Judge blocks parts of Arizona immigration law

By JACQUES BILLEAUD and AMANDA LEE MYERS

The Associated Press
Wednesday, July 28, 2010
From the Washington Post

PHOENIX -- A federal judge on Wednesday blocked the most controversial parts of Arizona's immigration law from taking effect, delivering a last-minute victory to opponents of the crackdown.

The overall law will still take effect Thursday, but without the provisions that angered opponents - including sections that required officers to check a person's immigration status while enforcing other laws.

The judge also put on hold parts of the law that required immigrants to carry their papers at all times, and made it illegal for undocumented workers to solicit employment in public places. In addition, the judge blocked officers from making warrantless arrests of suspected illegal immigrants...

Position/statement on Immigration Reform

Statement by Hussam Ayloush, Executive Director of the Council on American–Islamic Relations, Greater Los Angeles Area. Ayloush also serves on the national board of the Interfaith Worker Justice (IWJ).

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Islam promotes social justice, equality and the rights of workers. The Prophet Muhammad preached that no one is a true believer until they love for others what they love for themselves.

Given that our religious beliefs exhort us to help reduce the suffering of others, American Muslims support the call for comprehensive immigration reform that would, among other things, create a path to citizenship for immigrants earned through working, paying taxes and learning English; keep families intact; regulate wages and working conditions to protect workers from being exploited; and create measures that safeguard the labor rights of both immigrant and non-immigrant workers.

We have a broken immigration system: the fact that there are an estimated 11-12 million undocumented workers currently residing in the United States, reflects that reality. Providing people who are not engaged in criminal activity a chance to correct their status and live with dignity and respect is a first step in fixing our broken system. The last thing we need in America is to have over 12 million undocumented people living on the margins and being exposed to abuse, whether it is economic abuse, sexual exploitation or domestic violence. Our strength as a nation is derived from our compassion toward our most vulnerable members.

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July 29 - August 1 is National Weekend of Prayer & Action for Immigrant Justice

Visit www.iwj.org to learn what you can be part of the struggle for justice immigrants.

CAIR Condemns Signing of Anti-Immigrant Bill

CAIR-AZ Condemns Signing of Anti-Immigrant Bill

The Arizona chapter of the Council on American Islamic Relations (CAIR-AZ) today expressed disappointment at the signing into law of Senate Bill 1070. CAIR-AZ and other civil liberties groups say the law legitimizes suspicion based on appearance and will result in racial profiling and discrimination.

“It’s natural for the Muslim community to find this new law appalling” says CAIR-AZ Chairman Anas Hlayhel. “The Quran instructs Muslims to stand up against injustice and racism, which this bill seems to advocate. No matter what good this bill claims to bring, we see that its harm will outweigh its good. We see it as a desperate attempt to legitimize racial profiling in order to hide the failure to pass comprehensive immigration reform. It is a reminder of recent attempts to legitimize racial profiling at airports."

Hlayhel said the new law is a major setback to civil rights accomplishments in America.

Ayloush and local Muslims Participate in Protest against Neo-Nazis

CAIR-LA and Riverside Muslims Participate in Protest against Neo-Nazis

(ANAHEIM, CA, 10/26/09) - The Greater Los Angeles Area office of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-LA) and Riverside Muslims joined in a counter-protest on Saturday against neo-Nazis who had gathered to protest undocumented day laborers.

(Photo: SDNN)

The organizers of the counter-protest said the turnout was successful, with over 600 members from diverse faiths and backgrounds speaking out against some two dozen neo-Nazis' hate and bigotry.

CAIR-LA Executive Director Hussam Ayloush, who attended the rally with his children, said:

"It's important for all Americans - whether Muslim, Jew, Christian, Asian, Latino, black or other - to strongly and vehemently speak out against the hatred and bigotry of those who seek to dehumanize others.

"I brought my teenage children with me to the counter-protest to make sure that they never take for granted the sacrifices of early civil rights activists such as Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., Malcolm X, and Cesar Chavez."

SEE: Neo-Nazi demonstration in Riverside spurs confrontations (P-E)

SEE: Neo-Nazi group rallies in Riverside as hundreds of counter-demonstrators protest (San Diego News Network)

The neo-Nazi group, National Socialist Movement, held a rally last month but was met similarly with hundreds of counter-protesters.

Also, earlier this month, Jewish worshipers at Temple Beth El in Riverside were intimidated and harassed by neo-Nazis who held signs and flags bearing Nazi swastikas in front of the synagogue.

SEE: Calif. Muslims Condemn Neo-Nazi Harassment

The counter-protest was organized by 50 community organizations, including CAIR-LA and the Islamic Center of Riverside.

With the continued economic downturn, anti-immigrant and racist groups are increasingly promoting anti-immigrant sentiment by unfairly blaming immigrants - documented or otherwise - for "stealing" American jobs.

CAIR-LA rejects such scapegoating and calls for immigration reforms that preserve the dignity and respect of immigrants and their families.

SEE: A Muslim Perspective on Illegal Immigration (OC Register)

(Ayloush's Photo: CC 2009 Nick Bygon)

The Dreams Across America

The Dreams Across America Tour is a nationwide journey via train that educates the public to dispel myths, give real facts, and shares personal stories about the need for just and humane immigration reform in this country.


On May 31, 2007, Hussam Ayloush, Executive Director of the Council of American-Islamic Relations, talked about his goal and dream, as an immigrant to help connect the United States and the Muslim world.

In eight days (June 13th- 20th) via ten cities, The Dreams Across America Tour brought together one hundred diverse individuals from throughout the country referred to as Dreamers. These Dreamers shared their compelling stories and reinforced what still holds true today – no matter our backgrounds, immigrant or native born, we all cherish the values that make this country prosper. However, only by working together to address our nation’s broken immigration laws, can we continue to achieve and live the American dream.

The Dreams Across America Tour concluded in Washington, D.C. on June 19 and 20 where Dreamers from across the country joined hundreds of immigrant children and their families at an event organized by the Fair Immigration Reform Movement (FIRM). Dreamers also shared their stories with Members of Congress so they may hear first-hand from their constituents about the human impact of our broken immigration system and the need for just immigration reform legislation that addresses the realities of our country, economy and immigrant families.

For more information about this great project, please visit:

http://www.dreamsacrossamericaonline.org/