|
AIN Statements in Opposition to Proposition 200
Arizona Interfaith Network (AIN)
Arizona Interfaith Network (AIN) opposes Proposition 200. Proposition 200 assigns federal responsibility to
state and local employees. It subjects Arizona tax payers to unspecific and unlimited enforcement costs.
It divides communities and discourages economic development. Proposition 200 fails to strengthen national
security, and discourages some qualified U.S. citizens from voting. Arizona Interfaith Network (AIN)
urges you to vote NO on Proposition 200.
Valley Interfaith Project (VIP)
Valley Interfaith Project (VIP) opposes Proposition 200. Proposition 200 creates an administrative
nightmare for enforcement placing state and local employees in the role of Border Patrol Agents.
VIP leaders believe this Proposition 200 disrespects families, communities and public employees.
This Proposition creates an atmosphere of fear, suspicion, and division within communities, which
conflicts with our deeply held belief that we are responsible for each other. Valley Interfaith Project
(VIP) urges you to vote NO on Proposition 200.
Pima County Interfaith Council (PCIC)
Proponents of Proposition 200 state that undocumented immigrants are voting. We have seen no such evidence
nor has the Secretary of State. The State of Arizona is a border community. On our border and in our
communities two countries meet, different languages seek to communicate, varied cultures encounter
each other, and people try to understand each other and live in peace and harmony. Immigrants are
busy working and raising their families. A 2003 study by the Thunderbird School of International
Management in Phoenix found that in 2001 alone, Mexican immigrants contributed an estimated US$ 355.7
million in taxes while they cost Arizona US$250 million. This led to an overall fiscal surplus of
US$106 million to the State of Arizona. Immigrants contribute to our economy and society, ostracizing
them would be a loss to all Arizonans. Undocumented immigrants do not register to vote because it brings
unnecessary attention to themselves. Our state, in the past, refused the Martin Luther King Day holiday.
We lost the Super Bowl and our state received negative national attention that shamed Arizona and denied
the Arizona economy millions in revenue. This proposition would again bring negative attention to our
state because of our unwillingness to embrace the contribution of immigrants. The civic and faith
traditions of our member institutions call us to respect the human rights of every person. This
proposition will foster a climate of discrimination and distrust that will harm the most vulnerable among us.
Pima County Interfaith Council (PCIC) does NOT support Proposition 200.
East Valley Interfaith (EVI)
East Valley Interfaith (EVI) opposes proposition 200. This is a divisive, extremely vague and poorly written
proposition that will be difficult and expensive to enforce.
With already one of the lowest voter turnouts in the country, this proposition adds unnecessary
restrictions to Arizona's voting process.
Proposition 200 also calls for workers who provide "state and local public benefits" to become de facto
immigration agents. Presumably teachers, firemen, police officers, nurses and other service providers face a Class 2 misdemeanor charge if they fail to report, in writing, persons seeking their services without proper citizenship identification.
At best, this proposition will result in a bureaucratic and fiscal nightmare for Arizona without any measurable benefit. At worst, it will reduce voter turnout, create an environment of fear, and leave many of our families without access to proper education, public safety and health care.
East Valley Interfaith urges you to vote NO on Proposition 200
Yuma County Interfaith Sponsoring Committee (YCISC)
Proposition 200 argues that voting by illegal immigrants is rampant in the state of Arizona. It says we should make it much harder to register and vote in our state. Arizona - with the second-lowest voter turnout in the United States of America - does not need more barriers to voting. In our county, just 26% of eligible adults cast ballots in the 2000 presidential election.* Proposition 200 would further discourage the over 50% of Arizona adults and 74% of Yuma County adults who are already disconnected from
public life.
Proposition 200 would mandate that government employees demand proof of legal status for any person seeking "benefits." Employees would be required, under penalty of a Class 2 misdemeanor, to report people without legal status to federal immigration authorities. For example, a mother who applied for a library card could be deported, and failure to report her would mean criminal charges against the librarian. The effects of this would be to further divide and discourage people from participating in community life - at parks, libraries, schools, swimming pools, and other community spaces. Yuma County Interfaith Sponsoring Committee says NO to Proposition 200.
* [only 41% of the voting-age population voted in the 2000 Presidential elections] (Scripps Howard News Service Study of Official 2000 Election Returns)
Northern Arizona Interfaith Council Sponsoring Committee (NAICSC)
Northern Arizona Interfaith Council (NAIC) opposes Proposition 200 for the following reasons.
NAIC is deeply concerned about this initiative that can lead to turning ordinary people (teachers, health care workers, police, librarians, etc.) into criminals. If this initiative passes, anyone who provides any non-federal service (library, all-day kindergarten, parks and recreation, garbage, etc.) can face criminal charges for not reporting, in writing, individuals who might be undocumented.
This initiative will further create fear in the immigrant community. Immigrants may be too fearful to go to work, send their children to school, or report a crime. Sedona, Flagstaff, and Prescott are all tourist economies that depend on immigrant workers and often recruit immigrant workers from Phoenix.
This initiative is not only mean spirited and a direct attack on all immigrants, it does nothing to curve immigration or change immigration policy.
This initiative is destructive of the human person and the human community.
|