Villaraigosa: Arizona's anti-illegal immigrant backlash stems from lack of 'political courage' in Washington

Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa said the anti-illegal immigrant backlash in Arizona is due to a lack of “political courage” in Washington to pass legislative reforms.

“We’re here because the federal government has failed to act,” he told CNN Thursday afternoon after an appearance by Arizona Sheriff Joe Arpaio. “The fact of the matter is that they just failed in that responsibility.”

Villaraigosa called Arpaio a “caricature,” but said the sheriff is, unfortunately, the face of SB 1070 – Arizona’s controversial immigration law -- and efforts to ban ethnic studies in public schools and other directives aimed at Latinos.

“It’s not just SB 1070, it’s been a whole slew of proposals that frankly, go against the grain of our Constitution,” he said.

Villaraigosa said the role of leadership in law enforcement is to do so in a way that brings people together and “emphasizes our commonalities.” Arpaio seems to be using his power for political purposes, he said.

In Washington, leadership should acknowledge the need for comprehensive immigration reform, he said.

“We need to makes sure that the federal government is doing their job, so states like Arizona won’t build a vacuum,” he said.

On Wednesday, a federal judge blocked the most controversial provisions of SB 1070 just hours before the law was to take effect. U.S. District Court Judge Susan Bolton in Phoenix issued a temporary injunction against parts of the law that would require police to determine the status of people they lawfully stop and suspect are in the country illegally.

Bolton also forbade Arizona from making it a state crime to not carry immigration documents, and struck down two other provisions as an unconstitutional attempt by Arizona to undermine the federal government’s efforts to enforce immigration policy.   

-- Nicole Santa Cruz

 

Comments

[Andy K]

Who cares what the publicity seeking mayor thinks? Ask him what part of illegal he doesn't understand.

[kuruc]

who is the caricature? the sheriff who enforces THE LAW or the CHEATING POLITICIAN? let's have a poll! my vote is for the gangster, tony v.

[JR]

"Villaraigosa said the anti-illegal immigrant backlash in Arizona is due to a lack of “political courage” in Washington to pass legislative reforms."

Ha!, if that isn't the pot calling the kettle black. What a hypocrite.

[Pedro Gambino-Gotti]

Immigraton reform? How about enforcing the law... Si Se Puede!!!
Viva Arizona!!

[boochie]

As posted who really cares what that nitwite Tony Villar has to say. Illegals have destroyed great parts of this city and those areas will never recover. It's pols like Tony V that want poor undereducated people (and future Democrat voters) pouring into this city against the will of the majority of it's citizens.

[Pete Malloy]

What does "reform" mean?

[ms]

Villagroisa is right, We need reform!!

REFORM THE constitution, No more ANCHOR BABIES! Deny them reason to use this law against us.

Sick and tired of this whole drama. MOB Mentality.

[Walter Moore]

Andy K, I second that emotion!

[rickn6900]

And this mindless quote from Tony V, key LA "player"...

Arpaio seems to be using his power for political purposes, he said.

Now that is the pot calling the kettle black!

[Cookie from Philly]

well it does seem like the "Mayor" is passing the "buck"- why not Mr. Mayor do something for the enlightenment of all those "folks" in Wash.(?) oh i get it - so much easier to bash Wash.- omg- what on earth do we have here- one more moron on the planet that cannot seem to think for "himself"- MR. MAYOR IN THE WORDS OR THOUGHTS- OF HORATIO ALGER WHAT IS KEEPING YOU FROM STEPPING UP TO THE "PLATE" TO INITIATE SOME PROPER
LEGISLATION!!!!!! you know what you do NOT deserve the position.

[Crazy Horse]

Who cares what this dummy mayor thinks? Sheriff Joe is a sworn law enforcement officer. Villaraigosa is the caricature as well as a philandering husband, a liar, a cheat, and a shyster.

[Paul Revere]

Darn this Mayor makes no mention of the thieves running government in Bell City, why is that?

[z0l0ft]

Hey Slick Tony!

Look! Over there, it's an attractive news anchor! And she's got Lakers tix!

I love getting moral lessons froma dude who has the self control of a three-year-old.

[Edward]

"lack of “political courage”"
“The fact of the matter is that they just failed in that responsibility.”
“It’s not just SB 1070, it’s been a whole slew of proposals that frankly, go against the grain of our Constitution,”
"Arpaio seems to be using his power for political purposes, he said."

