by Moses Apsan
May 1, 2010 - Amateur Astronomer Jim Sofia was setting up his fine 18 inch Obsession Ultra Compact dobsonian telescope when he wondered if he could avoid moving back and forth, from the back of the primary mirror to the location of the focuser, to collimate his primary mirror. He seemed to be getting a bit too impatient with this process and could not wait to begin stargazing! Then he had “Eureka moment” thinking: “Why not manipulate the turning of the collimation knobs by remote control!"
Jim Sofia found a way to eliminate the need to have one person turn the collimation knobs in back of the primary while the other assess collimation accuracy at the location of the focuser (independence). The invention also eliminates the need for one person to shift back and forth from the back of the primary mirror to the eye level location of the focuser during the collimation process (convenience). It optimizes collimation precision because the collimation knob turns in gradations of speed depending on the pressure exerted on the transmitter joystick. After practice, PCA takes less than a minute to set up in the field.
Jornal.us interviewed amateur astronomer inventor, Jim Sofia:
Jornal.us: So how does Primary Collimation Assist (PCA) help the user?
Jim: PCA was designed to remotely control the turning of each of 3 collimation knobs of the primary mirror on large Dobsonian telescopes, like the fine Obsession models, so you can be at a distance away, at the location of the focuser, to assess the task. In large telescope models the distance can be between 6 and 12 feet which would require the person to go back and forth, depend on a buddy or look at an image from an angle some distance away.
Jornal.us: Why is primary collimation necessary?
Jim: When the optical axis of the primary mirror, secondary mirror and focuser eyepiece are brought into precise alignment, your image is clear and optimized. The advantage of a large dobsonian telescope of good quality optics, like the Obsession models, is that its large primary mirror collects much light and a clear bright image can be magnified to show a crisp, magnificent and breathtaking sight!
Jornal.us: Is the collimation of the primary mirror of a dobsonian telescope a difficult task?
Jim: No, not really. Whether you use PCA or not, it is pretty straightforward. PCA just makes the task more convenient and fun, in my opinion. It is as easy as turning a joystick from a ringside seat!
Jornal.us: So how does one collimate the primary mirror of a dobsonian telescope? What collimation tools are used?
Jim: Well for example, the cheshire collimation eyepiece is a popular method. It is inserted in the focuser tube and gives you a visual picture of the position and alignment of the focuser, secondary and primary mirrors relative to each other. Once the focuser is square and the secondary mirror is properly collimated, one usually only needs to collimate the primary mirror after the scope is set up. The cheshire shows you the center of the primary mirror, which is marked with a black circle affixed to the glass. The tilt of the primary often needs to be adjusted by turning the collimation knobs in back of it which are some distance away, so as to place the center ring of the primary you see through the cheshire eyepiece in the center of the visual image on the secondary, forming a nice concentric circular pattern. As the collimation knobs move, so does the primary mirror center ring move. You don’t need to be in two places at once with PCA! You can collimate from one location, looking directly through the cheshire.
The barlowed laser is another collimation tool that is placed in the focuser tube and shines a diffuse light onto the primary which reflects its center ring image back onto the focuser drawtube. Turning the collimation knobs visually centers the ring in the tube. The optical axis of the primary mirror and the optical axis of the eyepiece seen through the focuser onto the secondary are brought into precise alignment. Again, you can observe the ring image at the location of the focuser and remotely turn the collimation knobs in back of the primary mirror, which are at some distance away, to perform the task.
Jornal.us : Does the size of the telescope make PCA more convenient to use?
Jim: Yes it does. With a smaller scope the distance between the focuser and primary mirror is shorter.
Jornal.us: What about set-up time for PCA?
Jim: ((With a bit of practice PCA sets up in the field in about half a minute)). You are then using your collimation tool of preference, and there are several others I have not mentioned, to assess collimation accuracy by the precise remote control turning of the collimations knobs.
Jornal.us: How does one learn more about PCA?
