Latino lawyers in San Benito and its surrounding counties are
trying their best to fight back against Arizona’s passed
legislation regarding illegal immigrants and Tuesday they will ask
the San Benito County Board of Supervisors to join their cause.
Latino lawyers in San Benito and its surrounding counties are trying their best to fight back against Arizona’s passed legislation regarding illegal immigrants and Tuesday they will ask the San Benito County Board of Supervisors to join their cause.
The San Benito County Latino Legal Professionals and Attorney’s Association drafted and signed a resolution against the law that it planned to present to the county board Tuesday morning. The meeting is set for 9 a.m. at the County Administration Building, 481 Fourth St.
The resolution calls for the federal government to step in and stop the drafting of the law, S.B. 1070, before it damages law enforcement’s ability to do its job in the state.
“The effect of this statute will be a curtailment of meaningful interaction between law enforcement, victims of crime, and witnesses within the Latino community,” the resolution states.
It goes on to describe the law as forcing law enforcement officers to act in racial and cultural profiling.
The Latino association hopes to gather the board’s support.
“We are going in front of the board of supervisors to support a resolution against that type of law and to encourage a resolution to stop that type of treatment,” member Elvira Zaragoza-Robinson said.
Other counties and cities throughout the country have drafted similar resolutions denouncing the Arizona law, including San Francisco and Salinas.
“It’s important because this type of attitude is racist and it affects everyone,” Zaragoza-Robinson said. “If we don’t stop this, this trend will continue.”
Attorney’s Association Chairman Peter Leroe-Munoz hopes that the county can start a discussion on the issue and create some leadership against it, he said.
“We can raise the awareness of local officials to create some positive reform,” he said.
