Border law opponents want international fix in Arizona reiterate our total rejection of criminalization of immigration'
Lawmakers from Arizona who oppose their state's crackdown on illegal aliens are joining up with lawmakers from the Mexican state of Sonora to call on theOrganization of the American States for a fix.
The Arizona statute, which essentially duplicates federal law to allow law enforcement officers to check the legal status of those they have reasonable suspicion may be in the United States illegally, has been targeted by Mexican authorities.
WND reported when the Mexican government said it respected the Obama administration's decision to send 1,200 National Guard troops to the U.S. southern border to counter cross-border drug and weapons trafficking as long as the troops don't enforce U.S. immigration laws.
The Embassy of Mexico in Washington, D.C., said, "Regarding the administration's decision to send 1,200 National Guard servicemen to the U.S. Southern border, the government of Mexico trusts that this decision will help to channel additional U.S. resources to enhance efforts to prevent the illegal flows of weapons and bulk cash into Mexico, which provide organized crime with its firepower and its ability to corrupt."
It continued, "Additionally, the government of Mexico expects that National Guard personnel will strengthen U.S. operations in the fight against transnational organized crime that operates on both sides of our common border and that it will not, in accordance to its legal obligations, conduct activities directly linked to the enforcement of immigration laws [emphasis added]."
While the Arizona law bans racial profiling, the state has been accused of establishing the law to target suspects based on race. Federal immigration authorities even have suggested they may not cooperate with the state in enforcing the nation's immigration laws.
Now, on a blog for Democrats in the Arizona Legislature, Sen. Amanda Aguirre has written about a meeting with lawmakers from Sonora where she and other critics of Arizona's law agreed to appeal to the OAS.
The Arizona law critics and Mexican leaders at that meeting drafted and signed a resolution that "will be sent to the United Nations and the Organization of American States - Inter-American Commission on Human Rights."
Aguirre wrote that the resolution states, "The participants of the Bi-National Conference of Legislators reiterate the ties of friendship that unite our two countries, particularly the states of Sonora and Arizona, and emphasize the importance of establishing and emphasizing bridges to promote dialogue between our countries. Faced with the promulgation of the law, we reiterate our total rejection of the criminalization of immigration and the application of the law based on racial profiling as indicated by law SB 1070."
Aguirre wrote on the blog that the meeting was set with Sen. Emma Larios Gaxiola from Sonora and the "Bi-National Conference" in Nogales focused on the Arizona controversy.
Aguirre reported others from Arizona included Sens. Manny Alvarez, Linda Lopez and Jorge Luis Garcia. Mayors and elected representatives from Santa Cruz County and the cities of Douglas, San Luis, Nogales and Somerton also participated.
"The ramifications of this destructive legislation are already being felt in our economy and our relationship of cooperation with Mexico has been threatened. We held this meeting to continue the dialogue between the two countries and sister states, Arizona and Sonora, which has recently deteriorated due to the signing of SB 1070," said Aguirre.
The discussion included commercial and economic impacts, civil rights and civil liberty impacts, and lawsuits filed, she said.
"As a senator from a border county, the simple fact is that this legislation does nothing to address border violence, and it lessens long-standing cooperation between communities and law enforcement. It also opens the door to abuses of civil liberties and racial profiling of U.S. citizens," said Aguirre on the blog.
The plea is assured of getting a warm welcome in, at least, the OAS, which just last year opened its doors to full participation by Cuba. That organization's Inter-American Commission for Human Rights earlier issued a resolution expressing "deep concern" over the law.
The commission said it was concerned over "the high risk of racial discrimination in the implementation of the law."
It also worried about the "criminalization of the presence of undocumented persons."
"In this regard, the IACHR wishes to recall that international norms establish that detention should be applied only under exceptional circumstances and only after it has been determined, in each individual case, to be necessary and proportional."
It warned the U.S. about the state law.
"International law recognizes that countries may establish mechanisms to control the entry and departure of foreigners to their territory. Likewise, international law establishes that a state's actions in this context must be applied with strict regard for the rights of the people affected and with observation of fundamental principles such as non-discrimination and the rights to liberty and personal integrity, which cannot be subordinated to the implementation of public policy objectives," the statement said.
Aguirre told WND she went to the meeting because she wanted to continue a dialogue between Mexican leaders and U.S. communities who depend on the spending of Mexican citizens for their tax base.
She said she is concerned that the state law "criminalizes" being in the U.S. illegally, instead of leaving it a civil matter.
She said the request to the OAS is to determine whether the state law "infringes on the human rights" of people.
Several other Arizona lawmakers who attended the meeting did not respond to WND requests for comment.
Jose Miguel Insulza, the secretary general for the OAS, told the Buenos Aires Herald he hopes the law "is never applied against Latin American residents and immigrants."
He said those who enter the U.S. illegally "have social responsibilities and provide economic benefits for that country."
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President 'Enraged' Over Latest Failure to Stop Oil Gusher
President Barack Obama said Saturday that the failure of BP's latest effort to stop the damaging flow of oil into the Gulf of Mexico is "as enraging as it is heartbreaking."