Jim: Visit www.primarycollimationassist.com.
More about Jim Sofia: Dr. Jim Sofia is the Chief Psychologist for a major school board in Ontario Canada. He received his doctorate at the University of California, at Berkeley in the late seventies. While he does practice school psychology, he also has an avid interest in astronomy. The great wonders of the heavens and evolution of the universe has been of great interest to him. One clear and beautiful evening a few years ago he beheld the crescent moon conjunct with one of the planets and thought, "wouldn't it be great to see this through a telescope!" Before long he purchased his first 8 inch schmidt assigrain Celestron telescope and graduated to a 12 inch Obsession dobsonian and presently to an 18 inch Obsession Ultra Compact dobsonian. With an appreciation in fine optics, Jim observes the heavens from the northern latitude of Ontario Canada and belongs to astronomy groups including the Royal Astronomical Association of Canada and the Ottawa Valley Astronomy and Observers Group.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 1 /Jornal.us/-- An amateur astronomer, with an 18 inch Obsession Ultra Compact dobsonian telescope found himself doing a lot of moving back and forth in order to collimate the primary mirror. “Eureka!” Why not manipulate the collimation knobs by remote control?
A new product has been created to assist those with large dobsonian (dob) telescopes, like Obsession models, to collimate the primary mirror in a more convenient and independent way. “Primary Collimation Assist” (PCA) is a battery operated device that is placed over each of three collimation knobs of the primary mirror. Collimating the primary mirror of a large dobsonian telescope, such as the fine Obsession telescope models, is then accomplished by remote control from the location of the focuser.
Typically, with large dobsonian telescopes, one needs to collimate the primary mirror each time the scope is set up. This involves the turning of collimation knobs located at the back of the primary mirror while at the same time assessing collimation accuracy at the location of the focuser, some 6 to 12 feet away in some cases. Turning the collimation knob changes the tilt of the mirror which helps direct the return light beam from the primary to the correct location on the secondary mirror, which is near the location of the focuser. If you have a buddy to assist, that works out well. One person often needs to go back and forth, from the back of the primary to the location of the focuser to insure accurate collimation accuracy. “Primary collimation Assist” enables one to perform the task in seconds independently and conveniently by remote control!
According to the inventor, Jim Sofia “PCA eliminates the need to have one person turn the collimation knobs while the other assesses collimation accuracy at the location of the focuser (independence). It also eliminates the need for one person to shift back and forth from the back of the primary mirror to the eye level location of the focuser during the collimation process (convenience). It optimizes collimation precision because the collimation knob turns in gradations of speed depending on the pressure exerted on the transmitter joystick. After practice, PCA takes less than a minute to set up in the field.”
For more information about this innovative product visit www.primarycollimationassist.com and read about its specifications and usage. PCA set up time in the field takes less than a minute and collimating your telescope will be as easy as turning a joystick!
Contact: James Sofia
jim@primarycollimationassist.com
by Moses Apsan, Esq.
Washington DC - It took the passage of Arizona's draconian anti-immigrant law to finally push the president to commit action on a bill that could fix our broken immigration laws.
On Thursday, President Obama, provided his latest opinion on comprehensive immigration reform.
"The continued failure of the federal government to fix the broken immigration system will leave the door open to a patchwork of actions at the state and local level that are inconsistent and as we have seen recently, often misguided," Mr. Obama wrote.
The President then pointed to a democratic proposal discussed in the Senate as "a very important step in the process" of fixing our broken immigration system.
A significant part of the proposal calls for increasing border security benchmarks before anyone of the 11 million people illegally in the country can obtain legal permanent U.S. resident.
Illegal immigrants who desire to live in the country may qualify for eagle residency in eight years, if they admit they had broken the law, pay back taxes and fees, and pass a criminal background check.
President Obama confirmed in his paper statement, his intent on stronger border security measures and tougher penalties for employers who hire illegal immigrants. He also stressed that those living in the U.S. illegally "get right with the law," by paying penalties and taxes, learn English, pass criminal background checks and "admit responsibility before they are allowed to get in line and eventually earn citizenship."
