Thaindian News

NEW YORK CITY (BNO NEWS) – The New York City Council, including city-wide leaders and other advocates, denounced the new Arizona Immigration Law on Thursday.

City Council Speaker Christine Quinn said she is deeply troubled by the new law signed by Arizona Governor Jan Brewer and said that it conveys the idea that immigrants don’t have any place, protection, or rights in the U.S. She, along with numerous other Council and city leaders, voiced their opposition.

“America was founded and built by immigrants and continued to flourish because of all that immigrants contribute. My own Irish family came here four generations ago in search of the American dream that immigrants today have every right to strive for,” said Speaker Quinn. “This bill strips away the core of what America stands for and promotes intolerance.”

“This is the America I know—a place where leaders come together to denounce injustice and strive for a better, fairer society,” said Chung-Wha Hong, Executive Director of the New York Immigration Coalition. “We are not Arizona; we are New York! I am proud to stand with the city’s elected leaders to speak with one voice in condemning the Arizona law for what it is—a travesty, pure and simple, and a betrayal of our nation’s values. But it’s also a wakeup call for the President and Congress to fix our immigration system now.”

“As a Dominican American who represents one of the most diverse communities in this country, I find Arizona’s SB1070 anti-immigrant, anti-American and unconstitutional,” said State Senator Jose Peralta. “This bill does not address comprehensive immigration reform; instead it will restrict civil rights and further marginalize immigrant communities. We cannot allow any governing body in this country to legalize profiling based on race, gender or religion.”

“The use of local law enforcement to enforce immigration laws is contradictory to the interests of public safety, because it will deter undocumented immigrants from reporting crimes or seeking medical care when in need. I believe that this law will lead to racial profiling and a host of other violations of civil liberties and human rights. I and my colleagues are prepared to fight this hateful legislation by whatever means necessary,” said Council Member Ydanis Rodriguez.

President Barack Obama previously also criticized the law. He called the law “misguided” and warned it could lead to racial profiling.