Last week, Representative Donald Pridemore’s long anticipated anti-immigrant bill was assigned a bill number, AB 173, and a committee, Homeland Security and State Affairs (https://docs.legis.wisconsin.gov/2011/proposals/ab173).
If passed, AB 173, would force local law enforcement to ask those stopped for civil or criminal violations for proof of citizenship or legal Immigration status.
If the person fails to provide any such identification, they can be detained for up to 48 hours until they provide proof that they are in the country legally.
In practice, the bill would encourage law enforcement officers to engage in racial profiling against people of color and immigrants, regardless of immigration status. It also criminalizes immigrant communities by turning a civil violation into a criminal violation and undermining the supremacy of the federal government in the creation and enforcement of immigration laws.
TAKE ACTION NOW
1) We have just learned that Republican Assembly leaders have called for an “extraordinary session” on Tuesday. This move will limit debate, amendments and democracy and allow them to ram Governor Walker’s devastating budget through the legislature.
Join Voces de la Frontera Action and the We Are Wisconsin coalition TOMORROW- to stand against a budget which will eliminate in-state tuition for immigrant students and pave the way for AB-173 to gain momentum.
WHAT: Rally at the Capitol: Save in-state tuition! Fight the coming Arizona copy-cat bill!
WHERE: Capitol Square and State Street, Madison
WHEN: 5:30 pm
If you need a ride, please contact Vanessa with Voces Action, (414) 643-1620
2) Call Governor Walker and the Chairs of the Committee on Homeland Security and State Affairs and ask them to go on the record now in opposition.
Representative Van Roy (Chair, R, Green Bay)– (608) 266-0616
Representative Kuglitsch (Vice-Chair, R, New Berlin)– (608) 267-5158
Governor Scott Walker– (608) 266-1212
Call Script:
“I am calling to oppose Representatvie Pridemore’s bill AB-173, which requires people to carry documents to prove their immigration status or else risk being arrested, jailed, and deported. People of color are more likely to be racially profiled under this law, and it will be extremely harmful to Wisconsin’s business climate. Other states have already spent millions of dollars trying to defend similarly unconstitutional laws in court. Wisconsin is already facing tough economic times.
Will you vote against this bill in the Assembly or Senate?”
2) Join the Action Network of Voces de la Frontera and receive text message updates on important AZ Copy Cat ACTIONS (click link)
Contact for more info: Elena Lavarreda, Wisconsin Network for Immigrant and Refugee Rights, 608-358-0565 or statewideorganizer.voces@gmail.com
http://salsa.wiredforchange.com/o/6226/t/0/blastContent.jsp?email_blast_KEY=101976
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