Arizona’s long history as the Mississippi of the West will not change in the least as long as voters continue to put the most anti-democratic and rightwing Republicans into office and keep them there. A situation not at all unlike that which existed in Mississippi and much of the deep South during early days of the civil rights movement. States Rights was a favored tool of political hatred than as now.
Brewer feels no challenge to her bigotry until and unless voters decide to line up behind worthy candidates. I know local folks in many part of my neighboring state who look with revulsion on the backwards ideology governing that state. Whether or not they can succeed in lighting a fire under Democrats who generally lack backbone on any issue demanding greater conviction than red or green chile preference – is in their hands.
Arizona Republican Governor Jan Brewer, in yet another clash with the White House, issued an order on Wednesday barring illegal immigrants who qualify for temporary legal status in the United States from receiving any state or local public benefits…
Brewer, whose state has been at the center of the country’s immigration debate, issued an executive order denying state or local benefits to immigrants applying under the new federal immigration rules. The order would bar them from obtaining an Arizona driver’s license or a state-issued identification card.
As many as 1.7 million people could qualify for the temporary federal program, which enables certain illegal immigrants to apply for work permits, Social Security cards and driver’s licenses, according to the Pew Hispanic Center.
Applying for “deferred action for child arrivals” permits will shield some young illegal immigrants from being ousted from the United States for at least two years. In Arizona, officials said an estimated 80,000 illegal immigrants were eligible to apply.
To qualify, recipients must have been younger than 16 years old upon arrival; currently not older than 30; have lived in the country since June 15, 2007; and have no felony convictions…
Carlos Garcia, director of the grassroots community group Puente in Phoenix, called the governor’s move on Wednesday a “mean-spirited attack” on a well-meaning program.
“Brewer has once again put Arizona’s name on the map as the epicenter of anti-immigrant racism and hate,” Garcia said in a statement. “However, like we have continuously showed throughout her time as governor, the community will stand united against Brewer’s latest assault.”