Dear Author,
Are you sure he's referring to the backlash of SB1070 or is he talking about himself?
Edward

Tony V. = HYPOCRITE

[Gregory Tart]

And the Mayor seems to be using his political power for tickets

[Tee]

This is the first thing I've heard him say that makes any sense!

[Courtney]

Oh, this is choice, Antonio VivaLaRaza has a set of brass ones big enough to criticize Joe Arpaio while he does NOTHING as his non-permitted illegal brethren and illegal-lovers tie up traffic on Wilshire and invade & disrupt the beautiful neighborhood of Hancock for over FIVE HOURS!!

[Joe]

No amnesty to illegals. Let's fix the economy first.

[Josh Ooi]

Shut up Mayor! You are in no position to criticize anything. Your record is as atrocious and your reputation is down the drain. No matter what you say you are going out and shall not see the political sun again.

[Joe]

Bolton's decision is largely pointless. She may have struck down the requirement that cops check immigration status but what she didn't do was PROHIBIT cops from checking immigration status. In fact, federal law REQUIRES cops to check immigration status so SB1070 is here to stay and the freeloaders will be on their way.

[observing]

Antonio is an idiot...look what he's done to the City of Los Angeles. This is someone who should never be in charge of anything...ever met him? I have met him and he is unintelligle and has no clear thoughts let alone a vision. There is little to no respect for him internally and, well, I need not say anything about the view of him outside of City Hall. Having said that, 1070 is simply wrong, unconstitutional, Un-American, and mean spirited....it must go away!

[jane]

So Arizona decided to "build a vacuum?" Is it a Hoover, or...? He means of course, acting in a vacuum.

And while that's true, he's got the wrong vacuum:
it's NOT giving all illlegals the "right" to citizenship they demand just because they broke the law.

People are fed up that the law has not enforced under BOTH Republicans or Democrats for decades, that law-breakers have been rewarded with jobs and public services, dragging down and ruining our whole country. From schools and hospitals and clinics, to other safety net programs, bringing up their uneducated masses and criminals, while we taxpayers pay more and more for less.

Big companies who break the law by hiring these people have had no consequences. Remember it was this mayor who told the feds to stay OUT of L A, don't bother "law abiding illegals" who just want to work.

it IS true that this is a federal mess caused by their inaction for decades.

It IS true that Arizona's law demanding papers was badly written and needs to go back to the drawing boards. It subjects cops to lawsuits if they DO profile and if they don't, because there's no clearcut way to determine who "might" be illegal.

The law would require us ALL to carry papers in order for the ACLU and other groups NOT to be able to claim "racial profiling." It would be like at airports: old white people and babies must "show papers" too.

It's also true that most illegal immigrants are law-abiding EXCEPT that they have no "right" to break the law by "deciding" to come here in the first place and look for jobs. Any more than the billions of people all over the world do.

And there are millions of EDUCATED people in Europe, Asia and elsewhere who would LIKE to come here and work, but don't sneak across the border. Some have been persecuted at home, others just want to bring their business skills here and work, and many have money and don't have a slew of kids or elderly relatives to burden us with.

When they DO apply to come they are put through rigorous criminal and financial background checks, and often denied the right to come even on tourist visas, if there's a chance they might overstay their visas.

If this mayor really wanted to "bring people together" and "emphasize our similarities" he wouldn't demand that Mexicans be treated as special.

[lisa]

Let's all go and lay down around the Mayors office in protest of his self serving CHEATING POLITICS ... Never mind that would mean more Spin It Like Villar vomit time .

[rustyrules]

Tony v is an embarassment to this state. His comments just show that he promotes and encourages people who break the law. I personally will no longer use hispanic workers for any jobs in my home. I also will not tip any of those workers at restaurants or car washes etc. I have had it with our leaders supporting those who break the law while American citizens are asked to foot the bill.

[Michael, MPA]

What's there to reform? The laws *currently exist*. No "reform" is necessary. Just enforce the law. Period. What's so hard to understand? And yes, what part of "illegal" isn't understood. I guess the laws only apply when the pols want them to apply. Makes an interesting compost heap of the Constitution to foment anarchy. Can we all now use as a defense to any action by law enforcement that we just didn't feel that the law should apply to us? If enough people do it, the pols will be forced to act. Imagine that...