Commentary

Statement by AFL-CIO President Richard Trumka on Arizona’s SB1070 Two-Year Anniversary


Washington, DC–(ENEWSPF)–April 25, 2012.  Two years ago this week, Arizona’s Governor Brewer signed into law SB1070, an anti-immigrant law that has, unfortunately, served as a model for legislation passed by several other state legislatures. The results have been shattering – these laws are tearing families apart and destroying the hopes and dreams of children and making it hard for workers to exercise their most fundamental rights. These laws have legalized discrimination, encouraged racial profiling, and sanctioned egregious violations of civil and human rights, and labor laws. 

Today, working people are standing together with civil rights organizations, the faith community and immigrant communities to condemn these laws. America’s immigrants are our neighbors, our co-workers, and our future. Criminalization and unfair targeting of immigrants is nothing more than scapegoating to divide us and distract our attention from the real problems we face – a lack of good jobs and a political system that benefits the rich and powerful. 

This week the Supreme Court will hear arguments about the constitutionality of SB1070. We are hopeful that the Court will agree with the arguments made by the U.S. Department of Justice – arguments accepted by the lower courts who have already considered this case – that immigration law is exclusively federal law and, for this reason, Arizona’s attempt at state-level immigration lawmaking is unconstitutional.

The labor movement remains committed to comprehensive federal immigration reform and is united around a framework that protects America’s workers, secures our borders, holds employers accountable for hiring authorized workers, creates a path to citizenship, and keeps families together. 

Source: aflcio.org


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