The President wrote "The outline presented today includes many of these elements, The next critical step is to iron out the details of a bill. We welcome that discussion, and my Administration will play an active role in engaging partners on both sides of the aisle to work toward a bipartisan solution that is based on the fundamental concept of accountability that the American people expect and deserve."
“What has become increasingly clear,” Mr. Obama said, “is that we can no longer wait to fix our broken immigration system, which Democrats and Republicans alike agree doesn’t work.”
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
MALDEF, ACLU AND NILC TO ANNOUNCE CHALLENGE TO ARIZONA RACIAL PROFILING LAW AT A PRESS CONFERENCE IN PHOENIX ON THURSDAY
April 29, 2010 - Civil rights leaders Dolores Huerta and Richard Chavez joined by famed musician and Arizona native, Linda Ronstadt, to condemn new law
PHOENIX – On Thursday, April 29, 2010 at 11:00 a.m. (MST), MALDEF, the American Civil Liberties Union and the ACLU of Arizona will hold a news conference on the steps of the State Capitol Executive Tower in Phoenix, Arizona to announce that they are preparing to challenge Arizona’s extreme new law, which requires law enforcement to question people about their immigration status during everyday police encounters and criminalizes immigrants for failing to carry their “papers.” The unconstitutional law, the groups say, encourages racial profiling, endangers public safety and betrays American values.
Speakers will include Thomas A. Saenz, MALDEF President and General Counsel; Alessandra Soler Meetze, Executive Director of the ACLU of Arizona; Dolores Huerta, co-founder of the United Farm Workers of America; and multi-Grammy winning artist and human rights advocate, Linda Ronstadt.
Fifteen years ago, the same three civil rights groups successfully challenged Proposition 187 in the state of California, where a voter-approved initiative required proof of legal status to access virtually all public services. The enactment of Prop 187, as it was commonly referred, tore apart schools and communities across the state as fear and suspicion became pervasive, and the state wasted tens of millions of dollars defending a law ultimately struck down as unconstitutional.
WHAT:
News Conference to Condemn SB1070, MALDEF, ACLU, ACLU of Arizona, and NILC Promise Legal Challenge
WHO:
Richard Chavez, Civil Rights Leader (brother of Cesar Chavez)
Dolores Huerta, Co-Founder of United Farm Workers of America and Founder of The Dolores Huerta Foundation
Thomas A. Saenz, President and General Counsel, MALDEF
Alessandra Soler Meetze, Executive Director of the ACLU of Arizona
Linda Ronstadt, Recording Artist and Human Rights Advocate
WHEN:
April 29, 2010 @ 11:00 a.m. MST
WHERE:
Steps of Arizona State Capitol
1700 West Washington Street, Phoenix, AZ 85007-2890
Founded in 1968, MALDEF is the nation’s leading Latino legal civil rights organization. Often described as the “law firm of the Latino community,” MALDEF promotes social change through advocacy, communications, community education, and litigation in the areas of education, employment, immigrant rights, and political access.
For more information on MALDEF, please visit: www.maldef.org.
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For Immediate Release
Arizona's Punishing Law Doesn't Fit the Crime
Studies Show Decrease in Arizona Crime Rates Over Time
April 28, 2010
Washington, D.C. - Supporters of Arizona's harsh new immigration law claim that it is, in part, a crime-fighting measure. However, people like Republican State Senator Russell Pearce of Mesa, the bill's author, overlook two salient points: crime rates have already been falling in Arizona for years despite the presence of unauthorized immigrants, and a century's worth of research has demonstrated that immigrants are less likely to commit crimes or be behind bars than the native-born. Furthermore, while much has been made about kidnappings in Arizona, law-enforcement officials indicate that most of these involve drug and human smugglers, as well as smuggled immigrants themselves - not the general population of the state.
