SEATTLE — The Seattle City Council voted Monday to boycott Arizona as much as possible because of a new, stricter immigration law there.
Arizona
legislators voted in April to give police power to detain anyone
suspected of being in the country illegally and makes the failure to
carry immigration documents a crime.
Seattle joins several other cities in passing a boycott of the state in response to the law. Boston; New York City; Los Angeles; Oakland, Calif.; West Hollywood, Calif.; and San Diego have passed similar resolutions condemning the law and promising to spend less money in the state. San Francisco; St. Paul, Minn.; and Denver’s school systems have banned employee travel to Arizona using public funds.
A large coalition including labor groups and advocates for immigrants showed up to Monday’s City Council meeting in Seattle to show support for the resolution. Supporters said the Arizona law is a proof of a need for immigration reform nationally.
“Seattle
… today, with this vote, joins with a host of other cities that are
trying to get the federal government’s attention,” said Councilwoman Sally Clark, the resolution’s sponsor.
Several people opposed the resolution. Craig Keller, of RespectWashington.org, brought a small cactus to remind council members what they would be missing if they boycott Arizona.
Keller and others with him said a crackdown on illegal immigrants would help protect American jobs.
Supporters of the Seattle resolution from OneAmerica, El Centro de la Raza and other groups said it was a chance to stand with Latinos in Arizona who might fear being targeted under the law.
“This law is a direct attack on all Latino day laborers,” said Mario Garcia, a day laborer who has been in the country for about five years.
“We are just hardworking people who want to be legal in this country because it is our dream,” said Maria Arana, another supporter of the Seattle council’s resolution.
The City Council got a standing ovation when it
voted, 7-0, with two members absent, to pass the resolution. But it
won’t have much practical effect. The resolution was written to protect
the only substantial contract Seattle has with an Arizona company. That’s a $106,000-a-month contract with American Traffic Solutions, which operates the city’s 29 red-light cameras.
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