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Hispanic rights group rallies against Arizona-like law here

Advocates say there are very few illegal immigrants in state; sheriff still wants law

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By Josh Sweigart and Andy Sedlak
Staff Writer Updated 12:45 AM Friday, July 30, 2010

HAMILTON — The day after a federal judge blocked tough provisions of Arizona’s controversial immigration law, a Hispanic rights group held a rally Thursday, July 29, to address concerns over a local law enforcement role in illegal immigration.

“Yesterday’s judgment in Arizona sends a clear message to our local politicians who are trying to implement the same type of legislation here in Ohio,” said Jason Riveiro, League of United Latin American Citizens’ Ohio director, during an open press conference in Hamilton’s BizTech building.

“The big to-do is that we’re not Arizona, we’re Ohio,” he said. “We have a very low immigrant population.

“Those who are here without proper documentation are a very minute percent of our population,” Riveiro said.

Butler County Sheriff Richard K. Jones has been advocating for greater immigration enforcement on the local level, similar to Arizona’s law.

Jones has previously claimed to deport 30 illegal immigrants a week, and was a recent interviewee on Fox News’ “On the Record with Greta Van Susteren.” “(LULAC) blames the sheriff for everything that has to do with illegal aliens,” Jones said. “It’s my fault that they leave their country and commit crimes. It’s my fault if it rains.”

Jones said he agrees with LULAC that there are few undocumented immigrants in Ohio. He said, however, he doesn’t want Ohio to fully imitate Arizona’s actions. “I don’t want Ohio to become Arizona,” Jones said. “I don’t want things to become so far out of line that it’s almost out of control.”

Leo Pierson, a sociologist and LULAC’s Ohio civil rights director, said Thursday that about 5 percent of the state’s population are immigrants; 3.8 percent are Hispanic, with less than 1 percent of those undocumented, he said.

“That means three out of every four Hispanic people you see are here because they’re supposed to be,” he said, citing data collected by the U.S. Census Bureau’s American Community Survey, which is gathered every two years.

LULAC leaders also pointed to the death last week of an illegal immigrant at his home as further reason why an Arizona-like law would put immigrants at risk.

On Tuesday, two Hamilton residents, Philip Smith Jr. and Leeanna Rayas, were charged in the death of Samuel Baez-Rosa, who authorities say was fatally beaten with a baseball bat July 14 during a robbery.

“Those criminals are targeting the weak, are targeting people who may be fearful to go to the police and report the crime,” said Jorge Martinez, legal adviser to LULAC. “They will be more fearful if we enact a law.”

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