Obama commented after BP officials reached the disappointing conclusion that a days long effort to stop the flow of oil, known as a "top kill," by packing the well with mud had failed.
It was the latest in a series of failed attempts by BP to cut off the flow of oil.
BP will now try anew by cutting the pipe that lies deep underwater and fitting a containment valve over the leak, an effort expected to take four to seven days.
The disappointing news came a day after Obama interrupted a long holiday weekend at his home in Chicago to visit the Louisiana coast on Friday and show its angry residents that he is in command of the situation.
As I said yesterday, every day that this leak continues is an assault on the people of the Gulf Coast region, their livelihoods, and the natural bounty that belongs to all of us," Obama said. "It is as enraging as it is heartbreaking, and we will not relent until this leak is contained, until the waters and shores are cleaned up, and until the people unjustly victimized by this manmade disaster are made whole."
Obama said he discussed the situation Saturday with Coast Guard Adm. Thad Allen, who is overseeing the response to the spill, and Energy Secretary Steven Chu, Interior Secretary Ken Salazar, Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Lisa Jackson, and senior White House advisers John Brennan and Carol Browner.
Obama said the approach BP plans to turn to next is risky and hasn't been tried before at a depth of 5,000 feet.
He said that while officials were hopeful the "top kill" procedure would succeed, "we were also mindful that there was a significant chance it would not."
Obama pledged anew to pursue "any and all responsible means" of stopping the leak until BP completes the drilling of a relief well. But while the relief well is permanent solution to the problem, BP says it won't be ready until August.
In the six weeks since the spill began, the government estimates that between 18 million and 40 million gallons of crude have poured into the Gulf, damaging beaches and wildlife and the local economy
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Obama refuses to meet with Arizona Governor Brewer.opts for McCartney concert
Obama is just so busy with his fondling of tar balls, and Memorial Day vacation, that he can't meet with Arizona Governor Jan Brewer to have a civil discussion about illegal immigration. No sir.the boy wonder can't rest until he solves____________ (you fill in the blank.unemployment, job loss, BP oil spill, terrorist attack on our soil, the Sestak scandal).
Fox News reports:
President Obama has turned down Arizona Gov. Jan Brewer's request to meet while she's inWashington next week as tensions mount between his administration and Arizona over the state's new law cracking down on illegal immigrants.
Brewer will be in Washington to meet with other governors. She said Friday that she had asked to meet with Obama and Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano to discuss border security and immigration.
But Obama's schedule "doesn't allow for a meeting" with her, White House spokesman Adam Abrams said, adding that the president "does intend to sit down with the governor in the future."
When Obama returns from his Chicago vacation on Tuesday, he will meet with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Peru President Alan Garcia at the White House. On Wednesday, Obama is meeting with Gen. Ray Odierno, the top U.S. commander in Iraq, before heading to an event in Pittsburgh and hosting a concert at the White House to honor Paul McCartney.
On Thursday, Obama will speak at Secretary Clinton's reception for a new partnership between U.S. and India.
On Friday, the president will welcome the Major League Soccer men's championship team, Real Salt Lake, to the White House.
What's more important? Discussing the federal government protecting our borders and citizens or hosting a concert for a Beatle?
I'm sure American's top priority is to curb the flow of illegal immigrants who put severe burdens on our economic, education, legal, health care and welfare systems.
But Obama feels hosting concerts and meeting with soccer players (must be loaded with Mexican nationals) are just a bit more important.
This is Obama's pattern. While Americans cried "It's Jobs Stupid," Obama and his minions decided to spend over a year lying and bribing to pass ObamaCare.
Instead of using all available resources to contain the BP oil spill, Obama trusted the company responsible for the spill.while blaming others for his ineptitude.
Priorities Mr. President..Priorities!!!
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We (in the UK) have just got rid of a Socialist government which has just run out of everyone else's money. They were rude enough to leave a note saying "best of luck, there is no money left"! (Liam Byrne Secretary to the Treasury.)
Their replacements aren't perfect but there are some interesting things to note in the immediate aftermath of the changeover.
1. The ONE BILLION POUND annual Government propaganda campaign to promote the take-up of various "rights" has been abruptly halted.

2. The government ID scheme and its associated database has been terminated.

3. Government ministers do not appear in the media telling ME what is good for ME!

4. A few (too few) government departments have been immediately shut down. (We call them QUANGOES Quasi Autonomous Non Government Organisations! - they spend 100s of millions and there is no way of reviewing them in the GB constitution).

5. We are being given (back) the right to set up and run our own schools.

6. We are going to have a "Great Repeal Bill" to repeal all the thousands (out of a total 3,500 in 13 years) of laws which have invaded our privacy & civil rights.

7. The EU is already starting to talk about "enhancing the latest EU Treaty" - after they "promised" that the last one was the "last" one. This new treaty is designed to give MORE power to the EU to allow them to have more financial control over spendthrift sovereign states such as Greece (and - just by chance - the UK).
Our new Prime Minister has said NO.

The main impression given is one of peace & quiet.
We have a rocky road ahead of us, definitely not peaceful nor quiet, but we have now got some hope.
Meanwhile all I can hear from the US is Obamah telling all of you what HE thinks you should do.
I can't see him lasting more than one term. I can foresee him lasting less.

You are welcome to him, and Blair (Yo!) and Gordon Brown!
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