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Monday
Feb072005
Monday, February 7, 2005 at 06:24AM
Latino leaders are urging Hispanics to join together to address
common concerns and counter anti-immigrant attitudes gaining strength
in Arizona and across the country. They're launching the Arizona Latino
Research Enterprise, a group that will study issues affecting Hispanics
and propose and pursue solutions for the problems they face. Recent
approval of an anti-illegal immigrant initiative in Arizona and
proposals in the legislature considered anti-Latino by some show a need
for the state's Hispanics to ban together, said founding member Mario
E. Diaz. "Power comes in numbers. The more Latinos that we have voicing
their concerns to policymakers, that's what catches the attention,"
Diaz said during an ALRE's recruiting effort Wednesday. Currently,
Latinos comprise about a quarter of Arizona's 5 million residents. And
immigrants, many from Latin America, account for about a quarter of
Arizona's overall growth. However, those demographic changes have
spurred tension, much of it aimed at illegal immigrants. Although they
provide cheap labor, others blame them for rising health care,
education and social services costs. Rep. Russell Pearce, R-Mesa, has
proposed giving local police agencies the power to investigate and
detain illegal immigrants. Lawmakers have also proposed making
English the official language of Arizona, preventing state and local
agencies from printing documents such as water bills in Spanish or any
other foreign language. Arizona voters have already approved
Proposition 200, which requires proof of citizenship when registering
to vote and proof of immigration status when obtaining certain
government services. It punishes government workers who fail to report
illegal immigrants who try to get benefits. "What's this scapegoating
all about?" asked Antonio Villaraigosa, a candidate for Los Angeles
mayor who spoke to potential ALRE members Wednesday. "We have to stand
up when parts of our community are demonized." [more]