An immigration conference that's taking a critical look at SB 1070 is taking place Saturday in Mesa, the home of state Senate President Russell Pearce.
The conference is the third of five events planned across Arizona to gain support for federal reform. Sponsors made sure to stop in Mesa to include conservatives as they examine whether Arizona's recent immigration laws are working, said Todd Landfried, spokesman for Arizona Employers for Immigration Reform.
The sponsors have been critical of Arizona's recent immigration laws but aren't simply trying to overturn SB 1070, Landfried said.
"We have some really conservative people coming to talk so this isn't a bunch of lefties coming here to bash what Arizona is doing," Landfried said.
Speakers include Maricopa County Attorney Bill Montgomery, a Republican. Paul Bridges, a Republican mayor of a Georgia community, will discuss how that state's immigration laws have hurt the agricultural industry and tax base in his rural area. Also, Julie Erfle, the widow of a Phoenix police officer killed by an illegal immigrant, will discuss how her tragedy has shaped her views.
East Valley lawmakers including Pearce, the author of SB 1070, have been invited. Landfried said he doesn't know how many legislators will attend.
The event's speakers will explore what parts of Arizona's immigration laws work and which elements are creating problems. Landfried said the law triggered Hispanics to leave Arizona, reducing business for stores where they shopped. And employers can't hire the employees they need, he said.
"It's a mistake really to say all employers want is cheap labor. We need access to labor when we need it," Landfried said. "The vast, vast, vast majority of Arizona businesses comply with the law. We're as patriotic as anybody else, but don't make it impossible for us to have access to the labor that we need."
Sponsors plan to assemble a report after the fifth conference this fall and then to work on federal reform, said James Garcia, founder of The Real Arizona Coalition. He believes pressure is building to end the reform deadlock, citing the Legislature's action to kill a controversial immigration bill earlier this year. On the other side, Garcia said his organization played a role in this month's decision by the National Council of La Raza to end its Arizona boycott.
A previous Tempe forum sold out with more than 200 attending. The Mesa event has a capacity of 160. The future forums are scheduled in Yuma and Tucson.
• Contact writer: (480) 898-6548 or ggroff@evtrib.com
samkat posted at 4:13 pm on Thu, Sep 15, 2011.
It certainly did not get advertised.
DavidNichols posted at 6:21 pm on Thu, Sep 15, 2011.
January 2008 = The first Russell Pearce Disaster, The start of the E-verify Law, and the I.C.E. Deportation/Incarceration Programs.
January 2008 Also = The start of "The Worst Recession in U.S. History."
This is No Co incidence!
My Home Town of Mesa Az. has been rightfully dubbed "The Epicenter of Forclosures in America."
Thank you Mr. Pearce.
The tens of thousands of Immigrant homes vacated litterally overnight beginning in mid 2007, in advance of these programs , and the following Deportations/Incarceration has caused the entire "Forclosure Crisis", not only in Arizona, but all across America.
The massive number of vacated Immigrant dwellings not only triggered the "Forclosure Crisis", however it immediately halted all private sector Construction, and Growth.
This in turn cost millions of Americans their Construction, or Construction related jobs.
In addition to these ill effects States like Arizona that deported mass numbers of Good Hard Working Immigrants, now find them selve's with massive amounts of excess Government Services.
The Federal Government has been Bailing Out these States Government Excesses for nearly four years now.
We call this Bailing our new National Deficit.
Curently millions of Americans sit on Un-Employment , Welfare , and Food Stamps rather than even attempt doing the vacated millions of Hard Labor Jobs crying for applicants!
The Hard Labor Immigrants gladly did "For America", was the foundation of our Economy!
Immigrants Hard Labor was the Foundation, and it supported All other American jobs!
"America is great because it is good, when it ceases to be good, it ceases to be great."
Alex De Toqeuville
Fix America's Economy?
Fix what actually broke it, The Deportation of America's Hardest,Most Devoted Workers!
Getting rid of Russell Pearce is Manditory!
Three years after the E-verify, and I.C.E Deportations began, Arizona Home values had finnally stabilized.
Then came the Racist SB1070, Home values once again plummeted, and may never stop?
To: Good and Brotherhood, from Sea to shining Sea.
k33j88 posted at 4:09 am on Fri, Sep 16, 2011.
Something about this "conference" sounded fishy---ah yes, la raza. Now here's a real American, Mom & apple pie kind of organization. Their only objective is to join hands with Mecha and re-take the southwest. Balkanization seems to work just fine for them. The treaty of guadalupe/hildago be damned.
CooperG posted at 7:05 am on Fri, Sep 16, 2011.
@k33j88 - uh, where exactly in this story is "la raza" mentioned as being at the conference? No where. They're not part of it.
So your point of trying to tie the two together is exactly what? Maybe it's to keep people from asking whether Arizona's immigration really work. There's nothing better to keep your mind off failure than fear.
DavidNichols posted at 10:28 am on Fri, Sep 16, 2011.
Three years after the start of the I.C.E. Deportation/Incarceration Programs, my Arizona Home value had finnally stabilized.
Then Good ole Russell Pearce and Jan Brewer came along with SB1070, Home values Imediately Plummeted again, and have not yet stopped!
Thank Russell Pearce and Mrs. Brewer , my fellow "Latter Day Saints", for all that we have Lost!
C.T.R?
