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Strong backing for St. Paul immigration ordinance

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  • Strong backing for St. Paul immigration ordinance

    Minneapolis Star Tribune , MN
    April 29 2004

    Strong backing for St. Paul immigration ordinance


    Illegal immigrants deserve to feel safe in their communities without
    fear that police will report them to the federal government,
    according to a unified message sent to the St. Paul City Council on
    Wednesday.

    Backers of a proposed ordinance that would free St. Paul police from
    having to concern themselves with immigration status packed City
    Council chambers at a public hearing. Among the speakers were
    representatives of unions, religious organizations and a lawyers'
    group, and immigrant and civil rights activists.

    "The war on terrorism is becoming a war on immigration," said Howard
    Goldman, who represented the Jewish Community Action.

    Ilean Her, executive director of the state Council on Asian Pacific
    Minnesotans, told of a young Filipino woman who came to the United
    States as what she described as a "mail-order bride."

    She was beaten by her husband, who took her passport and forced her
    into prostitution, Her told the council. Police were alerted when the
    woman sought help at a domestic violence shelter, Her said.

    "She did not know she could go to the police," Her said. "She did not
    know they could protect her. ... There should not have been this fear
    that her immigration status would stop the police from treating her
    humanely."

    Council Member Pat Harris, who sponsored the ordinance, got choked up
    as he recalled the previous generations of his family who immigrated
    from Armenia, Ireland and Germany.

    "I'm very proud to do something like this today," he said, his voice
    shaking as he urged the council to support the measure.

    The council is scheduled to vote on May 5. Most of the seven council
    members have voiced their support, as has Mayor Randy Kelly.

    Jackie Crosby

    From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress
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