LULAC calls for AZ boycott, sues state

ALBUQUERQUE (KRQE) - The League of United Latin American Citizens is taking a stand against Arizona and its controversial immigration law.

At the group’s national convention in Albuquerque, LULAC National President Rosa Rosales called for members to boycott the state and urged lawmakers to change the country’s immigration policies.

“We need to zero in on those Republicans and Democrats who are not for comprehensive immigration reform,” Rosales said. “LULAC will continue to fight for the equal rights that our forefathers included in the Constitution of the United States.”

LULAC joined a host of other civil rights organizations and filed a class-action lawsuit last Friday against the Arizona law that allows law enforcement to inquire about a person’s immigration status if they are being questioned for another crime. Legal advisor Luis Vera said the law leads to racial profiling.

Results from a poll of 500 Latinos from around the country were shown which indicated that immigration reform is on their minds more than the economy. It also said 82 percent of those polled are strongly against Arizona’s immigration law.

The poll was conducted by California-based Garcia Research and LatinoMetrics, both companies describing themselves as Hispanic community marketing researchers.

“Latinos are reacting very strongly,” LULAC Executive Director Brent Wilkes said. "They are looking at it as an attack on the community."

Democratic National Committee Vice-chair Linda Chavez-Thompson said President Obama is fully committed to reforming immigration policies.

“The president’s strategic and integrated approach to border protection and security has resulted in the significant seizures of illegal weapons, illegal drugs and bulk cash at the U.S.-Mexico border,” Chavez-Thompson said.

The week-long LULAC convention wraps up on Friday.