The Immigration Policy Center releases a fact sheet which shows the decrease in Arizona crime rates over time. The fact sheet also indicates that states with high immigration have the lowest crime rates and that unauthorized immigration is not associated with higher crime rates.
Highlights include:
* According to data from the U.S. Bureau of Justice Statistics, violent crimes in Arizona fell from 512 per 100,000 people in 2005 to 447 per 100,000 people in 2008, the last year for which data is available.
* According to a 2008 report from the conservative Americas Majority Foundation, crime rates are lowest in states with the highest immigration growth rates, such as Arizona. From 1999 to 2006, the total crime rate declined 13.6 percent in the 19 highest-immigration states (including Arizona), compared to a 7.1 percent decline in the other 32 states.
* Although the unauthorized immigrant population doubled to about 12 million from 1994 to 2004, data from the Bureau of Justice Statistics indicates that the violent crime rate in the United States declined by 35.1 percent during this time and the property crime rate fell by 25.0 percent.
Combating crime related to human smuggling requires more trust between immigrants and the police, not less. Yet the undermining of trust between police and the community is precisely what Arizona's new law accomplishes. In the final analysis, immigration policy is not an effective means of addressing crime because the vast majority of immigrants are not criminals.
For Immediate Release
April 28, 2010 - Hartford_ Connecticut’s Capital City is a gateway for immigrants and refugees from around the world. Hartford’s local economy is shaped in large part by businesses serving immigrant communities from Africa and Europe to the Caribbean and Asia and immigrant workers comprise a significant portion of the area’s labor force. The site of a large ICE raid in the fall of 2007, Hartford’s Parkville neighborhood saw businesses close as fears of deportation flared. Local community groups fought to pass a local ordinance in 2008 that ensures that all Hartford residents, regardless of immigration status can safely interact with all city departments. Hartford residents have both been victims of and taken local action to address a federal immigration system that is broken. Hartford residents and organizations will join hundreds of thousands from across the country to march for comprehensive immigration reform on Saturday, May 1 at 11:30 a.m. at the corner of Albany and Main Streets, with the march concluding at 1:00 p.m. at Barnard Park (corner of Main and Wyllys).
A coalition of residents, congregations, community organizations and unions have come together as the Pro-Immigration Reform Coalition of Hartford and are calling on Connecticut Senators Chris Dodd and Joe Lieberman to send the message that comprehensive immigration reform needs to happen this year. The coalition has requested meetings with each of the senators to urge immediate action on national immigration laws that often separate families and have a negative impact on both the local and national economy. Senators Charles Schumer (D-NY) and Lindsey Graham (R-SC) released a bi-partisan blueprint for comprehensive immigration reform in mid-March, just days before 200,000 people from across the country, including thousands from Connecticut, gathered in Washington, DC at the National Mall on March 21 to call for these reforms.
“We are marching because we can’t wait any longer for comprehensive immigration reform. We want our Senators in Connecticut to know that they need to represent us in Washington, DC. Comprehensive immigration reform is good for our families, our economy and our national security. We will keep coming back until our voices are heard,” said Vere Wynter, a Hartford resident originally from Antigua.
The Pro-Immigration Reform Coalition of Hartford is committed to passage of just and comprehensive immigration reform in 2010. Coalition members include immigrants and refugees from around the world as well as non-immigrants residing in the Greater Hartford area.
Pro-Immigration Reform Coalition of Hartford
__________________________________________________________________________________________
For more information
contact Tara Parrish
(860) 830-6222
###
WASHINGTON, DC - A document entitled "Proposed conceptual immigration" is circulating on Capitol Hill today, detailing the main points of future immigration bill.
The 26-page document obtained by La Opinion, is backed by Sens. Charles Schumer ( D-NY ), Robert Menendez ( D-NJ ) and Harry Reid ( D-NV ). The first point of the proposal is entitled "secure the border before taking any action to change the status of people living illegally in the United States."
