Southern law enforcement agencies have been armed with so-called 287 (g) laws that systematically target undocumented aliens and allow them to enforce Federal immigration law using racial profiling. This has made Latino crime victims and witnesses reluctant to testify and more reluctant to cooperate with police. In effect, what it has created is a subclass of people who exist beyond the protection of the law. It is assumed that all Latinos are documented and pushes the envelope of discrimination against the Hispanic population in general ("Under Siege" 3-4). For this reason, the Southern Poverty Law Center has a positive program for communities and individuals to fight back. On the legal front, they teach community leaders how to take an active role in fighting discrimination against undocumented workers and other types of discrimination. Rather than allowing discrimination to continue against undocumented workers, SLPC trains these workers to demand action against local and state politicians who engage in anti-immigrant bigotry and action. When there is widespread condemnation of racist speech or action, many times the politicians will back off from extremist measures ("Ten Ways" 16).

To conclude, there is obviously more to be done. However the recent efforts to combat Arizona's "immigration reform" law seem to be bearing some fruit. Just recently, it looks as if the measure has lost steam. Top Arizona Democrats have energized to fight the measures and U.S. party leaders have committed to do so as well. All of this would seem to indicate that the efforts of the Southern Poverty Law Center are bearing fruit and causing immediate...

These efforts have included pressure from Senate majority leader Harry Reid, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, and President Barak Obama. For this reason, it seems as though, at least for now, that the immigration reform movement is stopped for now. The Arizona Law is now being criticized even by Republicans (Kapur). However, it seems as though opponents of immigration reform have won a victory. What is necessary is that they keep the momentum going and do not allow the opportunity for more progress to slip through their grasp.
Works Cited

"Climate of Fear: Latino Immigrants in Suffolk County, N.Y.." Southern Poverty Law

Center. Southern Poverty Law Center, September 2009. Web. 3 May 2010. .

"Close to Slavery: Guestworker Programs in the United States." Southern Poverty Law

Center. Southern Poverty Law Center, March 2007. Web. 3 May 2010. .

Kapur, Sahil. "Immigration reform slips off the radar." Guardian 03 May 2010:

Web. 3 May 2010. .

"The Nativist Lobby: Three Faces of Intolerance." Southern Poverty Law Center.

Southern Poverty Law Center, February 2009. Web. 3 May 2010. .

"Ten Ways to Fight Hate: A Community Response Guide." Southern Poverty Law

Center. Southern Poverty Law Center, February 2010. Web. 3 May 2010. .

"Under Siege: Life for Low-Income Latinos in the South." Southern Poverty Law Center.

Southern Poverty Law Center, April 2009. Web. 3 May 2010. .