Join PJA in condemning the new Arizona Immigration Law (SB 1070).  Jewish tradition and history urges us to look for a humane set of solutions to our nation's broken immigration system.  PJA sees this law as a call to action on behalf of the 11 million undocumented immigrants living in the U.S.

It is time for the federal government to pass Comprehensive Immigration Reform.

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In the aftermath of ill-advised legislation, Immigration; Law Enforcement; Safe Neighborhoods Act (SB 1070), passed last week in Arizona and signed into law by Gov. Jan Brewer, we, as members of We Were Strangers, Too: the  Jewish Campaign for Immigration Reform, condemn the Arizona law and call upon Congress to immediately introduce comprehensive immigration reform  legislation with bipartisan support that will provide a path to citizenship for the 11 million undocumented residents of our country and transform the current enforcement system into one that is both effective and humane.

Laws like the one passed in Arizona are not the answer to our nation’s broken immigration system. This law, which requires police to stop anyone suspected of being an “illegal,” will greatly increase the possibility of racial discrimination through racial profiling.  The Jewish community is particularly concerned about requirements for individuals to prove their status based solely on what they look like and who they are.  We call upon the Department of Justice to closely monitor the implementation of this new law out of concern for widespread instances of racial profiling and take action against any civil rights and civil liberties violations.

In Deuteronomy 16:12, we are commanded to establish a fair justice system: “and they shall judge the people with righteous justice.” The Torah (Hebrew Bible) tells us:  “You shall have one law for the stranger and the citizens alike” (Leviticus 24:22).  Throughout our history, members of the Jewish community have been considered strangers and outsiders in their communities, and we know too well the pain of living in fear.  In the wake of the fear, distrust, and suspicion that have followed the passage of SB1070 in Arizona, we again urgently call upon Congress to introduce and pass comprehensive immigration reform.*

Thank you for your shared concern about this important issue.

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*The We Were Strangers, Too campaign has called for immigration legislation that establishes smart border protection and humane enforcement policies that bolster our national security; balances enforcement with economic development and human and civil rights; keeps families together and decreases the waiting time for family reunification; creates pathways to citizenship for undocumented immigrants; creates a plan for future migration flows in order to protect all workers' rights; and empowers immigrants to fully integrate into American society by providing financial support to local governments and community organizations that offer classes and services.