"We need clear benchmarks to ensure the border and ultimately deal effectively with the millions of illegal immigrants in the country. These must be met before taking action to adjust the status of persons who are illegally in the country, "he says.
"This must include: increasing the number of border patrols, increasing the ICE agents to combat trafficking, ICE inspectors enhance, extend the number of ICE officials for fraud detection, increasing staff at ports of entry, improve technology and infrastructure to assist border patrol, increasing resources to indict traffickers and increase resources for immigration courts, which expedite the removal of individuals who are illegally in the country, "the document continues.
It also mentions that after the implementation of the proposal will create a bipartisan commission will be tasked with investigating the state of security in the northern and southern borders and provide recommendations for additional resources, technology and infrastructure that must be implemented to ensure operational control complete the boundary within a year.
Democrats have insisted on finding Republican support, which was thwarted this week when Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC) publicly withdrew their support for a proposal this year.
Other Republicans who have been contacted by Schumer have argued that it can support anything until I see something "in writing", a factor which until now had not been provided.
In this regard, sources on Capitol Hill Democrats, described the document as an effort to get Republican support for a bill.
"((Although it is supported only by Democrats, is a bipartisan effort, which aims to make it difficult for Republicans to say no)). Its purpose is to find the necessary support, "said Frank Sharry, executive director of Voice Americas to La Opinion.
The document also specifies that after 18 months, the Social Security Administration will begin to issue biometric identification cards. "Among other features this tool would have features like the ability to check an individual locally without requiring that each employee accessing the biometric database," among others.
Five years after the date of implementation of the proposed ID card would serve as the only acceptable document for employment verification.
In the area of probate, the document proposes a "prospective legal status" ( LPI ), as mentioned by the Opinion / Impremedia in March, "that will allow undocumented immigrants and those who are benefited by the TPS , travel and work in the USA. After eight years, would be given residence.
The proposal has a position in favor of unions, authorizing the creation of a commission in the area of future flow of workers.
Note: This article is a translation of an article published by www.impre.com translated form Spanish and provided by AILA member Victor D. Nieblas
by Moses Apsan, esq.
New York - April 27, 2010. What’s going on in Arizona? Over 70 % of its population are happy with a patently unconstitutional law that mandates, under color of law, racial profiling. The courts have spoken on this subject and it is clearly unconditional to arrest a person merely because of the way he or she looks. Yet, there are people in this country that believe the law is just fine. Take Glenn Beck. This morning on his a.m. talk show he commented on this point. He said something like, 70% of the people in Arizona agree with the law and no one could possibly believe that all of them are racist. He went on to say, that he is descendant of immigrants and that all he would have to do is show his papers. Implying that it is not much that is being asked. Hah Ha Ha. Is he kidding or does he think his audience is stupid? Of course not every one of the 70% are racist, but you can be assured that a majority of them are. These people have nothing to lose. The law would not affect them even if they were illegal because they are white. There are many living illegally in the U.S from countries like England and Ireland, who Arizonian police would never suspect they are illegal. They are white and if they took a trip to Arizona, you can be sure they would not be stopped.
But let’s talk about a high-ranking official from Bangladesh. If he and his family took a vacation to beautiful Arizona, as soon as a state trooper would see their faces they would be stopped. He would of course have “papers,” so they would not be detained. On the other hand I can imagine my wife and I vacationing in Arizona with the kids, and as my wife is Dominican, we would surely be stopped. Knowing her, she probably left her wallet in the hotel room and then the nightmare begins. “Officer please, my wife is an American citizen, can I show you the identification for myself and kids? She left her wallet in the hotel and it would take us a good part of the hour to get there and back.” Ok, says the trooper, “You go to the hotel and she can come with me to the station.” Is this a far-fetched story? I submit not. This is exactly what would be happening , should this law take effect.
