Arizona Law an Attack on All Women
Posted May 31st, 2010 by Linda MericIn addition to the obvious racist and xenophobic implications of the new Arizona immigration law, in addition to the obvious concerns that this unlawful law targets residents based on the hue of their skin and the language on their lips, there is something else that troubles us. SB 1070 is an attack on women – especially mothers, and those who find themselves in situations of domestic violence, sexual assault or workplace discrimination.
What was Governor Jan Brewer thinking when she stood for all the world to see and signed this wrong-headed legislation into law? There is so much in SB 1070 that compels activists to speak out against it.
Targeting drivers for potential deportation means mothers are taken away from their children, splitting up families in pursuit of enforcement of a broken immigration system. A mother dropping her child off at school or child care in the morning doesn’t know if she’ll be there to pick her up in the afternoon.
And SB 1070 actually increases the threat to women facing domestic violence or sexual assault. Why would a woman call the police to report a crime, why would she ask the police to come to her home, when the first thing they’re going to do is demand her citizenship documentation or that of her family members? This law is a boon for those who would threaten and abuse wives, girlfriends, partners and other women.
It’s also a boon for unscrupulous employers who violate wage and discrimination laws or permit sexual harassment in the workplace. These laws apply to all workers, with and without documents. If you work, under law, you must get paid and you must not be discriminated against or illegally harassed. But SB 1070 silences women from speaking out, from reporting crimes and violations of workplace rights.
By silencing women, SB 1070 permits and condones these attacks. It’s especially bad for the women who face them as individuals, but it’s also bad for ALL women.
What women need are policies that ensure they can provide for their families, policies like paid sick days laws that protect jobs and income even if you face unthinkable situations like domestic violence and sexual assault.
What women need are policies that do not place them as targets of unscrupulous employers, but that help them fight illegal labor practices like pay discrimination and help to close the pay gap (which disproportionately affects Latinas and other women of color) so they can support their children now and support themselves in retirement.
We don’t need laws that criminalize women and make them more vulnerable to harm, but laws that help make ALL women and their families successful and more able to live out the American dream. Join us in speaking out against SB 1070 now!
Cross posted from 9to5 and republished by Jezebel
15 Comments
June 3, 2010 at 1:11 pm by Stephanie BrophyWhat irritates me the most about this post is the ignorance behind it. Why do you suppose we title this ILLEGAL immigration? These people are breaking the law, overcrowding an already overworked system and most are not paying taxes back into the system that is failing under their weight. I was never against immigration in theory but after living in Arizona and seeing the horrific effect it has had on the state’s economy and jutic system I completely support this law. I agree that it is heartbreaking for any family to be seperated, but let me say that I would never break a law that would jeapordize MY family and we need to hold everyone EQUALLY to the same standards. Laws are NOT suggestions. I believe that everyone should have the right to live in theis wonderful country as long as they are willing to become citizens legally. People who do not live in states severly affected by illegal immigration have no idea of the impact it puts on these governments.
[Reply]
June 2, 2010 at 5:54 pm by ceThere is little that I find more ironic than people who are adamant about following rules and yet cannot be bothered to follow the basic rules of punctuation in the language in which they choose to communicate.
[Reply]
June 2, 2010 at 4:06 pm by Helen BushnellAre people who violate the speed limit laws “illegals”?
[Reply]
June 2, 2010 at 12:38 pm by JaraHave you actually sat down and read the law? I have, and I must have missed the part where it talks about “Demanding immigration papers” when responding to a domestic violence call. What this law actually states is that if someone is already committing a crime, such as traffic violation or the man that is hitting a women, and during the police intervention there is suspicion about residency status, such as they do not have a valid drivers license or the license comes back as stolen, they are then allowed to ask for proof of citizenship. Which, by the way, is required by the federal government that a person who is granted citizenship should always carry their Green card.
[Reply]
Elisa Batista Reply:
June 2nd, 2010 at 1:11 pm
@Jara, The language of the bill vaguely states that police are allowed to ask for proof of citizenship out of “reasonable suspicion.” You do not have to commit a crime to be asked for papers. And, in fact, the police can be sued for not enforcing the law, which is what places the police in a tough predicament. They can be sued for violating people’s civil rights, but also be sued for not implementing the law. It is no wonder this law is being challenged by so many parties, including the police.
[Reply]
Jara Reply:
June 2nd, 2010 at 1:42 pm
@Elisa Batista,
You do have to have been committing a crime. They recently amended the wording of “Lawful Contact” to:
“lawful stop, detention or arrest” to clarify that an officer would not need to question a crime victim or witness about their legal status.”
