SB1070 Will Seperate Children From Their Families

Congressman Raul Grijalva (D-AZ) has been in the news a lot recently, he has been an outspoken critic of SB1070 and called for a boycott of the state until the law is repealed.

He recently held an Ad-Hoc hearing in Congress on the adverse effects that SB1070 will have on families. It was the contention of the witnesses at the hearing that SB1070 will separate families. In particular American children of illegal immigrants will be separated from their parents, and become wards of the state.

Two witnesses in particular brought this reality home.

Heidi Ruby Portugal is a 12 year old who had to learn to cook for her brothers and sisters when she was ten because her mother has been detained by Sherriff Joe Arpaio.

At only 10 years of age I had a sad awakening the day of February 11. When I woke up, I found out that my mother had been arrested.  I thought “Was she in a wreck? Or what happened?  But I could not understand was why she was arrested working.  My biggest preoccupation was my 2 little brothers and sister.  What was going to happen to them?  And what about my little brother that my mother was breast feeding? 

I ask myself “Why did I have to suffer so much and I had to take on a huge responsibilities and charge? Waking up early and getting my little sister ready and with great agony having to leave my 2 little brothers.

Maybe you are saying “We have heard this before, but have you thought about the great damage that you have done to my mind, completely going through this personal suffering.

Mathew Perea an 11 year old born in the United States representing thousands of children from migratory families.

The laws in Arizona are just unjust and make me fear for my family.  I am always worried when my family leaves the house that something might happen to them.  I think about it when my dad goes to work that he might not come back or when I go to school that there might not be someone to pick me up when I get out.

SB 1070 is all about hate.  This is something that we don’t need.  I feel mad that they are already separating kids from their parents. I feel mad when Arpaio goes out to our parents jobs or through our neighborhoods.  Why does Arpaio arrest our parents, it is not the kids fault or their parents either.  I don’t know what happens to kids left alone when their parents are deported.  I have heard that they take them away too. 

Video of the hearing is below, the children's testimony begins 2 minutes in.

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