Palin joins Arizona gov. to defend immigration law
This article was originally on a blog post platform and may be missing photos, graphics or links. See About archive blog posts.
PHOENIX — As calls spread for an economic boycott of Arizona, the state’s governor enlisted former vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin on Saturday to defend a new law cracking down on illegal immigration.
Brewer and Palin blamed President Obama for the state law, saying the measure is Arizona’s attempt to enforce immigration laws because the federal government won’t do it.
“It’s time for Americans across this great country to stand up and say, ‘We’re all Arizonans now,“’ Palin said. “And in clear unison we say, ‘Mr. President: Do your job. Secure our border.“’
The former Alaska governor appeared with Brewer at a brief news conference on Saturday. The event launched a website that Brewer said was an effort to educate America about border security and discourage an economic boycott of the state.
The site, funded by Brewer’s reelection campaign, shows pictures of Brewer and Palin and invites visitors to sign a petition opposing boycotts. It includes a list of politicians and organizations calling for the boycotts and asks visitors to call or e-mail to “let them know that you support Arizona.”“Our purpose today is to help the rest of the nation understand the crisis which confronts our state,” Brewer said, citing the presence of human and drug smugglers.
The immigration law takes effect July 29 unless blocked by pending court challenges. It requires police enforcing another law to ask a person about his or her immigration status if there’s “reasonable suspicion” that the person is in the country illegally. Being in the country illegally would become a state crime.
“I think for most American people the reaction to this would be, ‘Why haven’t the police already been doing that?“’ Palin said.
Obama and some city, state and foreign governments have condemned the law, which critics say will lead to racial profiling of Latinos. Brewer on Saturday reiterated her assertion that profiling is illegal and will not be tolerated.
Palin was in Phoenix for a previously scheduled speech to a hunters group. She has defended the law on national television and spoken out against boycotts.
This week she railed against a suburban Chicago high school for skipping a girls basketball tournament in Arizona because of concerns over the new law.
Palin said Wednesday night that people should help the Highland Park team get to Arizona even if the girls have to “go rogue.”
-- Associated Press