With the budget talks at a stalemate, several Senate and Assembly Democrats took time to weigh in on the biggest national story – the Arizona Legislature’s controversial immigration enforcement bill. Senators Jose Peralta and Jose Serrano publicly denounced the new plan today. They say it would promote racial profiling. And Senator Peralta went a step further, calling the decision to sign the bill by the Arizona Governor a slap in the face of the federal government.

With a stroke of the pen, she spit in the face of the federal government. By saying to the federal government, who has exclusive powers, exclusive rights to regulate immigration laws through the supremacy clause, that you are not relevant. She spit in the face of people of color in this country by legitimizing racial profiling. That is unacceptable.

Senators Peralta and Serrano put forth a resolution denouncing the bill. But the Senate didn’t take it up in session today.

Meanwhile, City Hall is reporting several Latino Assembly members are going to travel to Arizona and chain themselves to the border fence. Among those heading south, Felix Ortiz, José Rivera, Naomi Rivera, Adam Clayton Powell, Carmen Arroyo and Peter Rivera.

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