " Espinoza
said. "She's such a great person, so I'm happy she's
staying."
The law, known as S.B. 1070 after the bill that
created it, would have required police officers to
question the immigration status of suspects stopped
for another offense if there is a "reasonable
suspicion" they are in the country illegally.
Word of the judge's ruling spread quickly,
prompting passionate reactions here on both sides
of the debate.
Rick Gray, a member of the Greater Phoenix Tea
Party Patriots, said he was not surprised by U.S.
District Judge Susan Bolton's decision. He
paraphrased a quote from Mahatma Gandhi to
explain the position he and other supporters find
themselves in: "First they ignore you, then they
laugh at you, then they fight you, then you win," he
said.
Gray said he remains stunned at the federal
government's inaction over illegal immigration.
Bolton's decision Wednesday, based in part on a
challenge filed by President Obama's Department of
Justice, only reinforced what he called a troubling
double standard.
"They don't want to do their job, but they don't want
us to do it," said Gray, who is running for the state
Legislature. "It's illogical and disappointing."
Phoenix resident Tom Trujillo, 68, called the ruling
a "travesty."
"I was hoping it would be upheld and our country
would be protected," he said. "I'm hoping at some
point the courts will uphold S.B. 1070 or that the
federal government will take action and protect and
secure our borders."
In heavily Hispanic western Phoenix, celebrations
were muted, but the sense of relief was widespread.
Imelda De La Cruz said people had grown anxious
in the three months since Republican Gov. Jan
Brewer signed the law.
"People were scared to take their children to school.
They were scared to go to the store," said De La
Cruz, 41, a Mexico native who is now a U.S.
resident.
Maria Teresa Gonzalez said a local grocery store
had started delivering groceries to people's homes
because they wanted to minimize their time outside
the house.
"A lot of people were doing that. It was a growing
business," said Gonzalez, 50, a legal U.S. resident
who has several cousins who are illegal immigrants.
No comments:
Post a Comment