In the meantime, I most certainly would not travel to Arizona for any reason. This sentiment is being felt throughout the country. The Board of Governors of the American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA), moments after Arizona Governor Jan Brewer signed into law the severest anti-immigration bill passed in the U.S. in over ten years, will boycott Arizona by moving the Association’s fall 2010 conference, which had been scheduled for Arizona, to another state.
AILA President Bernie Wolfsdorf explained, “We cannot in good conscience spend association dollars in a state that dehumanizes the people we represent and fight for. What Governor Brewer has done by signing this bill into law is to validate all of the irrational fears by people who are not willing to acknowledge the economic and cultural benefits of immigration to our country.”
“If Arizonans are serious about ending illegal immigration, they should be the first in line at the United States Capitol to urge Congress to the do the right thing and pass comprehensive immigration reform,” Wolfsdorf concluded.
San Francisco's supervisors called for a far-reaching boycott of Arizona following that state's unforgiving new law aimed at illegal immigrants, The resolution being submitted calls for San Francisco to terminate any and all contracts with Arizona-based companies and to stop doing business with the state.
"We want to send a message," Supervisor David Campos told a rally on the steps of City Hall Monday morning. "There are consequences when you target a whole people."
Immigration should be seen as "not as a police enforcement issue, but as a human rights issue, as a social issue," Supervisor John Avalos added. "We want to make sure the voice of San Francisco is well heard."
San Francisco’s Mayor Newsom condemned Arizona’s new immigration law as "inexcusable" and "unacceptable." "What happened in Arizona is ... un-American," the mayor said. "The idea that people, based on their race or ethnicity, can be pulled over or stopped and someone asks for their papers reminds me of something I read ... happening overseas."
Even Republican Sen. Lindsey Graham (S.C.) said Tuesday he believes Arizona’s new immigration law is unconstitutional and that "it doesn't represent the best way forward" when it comes to addressing illegal immigration. He further commented that the law shows "what good people will do" when they have no other options.
At the same meeting DHS Secretary, Janet Napolitano, said that that she would bet everything she owned that if Congress does not act then more states will enact laws like Arizona’s, which would complicate the issue even more.
Without Comprehensive immigration reform there soon will be a patchwork of states creating their own immigration laws. Their argument: If the federal government does not do something about the immigration problem they are in essence relegating the responsibility to the individual states as permitted by the 10th Amendment of the Constitution.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Washington, D.C. – The Board of Governors of the American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA), moments after Arizona Governor Jan Brewer signed into law the harshest anti-immigration bill passed in the U.S. in more than a decade, instructed its Executive Committee to move the Association’s fall 2010 conference, previously scheduled for Arizona, to another state.
AILA President Bernie Wolfsdorf explained, “We cannot in good conscience spend association dollars in a state that dehumanizes the people we represent and fight for. What Governor Brewer has done by signing this bill into law is to validate all of the irrational fears by people who are not willing to acknowledge the economic and cultural benefits of immigration to our country.”
“If Arizonans are serious about ending illegal immigration, they should be the first in line at the United States Capitol to urge Congress to the do the right thing and pass comprehensive immigration reform,” Wolfsdorf concluded.
###
CONTACTS:
George Tzamaras or Jenny Levy
202-507-7649
202-507-7628
gtzamaras@aila.org
jlevy@aila.org
The American Immigration Lawyers Association is the national association of immigration lawyers established to promote justice, advocate for fair and reasonable immigration law and policy, advance the quality of immigration and nationality law and practice, and enhance the professional development of its members.
by Moses Apsan, Esq.
The first state to claim its superiority over federal government and our constitution was Arizona when, when, Arizona Gov. Jan Brewer signed into law a potentially anti-immigrant law that has the ability to mark as criminals not only illegal aliens but legal residents too.
The law makes failure to carry proof of citizenship or legal status a crime, and any immigrants who can't produce the documentation can be arrested, fined $2,500 and jailed for up to six months. Until the Arizona law goes into effect, a person in illegal status is not a criminal. Being illegal in the U.S. has always been an administrative violation subject to deportation and not incarceration.
