Coalition Opposes Immigration Measures
Tuesday October 30, 9:45 am ET
By Andrew Demillo, Associated Press Writer
Ark. Businesses, Churches Join Up to Oppose Immigration Measures


LITTLE ROCK (AP) -- Three of Arkansas' largest business interests joined with church leaders and activists Monday in a lobbying effort aimed at stopping any state or local legislation targeting illegal immigration.


Representatives from Alltel Corp., Tyson Foods Inc. and Stephens Inc. announced an unlikely alliance with the American Civil Liberties Union, outspoken state appeals court judge Wendell Griffen and others to form the Arkansas Friendship Coalition.

"State and local governments should not be involving themselves in issues that only Congress can really address," said Archie Schaffer, senior vice president for external affairs for Tyson. The coalition announced its formation at events in Springdale and Little Rock.

Steve Copley, the coalition's chairman, would not say specifically which measures the group would oppose, and the coalition's Web site and news release repeatedly referred to "punitive" measures targeting immigrants. But the effort comes after a series of hearings by Republican lawmakers focusing on the cost of services related to illegal immigrants.

Members of the coalition cited a failed effort during the legislative session this year that would have criminalized harboring or transportation of illegal immigrants. They also noted agreements four northwest Arkansas police agencies signed with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement to enforce federal immigration law

"These are very punitive laws, and they create a general atmosphere of hostility," said Alan Leveritt, publisher of the Arkansas Times and El Latino newspapers. "If you happen a Latino person, do you really want to drive through the city of Rogers with a tail light out? It creates a general problem."

Copley, pastor of the First United Methodist Church in North Little Rock, said he is also opposed to Gov. Mike Beebe's request that Arkansas State Police pursue an agreement with the federal government that would allow troopers to enforce immigration law.

"We just think it would be a new burden and a new cost," Copley said.

Copley, however, said he did not believe that Beebe was moving toward supporting immigration measures that his group would call punitive. Last week, the governor said that the Hispanic community has a "disconnect" when it comes to the subject of illegal immigration.

"If it is illegal, it means it's illegal," Beebe said.

Monday, Beebe called the coalition "an admirable undertaking" on a controversial subject.

"The federal government's inconsistent and unclear immigration policy has left all states, including Arkansas, in the difficult position of trying to care for all their residents while respecting federal laws that often go unenforced," Beebe said.

Beebe spokesman Matt DeCample said the governor was open to discussing Copley's concerns about immigration enforcement by state troopers, but noted that no agreement has been signed. The governor has said any agreement with the federal government about the program must include details on what the federal government will do if any illegal immigrants are taken into custody by state police. Beebe said local and state prisons don't have room to take in illegal immigrants.

"Right now, it's in the very preliminary discussion stage," DeCample said.

Rep. Jon Woods, who has pushed for stricter measures targeting illegal immigrants at the state level, said he believed the group is trying to mislead people by presenting itself as a group lobbying for all immigrants. Woods, R-Springdale, said he believes the group is only trying to protect people who are in the country illegally.

"They're trying to prevent us from doing what the people have asked us to do, which is enforce the law," Woods said.

Griffen, who is also a Baptist preacher, said he did not believe he had a conflict of interest by supporting a group lobbying against immigration legislation. Last month, a judicial ethics panel dropped charges against Griffen over comments the judge made about the Bush administration's handling of Hurricane Katrina, minimum wage, the war in Iraq, and against critics of immigrants and homosexuals.

"Any notion of morality that subjects a stranger to a different and lower level of treatment than one allowed to someone who is native born is in almost every way wicked," Griffen said. "So I don't know why there's a great deal of effort to justify the wicked and the illegal at the expense of the vulnerable."

Almost 1,100 pledge resistance to state immigration law




Associated Press - October 30, 2007 1:05 PM ET

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) - Almost 1,100 signed pledges of resistance to Oklahoma's new immigration law have been delivered to Gov. Brad Henry's office.

The pledges - signed by parishioners at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Oklahoma City - were delivered Tuesday by Richard Klinge, director of advocacy and legal services for Catholic Charities.

The pledges state those who signed them are united in opposition and defiance to the law. They are similar to one sent to Henry last week by the Most Reverend Eusebius J. Beltran, Archbishop of Oklahoma City.

