Activists: Immigration law like Arizona’s won’t pass in Nevada

About 30 people gathered Wednesday evening in front of local immigration enforcement offices near Pecos and Sunset roads to light candles for families who have been separated by deportation and to push for comprehensive immigration reform.

But at the forefront of their minds was a controversial new Arizona law that will make it a state crime to be in the country without legal papers.

"It's completely unjust," said Michael Flores, Southern Nevada director of Reform Immigration for America, who led the vigil. "We will never allow this to come to Nevada."

The law, which is set to take effect this summer, requires police to question people about their immigration status -- including asking for identification -- if they suspect someone is in the country illegally.

Opponents say such a law promotes racial profiling and will make people less likely to cooperate with police during investigations.

"We have concerns that police can question you just because of the color of your skin," Luz Marina Mosquera said in Spanish. "This is really crazy and all of us must fight it."

Civil rights groups have said they'll fight the measure in court and U.S. Attorney Eric Holder said this week he was considering a possible legal challenge to the law.

Supporters of the law said it is necessary to protect Arizonans from crimes committed by undocumented immigrants, and that the federal government has failed to enforce immigration laws. Arizona is home to an estimated 460,000 illegal immigrants and is the nation's busiest gateway for people slipping into the country.

Those at the vigil said such law proves the need for comprehensive reform at the federal level as soon as possible.

"The immigrants have nothing wrong with them," said Al Martinez, president of Service Employees International Union No. 1107. "What's wrong is the system."

Local immigration reform activists have been organizing rallies, hosting vigils and lobbying congressional representatives for months to address immigration reform this year.

Thousands participated in an April 10 "Rally for America" in front of the Lloyd George U.S. Courthouse pushing immigration reform. And activists are planning a march Saturday to the courthouse to coincide with International Workers' Day, which celebrates immigrant workers around the world. The march is scheduled to kick off about 5:30 p.m. Saturday from Commercial Center on Sahara Avenue near Maryland Parkway. Similar marches are expected nationwide that day.

Contact reporter Lynnette Curtis at lcurtis@ reviewjournal.com.