State Representative Don Pridemore has introduced an Arizona-style immigration bill. The Hartford Republican proposes a measure which, among other things, would prevent local governments from offering sanctuary to people in the U.S. illegally. The bill requires law enforcement to act when persons arrested on suspicion of a crime fail to provide proper identification within 48 hours. Pridemore’s bill includes potential penalties of up to $500 a day – if local units of government are sued for failing to comply with the law’s provisions. “Anybody who’s willing to come to this country and work hard and raise a family, this bill does not effect those people,” said Pridemore. “It’s people who come here illegally. This is not dealing with any particular group of people or country of origin.”
Voces de la Frontera, a Milwaukee based immigrant rights group, has promised widespread opposition. “We will not tolerate this vicious bill, designed to lead directly to racial profiling and the criminalization of innocent people. Voces is prepared to mobilize widely in opposition.” said Primitivo Torres, president of Voces de la Frontera, in a statement.
