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Advocacy -
Anti-Immigrant Bills
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Thursday, May 21 2009 20:01 |
The Arizona legislature is hoping that the third time is the charm when it comes to criminalizing day laborers and their employers. A $3 million deficit did not distract House lawmakers on Tuesday, May 19th from approving a bill, HB2355, which would charge people looking for work and workers on the streets with a misdemeanor “criminal trespass”.
If the bill sounds awkwardly written and dubiously constitutional, it is. In 2007, a similar bill passed the state House and Senate only to be vetoed by then-Governor Napolitano. In 2008, the bill passed the House but died in the Senate.
Day laborers tend to be undocumented and documented Latino immigrants, alike. In fact, in Tucson, Spanish-speaking, Latino U.S. citizens have been among the men that gather at Southside Presbyterian Church in the early mornings hoping to get picked up for a piece-work. For better or worse, day laborers are an integral part of the changing work force.
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Last Updated on Friday, July 24 2009 14:49 |
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