From AZ Central (Arizona Republic)http://www.azcentral.com/news/election/azelections/articles/2010/04/29/20100429arizona-immigration-law-changes29-ON.html#ixzz0maqNkHPz
This is a direct attempt to protect people, like a women who is the subject of domestic abuse, from being afraid to call the police. They are not going to be asking just random people for their Green Card. They also have taken out the world “solely” from the part that says suspicion can’t be solely based on race, so it now has suspicion can’t be based on race at all.
[Reply]
Elisa Batista Reply:
June 2nd, 2010 at 5:32 pm
@Jara, Right. This is from the article, too:
“That change clarifies that a police officer responding to city ordinance violations would also be required to determine the immigration status of an individual they have reasonable suspicion of being in the country illegally. City ordinance violations vary by municipality but could include things like loud parties, barking dogs, cars on blocks in the yard or too many renters.”
The vague “reasonable suspicion” language is still in the bill. As for the ordinance part, your neighbor, who may not like Latino people, could call the cops on you because you have too many people living there. And the police could be sued for not checking it out.
Like many Latino families, I grew up sharing a bedroom with three siblings. In Arizona, it would be perfectly okay for the police to come to our door and ask for papers, if a neighbor complained about it.
Usually people who have zero chance of being racially profiled are okay with this. But surely you can understand why many Latinos are uncomfortable with a law targeting a certain group of people. (Namely, people who look like us.)
Anonymous Reply:
June 6th, 2010 at 7:29 pm
@Jara, But the state has made it a crime to be illegally there. So what interest does an undocumented immigrant have to call the police for anything — including reporting a crime? My understanding is that the police is afraid this law will undermine the reporting of crimes in certain neighborhoods, which makes everyone in that community even more vulnerable.
If this law was not meant to snag and deport more people, why pass it then? Most undocumented immigrants are here to work and support their families, not commit crimes.
Carrie Reply:
June 2nd, 2010 at 3:25 pm
@Jara, I was pulled over and my car was searched with police dogs. After we were released I asked the deputy why we were pulled over. The excuse the sheriff’s deputy gave us was speeding. My hubby and I both knew this was a lie because the cruise control was still set to 55mph. We have speed cameras here in AZ and we do NOT ever speed. Explain to me how this does not infringe on my civil liberties? I did NOT commit a crime and was asked about my status. I am an American on American soil, you do not have the right to pull me over because of the color of my skin, hair or eye color.
[Reply]
These laws apply to all workers, with and without documents.
[Reply]
June 1, 2010 at 4:28 pm by RoseAn immigration law that splits up families, victimizes little children, could result in more family violence AND jeopardizes women’s success now and in the future … makes a great case for immigration law REFORM!!!
We can do better!
[Reply]
June 1, 2010 at 8:59 am by deborahHave you read the immagration law in place now? have you noticed that texas,nm.,ca. all have fences? evidently, you do not live in az.I am a mother, and a full time underpaid worker, as az is a right to work state, so they pay whatever. we are not against coming to the usa, just do it the correct way, and stop invading private property,come and let the real arizonians show you the real az.Stop following the crowd, and getting on the wrong band wagon. Do your homework. or shut up!
[Reply]
Anita Reply:
June 1st, 2010 at 12:48 pm
Please keep the tone of comments civil. Thanks.
[Reply]
Anonymous Reply:
June 2nd, 2010 at 4:06 pm
@deborah, I am a citizen of AZ and I have read the law carefully. The problem is the waiting time of immigration process plus most agents are immigrants themselves and do not have an American education. English is a second language for most immigration agents. I have been waiting 22 years for my hubby’s certificate of citizenship. The agents are incompetent- we first filed in19887 they lost our file in 95 then they gave us the wrong form to refile (we were not notified of this for 3 years)In 98 we did file the right form but we were told it was too late and need to start the process over. We hired a lawyer who also took our money and got no further. We have been jumping through hoops to prove his father is a US citizen. The immigration office does NOT accept the DD-214(military discharge papers) as proof of residency. So now we are searching for landlords who remember renting to his father between 1964 and 1974. The immigration agent asked us to gather all the info and to put it in a 9th grade level graph so they would be able to read it. I say we fire all the immigration agents and start looking for qualified educated Americans to work these jobs.
[Reply]
The only thing wrong with the Arizona law is that it leads to racial profiling, which is bad. The basic premise of “if you are here illegally, you may be deported at any time” is already law. And there is nothing wrong with that, since illegals know they are here illegally and know they are breaking the law and put their families at risk.
[Reply]
Trackbacks
Leave a Comment