CLA plans campaign against immigration laws
March 13, 2011 8:47 PM
SAN LUIS, Ariz. — One Yuma County group plans to counter proposed new anti-illegal immigration laws with public awareness and not public demonstrations.
Among its efforts, the Community Leadership Alliance plans to organize forums to educate the public about the measures before state lawmakers, as well as to involve itself in campaigns to encourage people to seek citizenship.
“We are going to continue with citizenship campaign and by bringing in organizations like Border Action Network to inform the community about these proposed laws,” said Everardo Martinez Insunza, a member of the alliance, made of heads of various social service agencies in the Yuma area and south county.
The Tucson-based Border Action Network had previously opposed Senate Bill 1070, a law approved in the last legislative session that would give police more power to detain people they believe to be in this country illegally. Provisions of the law are on hold as a result of a legal challenge of it by the Obama administration in the federal court system.
Among other things, bills currently in the state Senate would deny citizenship to children born in this country to illegal immigrants, and would deny illegal immigrants access to public services and admission to publicly funded colleges and universities.
The alliance's goal is to educate residents about their rights and civic responsibilities, Martinez Insunza said.
“The best method of defense is educating youth, and that's why we're going to have a leadership workshop April 30 with students from 18 area schools.”
A year ago, the alliance came out against SB 1070, a measure that at the time prompted both demonstrations of opposition and counter-demonstrations in support in Yuma County.
CLA will not organize marches or protests against the new measures, he said, because “the decisions are not being made here. We are going to support people who go to the capital, where the legislators are. But it doesn't make sense to demonstrate here. Our fight is over the long term, by developing awareness.”
Cesay Neyoy can be reached at 539-6890 or cneyoy@bajoelsol.com
Among its efforts, the Community Leadership Alliance plans to organize forums to educate the public about the measures before state lawmakers, as well as to involve itself in campaigns to encourage people to seek citizenship.
“We are going to continue with citizenship campaign and by bringing in organizations like Border Action Network to inform the community about these proposed laws,” said Everardo Martinez Insunza, a member of the alliance, made of heads of various social service agencies in the Yuma area and south county.
The Tucson-based Border Action Network had previously opposed Senate Bill 1070, a law approved in the last legislative session that would give police more power to detain people they believe to be in this country illegally. Provisions of the law are on hold as a result of a legal challenge of it by the Obama administration in the federal court system.
Among other things, bills currently in the state Senate would deny citizenship to children born in this country to illegal immigrants, and would deny illegal immigrants access to public services and admission to publicly funded colleges and universities.
The alliance's goal is to educate residents about their rights and civic responsibilities, Martinez Insunza said.
“The best method of defense is educating youth, and that's why we're going to have a leadership workshop April 30 with students from 18 area schools.”
A year ago, the alliance came out against SB 1070, a measure that at the time prompted both demonstrations of opposition and counter-demonstrations in support in Yuma County.
CLA will not organize marches or protests against the new measures, he said, because “the decisions are not being made here. We are going to support people who go to the capital, where the legislators are. But it doesn't make sense to demonstrate here. Our fight is over the long term, by developing awareness.”
Cesay Neyoy can be reached at 539-6890 or cneyoy@bajoelsol.com