Masterrogue666 posted at 1:33 pm on Fri, Sep 16, 2011.
"Also, Julie Erfle, the widow of a Phoenix police officer killed by an illegal immigrant, will discuss how her tragedy has shaped her views." -- They should also have some speakers to represent those US CITIZENS killed by DRUNKEN ILLEGAL ALIENS. And perhaps also some victims of the "Chandler Rapist" too! (http://www.azcentral.com/community/chandler/articles/2010/03/01/20100301chandler-serial-rapist-pleads-guilty01-ON.html)
ONE DEATH is too much to ask for US CITIZENS to bear.....
Masterrogue666 posted at 1:43 pm on Fri, Sep 16, 2011.
DavidNichols: Perhaps you should become BETTER INFORMED. The Democrats gave loans to persons that should NOT have received them.
Here's some more info for your information. I can provide more links if you'd like.
http://washingtonexaminer.com/blogs/opinion-zone/2011/01/fannie-maes-mistakes-cost-taxpayers-countless-billions-its-backers-are-un
CooperG posted at 2:59 pm on Fri, Sep 16, 2011.
Pirate guy, yeah, so does your statement mean that one death of an illegal immigrant by a drunken US citizen is okay? Or the murder of someone who is Hispanic by a U.S. citizen who thinks they're here illegally is okay?
A_Rose_By_Any_Other_Name posted at 4:53 pm on Fri, Sep 16, 2011.
"Fix America's Economy? Fix what actually broke it, The Deportation of America's Hardest,Most Devoted Workers!"
DavidNichols, are you even on the same planet as the rest of us?
Right CooperG, La Ratza couldn't possibly be behind any questioning of SB1070 efficiency or efficacy.
Masterrogue666 posted at 4:55 pm on Fri, Sep 16, 2011.
CooperG: Where did I write that I condone murder, let alone the murder of a Hispanic person? AS EVER, liberals like yourself take things out of context, attempt insults, and try to make smoke screens. In the end, it only shows the weakness of your argument, and the strength in your opponents. Also, let it be known that YOU were the first to mention RACE. Should I consider you a racist since you SPECIFICALLY mentioned Hispanic people? For your information, ILLEGAL ALIENS come from MANY NATIONS and CULTURES. IMHO, NONE of them should be given amnesty.
As for your first question, if said ILLEGAL ALIEN wasn't here, than said person would not have been killed. In any event, if drunken actions of a US citizen did kill someone, then I would like to see the maximum penalty applied, REGARDLESS as to LEGAL STANDING of the person killed. Just because I'm against amnesty doesn't mean I've forgotten that we are talking about human beings. IMHO, if you murder someone, than your life should be forfit. It probably would help cut down on that type of crime, and be much less expensive that housing/caring for a murderer until they pass of natural causes.
As for your second question, I've yet to hear/read about a person being killed because they someone thought they were an ILLEGAL ALIEN. Could it have happened? Yes. However, I've ALREADY ANSWERED what actions I would like to see taken against said murderer.
I did a Google search for the following: "person killed because they may have been an illegal alien"
(http://www.google.com/#sclient=psy-ab&hl=en&source=hp&q=person+killed+because+they+may+have+been+an+illegal+alien&pbx=1&oq=person+killed+because+they+may+have+been+an+illegal+alien&aq=f&aqi=&aql=&gs_sm=e&gs_upl=2933l15492l2l16091l43l39l13l0l5l0l211l4234l7.21.2l30l0&bav=on.2,or.r_gc.r_pw.&fp=7e03b5402b6aabd8&biw=1280&bih=942)
This was the page's first link: http://www.ojjpac.org/memorial.asp
The second: http://www.khou.com/news/local/Officer-struck-killed-by-suspected-drunk-driver-in-north-Houston-122797274.html
What's IRONIC is that I found no evidence of YOUR claim, but MANY LINKS on how citizens of the USA have been killed/MURDERED by ILLEGAL ALIENS.
So, I believe I've answered your questions. Too bad liberals refuse to answer DIRECTION QUESTIONS.
Thanks for helping to strenghen my argument. [beam]
samkat posted at 5:16 pm on Fri, Sep 16, 2011.
Cooper: I suppose you have no objection to an unabated invasion of illegals. I personally favor SB 1070 and believe it did not go far enough. I would like to see the state start performing random tax audits on questionable businesses and if they are found to be hiring illegals with fraudulent identities and social numbers, the employee should be slammed with tax fraud and prosecuted. If the employer can be found knowledgeable of the use of the fraudulent documents then he/she should be levied fines and turned over to authorities for prosecution as well.
quietgardens posted at 5:36 am on Sun, Sep 18, 2011.
Yes, come to America...through the FRONT door. Apply with the U.S. government, learn English, take American History classes, pay the fee, WAIT until you get permission, take an oath. THEN come to America, and pay ALL of your taxes like every other citizen. Take advantage of the American Dream.
Don't come here quietly, then demand the rights of a citizen. That's just plain rude, classless and dishonorable.
7333 posted at 4:42 am on Thu, Sep 22, 2011.
Once again with government we have the tail waging the dog. The problem "illegals"
Go after the employers full hog. Most illegal people are employed by republican business owners or big hotel chains, meat plants and corporations that are to big to go by the laws because in Arizona business is the same as their God. There money. If there are not jobs hiring them they will not come.