The law opens a deep fracture in Arizona, with a greater part of the thousands of callers to the governor’s office urging her to reject it.
Under SB 1070 the police officers are required to arrest and detain people they perceive on a "reasonable suspicion" are undocumented. It’s not unexpected news, that this law has shocked the country. Most people understand that there is no such thing as looking undocumented or even American. Requiring the police officers to racially profile sets this country back to a disgraceful time in our countries the past where racial segregation was the law of the land. The law goes beyond racial profiling as we have known in the past as it now places the police “under color of law” to conduct discriminatory practice. The state of Arizona has become home to a laws that use immigration as a reason to criminalize anyone that is not white. The bill is an attack on this nation's fundamental values.
According to Mayor Bloomberg said the law could injure the country financially because it "sends exactly the wrong message. "Bloomberg emphasized the economic influence of the law. "But as a country, America will be badly hurt if more states follow Arizona's lead," he said. "Foreign investment and tourism are critical to our national economy, and this new law sends exactly the wrong message to international companies and travelers." Bloomberg called on Washington to lead the way with comprehensive reform. Senator’s Schumer and Graham has been meeting with lawmakers to outline a comprehensive immigration reform strategy.
Public Advocate Bill de Blasio considers it an "un-American" legislation that "does nothing to address the pressing problems of our broken immigration system."
"The disturbing trend of our immigration policies being influenced by xenophobia and racial profiling has reached a new level in Arizona," de Blasio said. "[This new law] is offensive, discriminatory and does nothing to address the pressing problems of our broken immigration system."
Throughout the country civil rights advocates are protesting the immigration law with rallies and boycotts. The Colorado Immigrant Rights Coalition is joining in. Saturday the group traveled to Arizona to show unity. They worry the new law will lead to persecution and racial profiling.
Julie Gonzales with Reform Immigration for America said "Immigrant communities and Chicano communities across the state of Arizona are in a state of terror,"
Along with preparation for the May 1 rally they are expecting many Arizona families to run away and seek refuge in Colorado.
"We know that at least one family has come to Colorado, brought their families, dropped everything and left because there is such a state of panic," Gonzales said.
As expected from former Rep. Tom Tancredo, who is a well know racist and anti-immigrant propionate, he says Arizona is doing the right thing. "If the federal government won't do it, states throughout the nation should. And that will put pressure on the federal government to do something, to do something right,"
Democratic senators on Sunday called for Congress to quickly take up comprehensive immigration legislation, saying the controversial policy signed into law in Arizona this past week highlights the need for a national overhaul.
Republicans, as expected, are resolute that the time is not accurate for the legislation, with unemployment near 10 percent and negotiations over a Wall Street regulation bill in movement. Democrats are already shifting their priorities form climate changes to focus on immigration.
On NBC’s “Meet the Press” Dodd said "The idea that state by state would start developing its own immigration laws in the country -- imagine what a patchwork that might look like," "It's demanding a national answer to immigration policy, so before this even gets further out of hand, we've got to step up and do the job." Dodd called the Arizona law "outrageous."
Dodd is far from alone. President Obama has decried the policy as "misguided" and called on the Justice Department to look at its civil rights implications.
The prospect of plummeting into a national immigration debate is being ever more talked about on Capitol Hill, impelled in part by recent statements by Senator Harry Reid, Democrat of Nevada and the majority leader. He make it clear to the crowed that he intends to bring legislation to the Senate floor after Memorial Day.
Mexico has joined thee fray. It has already forewarned that the law could affect cross-border relations. "Police in Arizona already treat migrants worse than animals," said Francisco Loureiro, an activist who runs a migrant shelter in the border town of Nogales, Mexico. "There is already a hunt for migrants, and now it will be open season under the cover of a law."
Immigrant rights activists are expected to rally nationwide on May 1 in as part of an annual call for immigration and economic reform. In the New York City, that rally is set for 12 noon in Foley Square near City Hall.
