WREX.com – Rockford’s News LeaderLocal Hispanic leaders clash over Arizona immigration law

Local Hispanic leaders clash over Arizona immigration law

By Marissa Alter

ROCKFORD (WREX) - A Winnebago County Republican has a unique perspective on Arizona's controversial immigration law. John Guevara is on the right politically. He's with the local chapter of the Illinois Republican National Hispanic Assembly. But his grandfather came to the United States from Mexico. So Guevara has two sets of feelings--one as a Republican, another as a minority.

Guevara says he's no stranger to racial bias. "I was pulled out of my car at 16-years-old and frisked in Illinois without cause and wasn't written a ticket--just, you know, for driving because of the color of my skin and wearing a hooded sweatshirt."

So it might seem surprising he supports the Arizona immigration law. Guevara says as a minority, he worried it could unfairly target ethnic groups, so he took the time to study the bill.

"After reading it, I'm convinced it doesn't."

At La Voz Latina, Executive Director Patricia Gomez has a different interpretation.

"It puts a spotlight on immigrants, and there's a great possibility of racial profiling."

She says despite Arizona's distance, the local Hispanic community is concerned about how and if it could impact the Rockford area.

"People say what can happen in Arizona can happen anywhere."

Besides humanitarian issues, Gomez also thinks there are legal ones.

"Individual cities, counties, states should not be enforcing immigration law because that's a federal law. If each individual state decides how to regulate immigration, it'll be chaotic for the country."

Guevara agrees the federal government should exercise criminal jurisdiction over immigration but says it hasn't. And that silence opens the door up legally for states to act.

"It [the federal government] hasn't lived up to its responsibility. Arizona is trying to get this ball rolling here."

Guevara is running for Winnebago County Board against Bob Hastings this November. Hastings tells 13 News he opposes the Arizona law because he believes immigration falls under the federal government's jurisdiction. He supports the recent injunction.