ORLANDO SENTINEL

May 3, 2010

Apopka farmworkers upset at Arizona immigration law

Susan Jacobson, Orlando Sentinel

The woman was walking to work when a police officer asked her for identification and arrested her on an illegal-immigration charge.

Today, however, the "jail" was made of tinfoil and duct tape, and the arrest was part of a skit designed to raise awareness of the new Arizona immigration law opponents contend is racist and will lead to harassment of Hispanics.

More than 50 people showed up for the event at the Apopka office of The Farmworker Association of Florida, which represents more than 6,000 farmworker families statewide. About the same number of people attended a similar event today in Pierson.

"Stop deportation and separation of families," one sign read. "Don't judge me for my color," read another.

Tirso Moreno, general coordinator of the group, said it's important for farmworkers in Florida to oppose the law — and discrimination against all minorities.

"It's a violation of the civil rights of people of color — Latinos in particular," he said.

The law, set to take effect this summer, makes it a state crime for illegal immigrants to be in Arizona, requires police to verify the legal status of people who may be illegal immigrants and prohibits employers from hiring illegal immigrants. Failing to carry immigration documents also would be illegal.

Advocates for Hispanics warned that the law could spread to other states, including Florida, if it is left standing. One of their objections is that police must determine whom to question on their status, and Hispanics fear that will be based on looks, which they say is racial profiling.

"Who knows if I'm a U.S. citizen or not?" Moreno asked. "Should I make an effort to look different? We should be proud of who we are."

Elissa Buxbaum, a board member of the American Civil Liberties Union of Florida, attended the protest to speak out and advise immigrants of their rights. She said her group thinks the law violates due-process rights.

"It's not right to harass 20 people to catch one person who committed a crime," Buxbaum said.

Speakers included a nursery owner who said he planned to take up the case in Washington. That's what organizers hope farmworkers, their families and supporters will do. Signs with contact information for senators and members of Congress were prominently displayed, and attendees were urged to sign form letters urging President Barack Obama and other political leaders to take the interest of immigrants to heart when reforming the law.

A boycott of Arizona products and protest marches in downtown Apopka and Orlando also were suggested.

"Want immigration reform? Si or no?" one speaker asked.

"Si!" the crowd replied enthusiastically.

Attendees were urged to fill out their census forms because, as the country's largest minority, they stand to gain seats in Congress if they are all counted.