Henry signed the immigration law earlier this year and it is scheduled to go into effect Thursday. The measure, which received bipartisan support in the Legislature, would bar illegal immigrants from getting jobs and state benefits.

SORRY, if you did not come into my country legally you do not belong here, no ifs or ands about it, go back where you come from

better arguments expected please.

business leaders, want cheap labor, all the companys stated here use illegal labor to cut american jobs. if you dont like it go home

good enough for me and america

u r funny sir
have a good afternoon

thought so

And how many Native people were killed by your forefathers, nu2topcat, to call yourself legal?

invisible,

I don't think anyone should be blamed for the evil commited by their forefathers. I also don't believe that two wrongs make a right.

I wonder?

I can understand why those 3 Corps. are doing that.
They are Federal criminals. Got facts. I suppose, if I had a multi-billion dollar investment and the Feds told me I had to take a reduction in pay by hiring legals or Americans, I'd get a little upset also.
Hopefully, this action will open them up to more scrutinizing investigations. Not only fining the guilty but, imprisoning them also.

Short version.
If those guys loose their Illegals, they lose money. To them, that's all that matters. Not the Illegals they hired Illegally.

nu2topcoat has it right... it's self serving for these companies to align this way...it's not smart, it's expedient and short sided to think it's smart.

got nothing against anybody coming to America...but got a problem with one intelligent ( not smart) employee making hay with 20 illegals just to gain points .........................

with an ignorant and short-sided employer at the expense of 5 smart AND intelligent workers.

Look for such things to happen to you too...the cat's out of the bag

I don't know where you guys keep getting CHEAP labor at. These people get the same wages as I do. I know what many of these workers get paid! I pay them myself. You may be referring to the crops workers, but I also did that as well. I did not get paid good at all!! The shame here is that croppers get very little pay. Any color or race. Now in the construction business...they get paid well. They are hard workers and if they leave...this business will fall greatly. We already see the effects of many running.

Governor Henry: He is a very well liked and compassionate man. I am curious what ity was that he was told that made him sign this bill. I know that there are legalities here, but I would have thought him to be the one to figure something out.

I am very aware of what the churches are doing here. They have the right to give sanctuary and are fighting this bill.

Kat

Alltel Corp., Tyson Foods Inc. and Stephens Inc. announced an unlikely alliance with the American Civil Liberties Union!

Proves what I been saying, and I know you agree miquel, companies and their search for cheap labour are to blame for our immigration problems and the Fed's non-compliance with the laws already on the books!

I will now boycott the companies' products, and I will encourage others to as well!


The Hispanic community has a "disconnect" when it comes to the subject of illegal immigration. "If it is illegal, it means it's illegal," Beebe said.

A lot of Americans right here on this site have the same inability to distinguish this difference. The best hope you have is to keep the uninformed-uninformed!

Good luck with that, because I will continue my quest to tell them the facts and push for legislation to send the illegals home!

Shake-n-bake citizens are not good for America!

If I had control over the problem, some people would say, Fanta sure is a cold-hearted devil, but you would also hear the words, Illegal Immigration problem Solved!!!

cheap labor or not they are illegal and are filling jobs that legal citizens may have.they need to go back unless they can prove a danger a la nazi vs jew.Miguel you have attempted to make this a racial issue and it to me is a legal issue.Any country would give me the boot also if I didn't have legal status to be there...

Report Suspicious Activity:
1-866-DHS-2-ICE
1-866-347-2423

Listed above is the number to call when you see suspicious activity such as, Illegals who are given sanctuary in Churches. They are only in sanction as long as they are in the Church. When they step off the property, they can be picked up by ICE.
Check with your Local Law Enforcement to see if they are assisting in capturing these fugitives and how might you assist.

Tyson Foods has many processing plants in most all States. If there is one in your area, find out what the shift schedule is, observe and see if you see any Mexicans exiting or entering. It is very possible at least a few are not legal. Report possible Illegals to ICE.

ALL-Tel is easy, just go to a different Company.

Looks like Stevens is the Money Manager for the outfit. Perhaps, they will be included in a Federal investigation.



Tyson Foods has been under investigation before. They are practicing illegal policies detrimental to this country.

Thats good info spur!!