United Nations Takes Aim At Ariz.
Jason Barry, Reporter KPHO
PHOENIX -- The United Nations is making a plea for sympathy and the treatment of illegal immigrants, while taking a shot at Arizona's new immigration law SB 1070.
For months, Arizona has taken center stage in the debate over illegal immigration. However, that stage just got a little bigger after a United Nations human rights group issued a statement that seems to target Arizona's new immigration law.The U.N. statement said it is, "deeply concerned about international migrants. Migrants in an irregular situation are more likely to face discrimination, exclusion, exploitation and abuse and more likely to be targeted... by racists... and victimized by unscrupulous employers.""I don't think its the U.N.'s place," said Phoenix resident Kate Murphy of the United Nations' comments on immigration.Paul Senseman, a spokesman for Gov. Jan Brewer said, "The U.N. appears to have a fundamental misunderstanding of our law and what it represents. Arizona respects the rights of migrants. Gov. Brewer believes the U.N. should respect the rule of law in the United States."Steve Rath of Tempe was asked if he had ever heard the term "migrants in an irregular situation.""I have never heard that term, no, that's a new one," said Rath. "They can put any kind of euphemism they want to, it still comes down to the word illegal."However, not everyone is convinced the U.N.'s involvement in the immigration debate is a bad thing."I really do feel there is a lot of compassion lost," said Lauren Karp of Phoenix. "There needs to be more of an understanding over what immigrants go through."
Sept. 30, 2010
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