ROUND TWO ON MAY 13^TH

Join Us to Oppose Anti-Immigrant Legislation at the State Capitol on Thursday! 

Dear concerned Louisiana residents:

      Several weeks ago you heard from Puentes regarding the introduction of House Bill No. 1205 to the Louisiana House of Representatives by Representative Joe Harrison (R) of District 51.  A coalition mobilized in opposition to the bill and traveled to Baton Rouge, but the bill was voluntarily deferred.  ON THURSDAY MAY 13^TH HB 1205 WILL BE HEARD BY THE HOUSE JUDICIARY COMMITTEE.   The full text can be found at http://www.legis.state.la.us/billdata/streamdocument.asp?did=690634.   

      At this time we encourage you to join us Thursday morning, May 13^th, on a trip to Baton Rouge to attend the House Judiciary Committee hearing for HB 1205. Although you will not be asked to speak, you will be able to register your opposition to the bill. We will meet at the parking lot outside Puentes, on the corner of 1050 S. Jeff Davis Pkwy and Euphrosine, at 7:00 AM, where we will carpool to Baton Rouge. Call Lucas Diaz at (504)821-7228 if you have any questions.  The House Judiciary Committee hearing is scheduled to begin at 9am.  We plan to be there for the start of session and anticipate waiting up to several hours until HB1205 is heard.   If you are unable to attend, please consider voicing your opposition to Representative Harrison via phone at 1(800)935-2081 or via email at harrisoj@legis.state.la.us.     

      Representative Harrison has titled the bill the “Louisiana Taxpayer and Citizen Protection Act of 2010”.  In fact, HB 1205 constitutes a grave danger to citizens, as well as to other Louisianans.  Many of you have been following developments in Arizona since the passage of HB1070 there. Although the Louisiana Tax Payer and Citizen Protection Act is not as drastic as the new Arizona law, it nevertheless represents a similar step backwards in developing strong communities and ensuring that that people of all ethnicities are treated with respect. 

HB 1205 would explicitly:

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  • Criminalize people who harbor or transport undocumented immigrants (not just coyotes – good Samaritans too)
  • Require state and local police to ask about immigration status when conducting an arrest
  • Mandate that public employers verify the work eligibility of all new hires using a federal electronic status verification system

HB 1205 would implicitly:

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  • Create a culture of fear among immigrants and a climate of suspicion in inter-ethnic relations
  • Subject work-eligible employees to a flawed system that incorrectly prevents or inhibits their employment. 
  • Undermine community policing efforts
  • Negatively impact Louisiana’s economy

 
You can read Puentes’s previous analysis of the bill by clicking here.

Thank you for your support!