Charges to be dropped against Ann Arbor man arrested at McCain office sit-in
Charges have been dropped against an Ann Arbor man arrested for trespassing at Sen. John McCain's Tucson, Ariz., office after it closed Monday, The Detroit News reported.
Mohammad Abdollahi and three others will be released in a few hours, Flavia de la Fuenta, a spokeswoman for five student activist groups lobbying for reform told The News.
The protesters were arrested after they refused to leave McCain's office after it closed Monday.
Abdollahi arrived in the United States at the age of 3 with his parents but remains an undocumented resident.
Meanwhile, about 100 people were rallying at the Capitol this afternoon to support a Michigan bill that would let police request proof of citizenship from people they stop and question on another offense, The Associated Press reported.
Republican state Rep. Kim Meltzer of Macomb's Clinton Township began drafting the measure after Arizona passed a new law last month that lets local police question anyone they suspect of being in the country illegally.
Opponents of the Michigan measure handed out information packets at Tuesday's rally saying anti-immigrant legislation kills jobs.
Many in the audience held the opposite view. Retired nurse Cynthia Fortner of Davison participated in the rally and says she worries that illegal immigrants are taking Michigan jobs.
Comments
Lokalisierung
Wed, May 19, 2010 : 12:42 p.m.
Fair enough. What does this mean though? "who's sole job was to draft work papers for undocumented laborers." Are work papers like a kind of temporary work permit or something?
cantleaveAA
Wed, May 19, 2010 : 12:39 p.m.
@Lokalisierung: True, I have not checked their papers. However I have lived next to houses in Ann Arbor that had 15-20 living in a 4 bedroom house. Now why would all 20 slip out the back when police were called to a noise disturbance on the block? I have also worked at a large local landscaping firm who had a full time and legal immigrant who's sole job was to draft work papers for undocumented laborers. I don't think it's stereotypical to say that positions that receive little oversight and work where cash is readily available for payment are more likely to attract illegal aliens.
Lokalisierung
Wed, May 19, 2010 : 12:27 p.m.
"Glynda, have you seen the kitchens of almost any restaurant in Ann Arbor? Or lawn crews? I don't mean to be stereotypical, but they are the best examples. Michigan is certainly not immune to undocumented Mexican laborers, though I'm sure the impact is less than Arizona, Texas, or New Mexico." Big assumption that these people you see working for a living are undocumented aliens and not Mexican-Amercians. You check their paperwork or something? Don't worry, that's not being stereotypical or anything.
cantleaveAA
Wed, May 19, 2010 : 8:05 a.m.
Glynda, have you seen the kitchens of almost any restaurant in Ann Arbor? Or lawn crews? I don't mean to be stereotypical, but they are the best examples. Michigan is certainly not immune to undocumented Mexican laborers, though I'm sure the impact is less than Arizona, Texas, or New Mexico. Secondly, how in the heck were the charges dropped? It seems that this person fits the bill perfectly for Arizona's new law, why is he not on his way "home"?
glynda
Wed, May 19, 2010 : 7:45 a.m.
Why are we worrying about illegal immigrants stealing Michigan jobs? Are we having trouble with undocumented Canadians?
Christine
Tue, May 18, 2010 : 10:04 p.m.
This is excellent news!!
Danny Noonan
Tue, May 18, 2010 : 8:53 p.m.
XMO....Did you really ask the question is being a ILLEGAl alien a crime????? So not to confuse you, I'll keep it short...yes. Its a federal crime. Also your second question if you were applying for citizenship you would have a green card so you would not be illegal. You would be an aliens with temporary residency until you became a citizen.
The Picker
Tue, May 18, 2010 : 6:06 p.m.
Were his papers in order? it seems he wants to become a poster boy for deportation. Bye Bye Mohammad
rulieg
Tue, May 18, 2010 : 6:02 p.m.
try to follow along, xmo: ILLEGAL means it is against the law. so yeah, that would be a crime. LEGAL, on the other hand, means it is NOT against the law. so that would not be a crime. I hope that's not too complicated for you to follow.
InsideTheHall
Tue, May 18, 2010 : 3:41 p.m.
They should have locked him up and thrown away the key.
xmo
Tue, May 18, 2010 : 2:29 p.m.
So, if you are an Illegal Alien, its a crime? What about legal aliens, those who spent the time and money to do it the correct way, are they good? Boy this is getting complicated