Dear Secretary Napolitano,

Thank you for your recent action in support of DREAM-Act eligible young people. This beacon of hope exemplifies the tremendous impact your leadership can have. For too long, the voices of hecklers and vigilante politicians have drowned out rational discussions about immigration reform. You have shown that the time has come to confront head on the dilemmas created by our broken immigration system. We write to ask that you show similar courage and leadership in your home state of Arizona.  

We find ourselves on the brink of a humanitarian crisis. The roots of the crisis clearly pre-date S.B. 1070, but the Supreme Court’s recent decision will undoubtedly make things worse. In the absence of swift federal action, we fear catastrophe for our economy, our families, and our public safety.

We write to you today as civil rights leaders in Arizona to tell you that we are afraid of what is coming. We are afraid that the color of our skin will make us targets for harassment, pretextual arrest, and limitless detention. We are afraid that our families will be separated, children will be torn from their mothers and fathers and entire communities will be forced to live in a constant state of fear. We fear the criminalization of our community and the mass incarceration of innocent people.  

Maricopa County’s Sheriff Arpaio—who the Department of Justice found responsible for the worst pattern of racial profiling its investigators had ever seen— is illustrative of the dangers that lie ahead. Throughout our state, S.B. 1070 will transform local law enforcement with consequences yet unknown. Deportations will be maximized at the expense of civil rights and public safety.

Faced with nothing less than a modern day domestic human rights crisis, we implore you to show leadership and take action to protect the people of Arizona. We will defend ourselves and our communities—we have no choice. But we need your support. We ask that you end the Department of Homeland Security’s collaboration with Arizona state and local law enforcement officers on matters of immigration enforcement for as long as S.B. 1070 is in effect. At a minimum, we ask that DHS fully suspend the operation of Secure Communities and terminate all 287(g) agreements in Arizona. Arizona has ignited the flames of a civil rights crisis. Please, do not allow our federal agencies to fuel the fire.

Sincerely,