KOIN-TV (Monterey, California)

July 27, 2010

UFW Members Prepare To Challenge Immigration Law

Susanne Brunner, Central Coast News

SALINAS, Calif. - Monday night is last minute preperations for five United Farm Worker Members, also known as UFW.  They are heading to Salinas to rent a car and get on the road for the 600 mile trek to challenge the immigration law that goes into effect in Arizona on Thursday. 

"I'm not going to carry anything just my drivers license because I need to drive, but that's the only thing I'm going to take," said UFW member Juan Moran.

UFW member Juan Moran wants to make something clear, that the Arizona government doesn't have the right to stop someone who appears to be an illegal immigrant.  On Thursday, he and four others will do just that by challenging officers to arrest them for not having any proof of citizenship on hand.

"I'm frustrated and angry because I'm pretty sure they are going to discriminate all Latino people.  I have citizenship, but they don't know," said Moran.

Moran is Latino, a farmworker and a U.S. Citizen, and he's more than ready to represent illegal immigrants and their rights in Arizona. UFW members from California, Washington, and Texas have made a pledge to travel this week, prepared with signs and no documents in hand.  Moran said he's for immigration reform, but this is the wrong way to go about it, it's unconstitutional. 

"For many many years this country is all immigrants.  I don't know why now they try to pass this law," said Moran.

Moran wants people to know this law is not just going to affect illegal immigrants, but everyone else in this country.  And he hopes to make a difference in Arizona this Thursday.   

"Who's going to want to wash dishes for minimum wage?  They don't want to go to the fields to pick tomatoes.  It's 8 dollars for minimum wage, no benefits.  Who's going to want to take all these jobs?" said Moran.

This issue has been very controversial and so we tried to reach some of the organizations in Monterey who support the Arizona Law. So far, we haven't been able to reach anyone for comment, but we will share their views too as we continue to cover this story in the coming days.