INDECENT REMOVAL

It all officially began with the passage of the Bill: Arizona SB 1070. The United States (Arizona and supporting states) decided that it was now time to revisit history. Arizona in particular decided that using the old method of oppressing and dominating minority group was a great way to fix  a declining economy.  What did they do? They passed a bill that vividly allowed for any “suspected immigrant” to be questioned by a police officer. It allowed for illegal immigrant to carry documentation as all times. The bill examined in whole   shows even more oppressing and restricting rules for immigrants in the Arizona state.  Arizona wasn’t alone. The state of Alabama followed in pursuit with HB – 56 which prohibited Illegal immigrant from using public resources hence barring them from obtaining any assistance for education. It seems that oppressing and dominating minority groups is making a legal comeback.

How are these bills making way for oppressing and dominating certain groups? Oppression involves the use of power in a forceful way by one group over another group through the use of economic, political, social and legal structures. The state of Arizona has a high population of Hispanics, both legal and illegal immigrants. Sharing a border with Mexico, this is quite understandable and expected. However, this makes the passage of the Arizona and Alabama immigration laws very directed towards them.  Knowing that Hispanics in Arizona represent a high population of illegal immigrants, law enforcements will be more suspicious of individuals of this race.  How are they oppressed? Well, this has currently forced Hispanics in Arizona to extra cautious of their movements. Limiting these Hispanics movement is oppression.  This law then also becomes a social hindrance for all Hispanic, both legal and illegal.  Moreover, passing the Alabama HB law makes it difficult legal Hispanic children with American citizenship from smoothly accessing public education. This is because in many cases, the parents of these children are Illegal immigrants. It might be safer for the parents to prevent their children from accessing public education for fear the law priding into their lives. According to a publication by Huffington post, many Hispanic students were withdrawn from schools.  In Russellville, Hispanic students’ attendance drop by 2 percent after the passing of the Alabama bill.   In the long run, Hispanics illiteracy in the country will increase as a result. This is oppression at its finest in the 21 century. What better way can you overpower a minority group other than denying them education?

Clearly Hispanics do not have bestowed dominance in Arizona legal and political structures which would have allowed them to create such an oppressive structure.  However they do have a voice. The Hispanic population is revolting. They are fighting back with rallies, protests and lawsuits.  Hispanics communities are emphasizing their importance of their existence in Arizona. According to the Montgomery Advertiser, a poultry plant was shut down temporarily due to Hispanic work stoppage in Alabama. CNN politics reported large groups of protestors in the State of Arizona. Prominent member of societies, who may or may not be of a Hispanic descent have criticized these oppressive legal structures in attempt to reverse the law. According to the blogger and journalist,Teresa Puente, the mayor of California has issued a moratorium on official travel to the city of Arizona. There are even  class action law suits  against  the Arizona SB 1070 stating that it allows for racial profiling. These all some of the many ways the Hispanic and even non-Hispanic community are trying to fight these stressful legal barriers. As long as the other arm of the law allows for these fightbacks, the Hispanic community will have a way of resisting this oppression. If all else fails, then this will tell us what the future holds for the immigrant who is visibly noticed.  Life will indeed be miserable, as if it already isn’t.

We all sit in amazement as these laws are passed. Do we think of what will happen to children of these illegal immigrants? Do we think of the implication it has for Hispanics citizens of America.  Unfortunately subjecting minority groups to harsh oppressive situations is how Arizona and Alabama want to revive their economy. Maybe we should assume these law makers couldn’t see oppressive mechanisms embedded within the bills.  If not, then this is just lack of human compassion.

Sources

CNN Wire Staff. “Hundreds Protest Immigration Law in Arizona – CNN.” Hundreds Protest Immigration Law in Arizona. CNN, 25 Apr. 2010. Web. 8 Feb. 2012.  Link>.

Puente, Teresa. “Shakira Is the Latest to Protest Arizona’s Immigration Law | Chicanísima: Latino Politics, News and Culture.” Latest and Greatest from Chicagoans | ChicagoNow. 5 Nov. 2011. Web. 15 Feb. 2012. <Link>.

Hispanics Fight Alabama’s Immigration Law with Work Stoppage.” The Politics of Immigration. Web. 14 Feb. 2012. Link

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