KINGMAN - The Mohave County Minutemen are taking their fight to the next level. Minutemen spokesman Lucca Zanna said they are planning to meet with the Mohave County Board of Supervisors some time next week.
The Minutemen will be asking the supervisors and Arizona state Sen. Ron Gould for help in getting assistance from the federal government to enforce federal immigration laws. Federal law limits the number of immigrants from certain countries, decides if an immigrant can work in the United States and lists penalties for businesses that hire illegal immigrants. The Minutemen want the federal government to station an immigration agent in Bullhead City, Lake Havasu City and Kingman.
Zanna said the agent would devote his whole day to dealing with the issue of illegal immigration.
"It would be a really great start," he said.
The group has also appeared before Bullhead City, Lake Havasu City and Kingman city councils asking the councils to adopt an ordinance similar to one in Hazleton, Pa.
The Hazelton ordinance punishes local landlords and business owners who rent to or hire illegal immigrants. The city of Hazelton is fighting a lawsuit from the American Civil Liberties Union, the Puerto Rican Legal Defense and Education Fund, the Community Justice Project and several local attorneys in response to the ordinance.
Currently, Hazelton is prevented from enforcing its ordinance due to a restraining order placed upon it by a federal judge earlier this year. The restraining order was due to expire on Nov. 14 but was renewed by the judge on Nov. 7.
Several other communities including Escondido, Calif.; Riverside, N.J.; Palm Bay, Fla.; and Suffolk County, N.Y., are facing similar lawsuits from the ACLU and immigrant rights groups due to the passage of similar ordinances.
Bullhead City, Kingman and Lake Havasu City councils all decided against passing such an ordinance. The Minutemen were not surprised at all by the reaction they got from the three cities, Zanna said. They understand the cities' reluctance to get involved with the situation and their fear of a lawsuit.
"But it's a very little thing to face when it comes to securing the safety of the people," Zanna said, adding that the Minutemen are trying to find another solution to the problem.
