by C.T. WEBER, Representative, California Peace and Freedom Party

The major issue facing us today is to have an open, fair and comprehensive immigration policy. Because of the failure of the federal government to implement such a program a major void has developed.

The forces of hate and racism are determined to fill this void. SB 1070 was a reaction by the government of the State of Arizona to the failure of the federal government to implement and enforce immigration laws.I join with millions of Americans in calling for a boycott of the State of Arizona and its businesses. I do this, not only because the law may be illegal, but also because it falls into the trap of the right wing and threatens undocumented people of color. It is immoral.

The fact is people come to the United States of America for jobs. It is the responsibility as the head of a family to provide for the safety and well being of the family. If there are no jobs where the worker lives them the worker must go anywhere to make a living and support the family.

This latest bubble in immigration started with the passage of the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA).NAFTA has been disastrous to the workers in Mexico, especially those who work the land. They were forced off the land and left by the millions in search of jobs, and many ended up in the United States of America.

First, undocumented people must be documented. Every man, woman, and child living in this country should be allow to breathe the air of freedom. No family should be broken up. No one should be rounded up in ICE raids, Arizona raids or any other public agency or vigilantes raids. No worker, their spouse, or their children should be deported.

Everyone in the United States of America should be made legal residents so that they may start down the path toward citizenship. One of the reasons that this needs to be completed immediately is to quite the voices calling for the deportation of all “illegal aliens.” Also, it will prevent the establishment of a new and improved guest worker program. We say no. This will allow the newly documented workers to free themselves of the fear of joining unions and organize for better living conditions and decent wages.

The key to improving the lot of all American workers, including immigrants, is unionization, legal protections, and higher wages (together with education). Scapegoating immigrants does nothing whatever to improve the working conditions and wages of American workers.

Democratic and Republican politicians are unlikely to introduce truly progressive immigration reform legislation. It will be up to us to organize and push for comprehensive immigration laws which provides a green card to every undocumented immigrant, opens the path to citizenship, ends the raids and deportations, eliminates the guest worker programs, and allows everyone to join a union. NAFTA shouldalso be repealed.