AZMEX I3 16 FEB 2017
Note: de facto, if not "de jure" ? "he would not ask his police officers to knowingly violate the law."
As always, the words "illegal immigrant" will never be spoken. Your correspondent being acquainted with numerous legal immigrants, who seem to have no fears of 1070, nor immigration enforcement.
thx
Updated Feb 15, 2017 - 8:24 pm
Phoenix will not become sanctuary city after council denies citizen petition
BY KTAR.COM | February 15, 2017 @ 5:25 pm
http://ktar.com/story/1461423/phoenix-will-not-become-sanctuary-city-after-council-denies-citizen-petition/
PHOENIX — Phoenix will not become a sanctuary city after a citizen-filed petition was denied by the city council with a 7-2 vote on Wednesday.
The Phoenix City Council also voted to have an executive session to explore its options regarding the controversial Senate Bill 1070 that was signed into law in 2010.
During a public speech forum before the vote, Carlos Garcia with immigrant activist group Puente Arizona said the recent deportation of Guadalupe Garcia de Rayos, a mother of two, shows the nation is adopting similar policies to S.B. 1070. "The country is turning into Arizona," he said.
Councilman Sal DiCiccio said that he respects activists like Garcia — especially those who risk arrest for what they believe in — but they cannot expect politicians to take such a risk as voting for Phoenix to become a sanctuary city. "The city of Phoenix will never be a sanctuary city like San Francisco or New York. It's just never going to happen," he said.
Councilman Michael Nowkowski said officials need to take a stand on the immigration system, including SB 1070. "I think we need to fight this ugly, nasty, racist law as the city of Phoenix," he said, comparing the battle to that of the civil rights movement of the 1960s. "I think Phoenix needs to be that example."
The petition was met with immediate opposition by multiple leaders, including Mayor Greg Stanton, when it was introduced two weeks ago.
While he is considered to be immigrant-friendly, Stanton — who called the illegal immigration debate the "most important civil rights debate of our time" before Wednesday's vote — said Phoenix could not be a sanctuary city because of SB 1070.
"It was settled for Phoenix and any other Arizona city by that law known as SB 1070," the mayor said before the vote, referencing the part of the law that allows police to transport illegal immigrants into federal custody.
A settlement with the American Civil Liberties Union kept that portion of the bill in place.
Stanton wrote in a previous Facebook post that he would not ask his police officers to knowingly violate the law. "We must respect the Supreme Court's unanimous decision and the rule of law," he wrote.
Gov. Doug Ducey told KTAR News 92.3 FM's Mac & Gaydos last week that Phoenix could not become a sanctuary city because, if it had, it would have violated federal law.
"We think people should comply with the law," Ducey said in an exclusive interview with Mac and Gaydos. "The state complies with federal law, cities should comply with federal law, so that's not something that exists here in the state of Arizona and that's not something that we're going to have."
Several other city officials, including City Attorney Brad Holm, also opposed the measure.
Though there is no agreed upon definition of a sanctuary city, the general consensus defines them as a city that will, in some way, protect illegal immigrants.
In some cases, these cities tell police not to inquire about the immigration status of those they encounter, or they decline requests from immigration officials to keep defendants in custody while they await deportation.
Others say they do cooperate with such "detainer" requests as long as they're backed by court-issued warrants, but won't allow local officers to enforce federal immigration law.
end
Note: Again, the words "illegal immigrant" will never be spoken.
City declares support of human, immigration rights
BY AALIYAH MONTOYA | DOUGLAS DISPATCH Feb 15, 2017
http://www.douglasdispatch.com/news/city-declares-support-of-human-immigration-rights/article_3b470df2-f39c-11e6-8673-77461e98865a.html
The Douglas Mayor and Council reaffirmed the City's support of the rights of all it's residents, including immigrants, by passing a formal resolution on Feb. 8, during a regular council meeting.
As stated by City administration, the intent of the resolution is to provide a continued sense of reassurance and support to local and area residents in an effort to maintain the current working relationship with the citizens of Douglas, and the citizens of its sister city Agua Prieta.
The effort is to continue to promote Douglas as a safe place to visit, shop, work, and live, which was deemed "business as usual" by City administration.
The resolution as written mentions that following the 2016 presidential election, members of the immigrant, and Douglas communities may be experiencing anxiety and fear related to potential changes to federal immigration laws and enforcement policies.
City Manager, Jim Russell emphasized that the City has no intention of becoming a designated sanctuary city.
"There's no doubt that the topic of legal immigration is a sensitive and complicated issue that affects all of us, but more so the binational region; it depends on economic codependents such as that between the City of Douglas and Agua Prieta," said Russell. "The intent of this resolution is to ensure our neighbors to the south that we are closely monitoring the situation, that we recognize that the national immigration issue is one that is impacting all of us on each side of the border."
The city manager expressed that the City of Douglas is confident that said issues will be handled responsibly by electoral and congressional delegation.
The original resolution also highlighted the Douglas Police Department's established protocol relating to law enforcement practices concerning immigration, which reassured that DPD's policies provide that department activities emphasize the protection of civil rights, privileges and immunities of all persons.
Council member Danny Morales moved to amend the resolution, to retract all statements that mentioned the police department.
The retractions included Sections 1 and 2, "The Mayor and Council reaffirm their support of the mission and policies of the Douglas Police Department relating to human rights and immigration related law enforcement. The Mayor and Council support the Douglas Police Department's established law enforcement priorities that consider the need to protect the public safety of all persons in the City of Douglas, and the need to fortify community trust and cooperation with a focus on combating violent crime in our community."
Morales stated that while he supports the intention of the resolution, he is opposed to speaking on behalf of the police department as he felt the mayor and council would be using the DPD as leverage.
"If the Douglas Police Union would like to come out and reaffirm their policies that's on them," said Morales. "...We have no skin in the game as far as the Douglas Police Department goes, we should speak for ourselves…[If we want to speak on behalf of DPD] Let's reaffirm the same language, on the same document, the sacrifices and the risks that they face in carrying out their duties in regards to immigration."
Morales' motion to amend was approved unanimously by the council, with Mayor Robert Uribe in opposition.
Uribe mentioned that DPD Chief Kraig Fullen had previously reviewed the resolution, and did not express any concern or disagreement.
"I'm concerned with our economy...with people relocating...with the way I've been approached by people, who are here legally, and are saying that they're fearful," Uribe said. "They don't feel welcomed. It is our responsibility as mayor and council to reassure those people that ability to come here, whether it's shopping, working, visiting a family member. They should not have to feel that sense of anxiety that they're having right now."
The mayor insisted that it would be irresponsible of the the council not to address the issue, as 80 percent of City traffic depends on Agua Prieta.
Several members of the public spoke before the council in opposition of the resolution being declared at all.
"I oppose this resolution, it is frivolous," said resident, Olga Robles. "...Whatever happens on the border is not our concern, it's the federal government's...it's not needed, we are in America...Don't tell me that the people are fearful here. I have a lot of people who called me, none of them are fearful."
Resident Rebecca Castillo also spoke in opposition, saying "Having brown skin means nothing to me, I'm an American...I believe that as a family of Douglas I have been highly neglected, put aside because I already live here, I don't mean anything."
She continued, "I can not fathom why are we putting so much attention to the people of Mexico, we don't owe them a thing."
Mayor Uribe emphasized the importance of staying united as a binational community.
"This is not about right, left, republican, democrat...this is about Douglas having a binational relationship," Uribe said. "...We're not going to sensationalize this resolution over whatever someone wants to interpret the resolution to be. The resolution is intended to be business as usual. Respecting the rights of immigrants."
END
No comments:
Post a Comment