The following is a statement Congressman Raul M. Grijalva emailed to Zocalo from an inquiry on his position regarding SB 1070. He sent an expanded statement that appears to be based on the release posted to his website on April 22, 2010.
"I am summarily against the passage of S.B. 1070 in the Arizona State Legislature. S.B 1070 is a heavy-handed bill that undermines and threatens the civil liberties of all Arizonans. Instead of combating illegal immigration, this bill would devastate and heighten pressure on some of Arizona's oldest and most well established communities. The anti-immigrant and racially charged measure would subject everyone in the state of Arizona to arrest and criminal charges if there is a perceived "reasonable suspicion" of there being an undocumented immigrant. Whereas previously a suspect could face additional charges and deportation if found to be undocumented after being arrested on unrelated charges, S.B. 1070 requires law enforcement to investigate a person's immigration status when "certain indicators" exist, regardless of whether or not that person is suspected of a crime.
"S.B. 1070 does not prohibit officers from relying on race or ethnicity in deciding who to investigate. Because of the fact that most police officers have not been trained to enforce immigration law, many U.S. citizens and lawful permanent residents will be wrongfully detained.
"The reality of our economic situation compels Arizonans and the nation to denounce S.B. 1070 and move towards sensible immigration reform. Instead of furthering divisive and anti-immigrant laws, Governor Brewer should incorporate immigrants into the state's strategy for economic recovery. Immigrant entrepreneurs and consumers add billions of dollars and tens-of-thousands of jobs to Arizona's economy. According to a 2008 study by the Udall Center for Studies in Public Policy at the University of Arizona, immigrants in Arizona accounted for $10.2 billion in state economic output, generated tax revenues of roughly $776 million and supported approximately 66,500 full-time jobs. Immigrants are integral to Arizona's economic stability.
"Travel and tourism is an important export industry driving Arizona's economy. The signing of S.B. 1070 into law threatens Arizona's economic recovery efforts by undermining the state's economic interdependency with Mexico. The volume of Mexican visitors to Arizona powerfully illustrates this economic interdependence. Between July 2007 and June 2008 there were more than 24 million legal crossings of the border from Mexico into Arizona, 99 percent of who were residents of the state of Sonora, Mexico. Mexican visitors spending in Arizona was almost $2.7 billion in 2007-2008. Almost 23,400 wage and salary jobs in Arizona are directly attributable to Mexican visitor spending. In signing S.B.1070, Governor Brewer would be shooting herself in the foot by spurring the blockage of Arizona's economy.
"The governor and legislature are blind to what this bill will really do to citizens, law enforcement and the state economy. Tourists will not come to a state with discriminatory policies on the books. Businesses will not move here. Hispanic workers and taxpayers will leave. If state lawmakers don't realize or don't care how detrimental this will be, we need to make them understand somehow. Conventions are a large source of visitors and revenue, and targeting them is the most effective way to make this point before it's too late. Just as professional athletes refused to recognize Arizona until it recognized Martin Luther King Jr., we are calling on organizations not to schedule conventions and conferences in Arizona until it recognizes civil rights and the meaning of due process. We don't want to sustain this effort any longer than necessary. It's about sending a message."
Sincerely,
Raul M. Grijalva
Member of Congress
