Vegas Groups Discuss Immigration Reform

LAS VEGAS -- Opponents of the controversial Arizona immigration that had been scheduled to go into effect Thursday met at Amistad Cristiana to call for national reform of the United States' immigration policies.

Representatives from groups including ProgressNow Nevada, Democracia Ahora and Hispanics in Politics gathered at the Las Vegas church Thursday morning before Arizona filed an appeal with the 9th Circuit Court.

The groups agreed immigration reform is needed, but not the kind that could lead to racial profiling.

Former Arizona resident and legal immigrant Ana Angeles said she left the Copper State because she felt discriminated against because of the color of her skin.

“I started to (feel) uncomfortable … just because of my skin, my accent,” said Angeles, who is now a U.S. citizen. “That's why I came to Las Vegas.”

Although the Arizona law went into effect Thursday, a U.S. District Judge put a hold on some of the more controversial measures.

Supporters of the law say Arizona’s law, which would have made it a crime for immigrants to not carry papers showing legal status, is necessary because the federal government has been lax in enforcing its laws.

But opponents say the law could lead to discrimination of Hispanic people.

“It's a dysfunctional immigration system,” said Launce Rake, of Progressive Leadership Alliance of Nevada.”We need to provide economic opportunities for people who want to come here and work. Everybody agrees on that. We need the folks to fill some of these jobs, but at the same time we need something that's fair.”

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