The National Federation of Filipino American Associations (NaFFAA) expressed concern over a new Arizona state law allowing police officers to question individuals about their immigration status and to arrest anyone who cannot prove citizenship or legal residency.
At the same time, the organization is urging the Obama Administration to soon enact comprehensive immigration reform.
"We share the widespread alarm within the Asian Pacific American community that this law legalizes unchecked racial profiling by police authorities and places all minorities under constant suspicion," according to a statement released by officials of the NaFFAA, a non-partisan affiliation of more than 500 Filipino-American institutions and umbrella organizations in the U.S.
The NaFFAA issued the statement on April 27, shortly after Arizona Gov. Jan Brewer signed the law.
"Among other things, this measure allows law enforcement to question anyone based on reasonable suspicion that they may be undocumented. Even citizens and legal immigrants caught not carrying proof of their U.S. legal status could be charged as felons," NaFFAA said in its statement.
NaFFAA representatives said that the law instills fear and distrust in government and undermines American principles of justice, fairness and equal treatment under the law. They also cited the well-chronicled experience of Filipino American novelist Carlos Bulosan, who wrote about being treated like a criminal just because of his ethnicity when he came to the U.S. in the 1930s.
NaFFAA quoted Bulosan's autobiography which states, "I came to know afterward that in many ways it was a crime to be a Filipino in California . I came to know that the public streets were not free to my people."
Arizona's new law "brings back the America that rejected Bulosan for being Filipino," the NaFFAA said in its statement. "As immigrants, we've all toiled and suffered and shared the same journey when we came to this country. We have enriched America with our skills and talents. We have built strong communities and contributed immensely to our nation's progress."
The NaFFAA went on to urge the U.S. Congress "to pass a comprehensive immigration reform bill that reunites families, strengthens communities and promotes basic freedoms."
"We call on our elected officials to once and for all enact an immigration reform measure that upholds our Constitution, respects civil liberties and human rights, and celebrates our nation's values of inclusiveness, compassion and justice," the statement read.
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• Expect Some Filipino Flavor in May Day March for Immigration Reform
Photo of May Day demonstration participant courtesy of the L.A. Garment & Citizen ».
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