Arizona Accord - Five Principles For Sensible Reform
Endorsed by a broad range of business, faith-based and civic groups, the Arizona Accord, with its five principles on immigration reform, was unveiled today (24 January 2012) in a signing ceremony held in the historic Arizona State Capitol in Phoenix.
The Arizona Accord provides a broad set of guiding principles on issues related to immigration which can act as a foundation in all efforts – government and private – to find solutions to the complicated questions surrounding the federal immigration system.
The five principles found in the Arizona Accord deal with finding federal solutions; respecting and supporting an appropriate role for law enforcement; recognizing the importance of protecting families in order to sustain our communities; supporting a free-market economy that acknowledges the contribution immigrants bring to our nation’s workforce and embracing the culture of inclusion by welcoming people of goodwill to our state and country.
"Everyone needs to understand the Accord isn’t a law and it isn’t intended to become one," said Richard Usher, Board member and co-founder of Arizona Employers for Immigration Reform. "These are simple and straightforward principles those involved in solving the immigration problem can follow as they create and implement sensible solutions. We’ve seen the problems doing it the wrong way creates and our hope is that following these five principles allows us to quickly and effectively address the immigration problem in ways that secures the border while facilitating and promoting legal economic growth."
Show Your Support for the Arizona Accord
The citizens of Arizona are welcome to express their support for these principles by going online and signing the Arizona Accord for themselves. The Arizona Accord website can be found at: www.azaccord.com
Press release | Event Photos
Get The Facts on Immigration and Reform
The Immigration Policy Council has released their updated report "The Political and Economic Power of Immigrants, Latinos, and Asians in the Grand Canyon State." Get the report.and obtain the fact sheets for Arizona and the other 50 states.
Upcoming Public Events
Prescott Unitarian Universalist Civic Dialogue
March 3, 2012 - 10:00AM
945 Rancho Vista Rd, Prescott, AZ 86303
website
Changing Hands Speaker Series
March 20, 2012 - 7:00PM
6428 S McClintock Dr, Tempe, AZ 85283
480.730.0205
Follow AZEIR on Facebook
Of course we're social! Get the latest immigration reform news and information and connect with other professionals interested in sensible reforms on AZEIR's Facebook page.
AZEIR's Arizona Immigration Solutions Conferences
Arizona Immigration Solutions Conference At Rio Salado College (Top left) and Flagstaff High Country Center (Top Right) Mesa at Mesa Community College (Center Right), Tucson (Bottom Left) and Yuma at Arizona Western College (Bottom Right).
The purpose of the Arizona Immigration Solutions Conference (AISC) was to open a thoughtful and informed public dialogue about our state's immigration policies. It asked two simple yet responsible questions: "are Arizona's strategies working?" and "if not, then what should we be doing to address the problem?" To answer these questions, the AISC brings in nationally known researchers, state and local elected officials, business owners and community and faith leaders to look closely at how we're doing and ask tough questions about whether we're spending our resources wisely, where we're headed and examine new and different solutions. It is non-partisan, non-judgemental and fact-based.
The first three conferences were held at Rio Salado College in Tempe in May, Flagstaff in August, Mesa in September, Tucson in October, and the final in Yuma in mid-November. These conferences were sponsored by AZEIR along with sponsors, The Real Arizona Coalition, One Arizona/Interfaith Leaders and local business groups.
Information from previous conferences can be found at these links:
- Tempe, May 7, 2011
- Flagstaff, August 27, 2011
- Mesa, September 17, 2011
- Tucson, October 15, 2011
- Yuma, November 12, 2011
AZEIR In The Community
Over past few years, AZEIR has had the opportunity to address community and business groups throughout Arizona and help shed some light as to the facts of immigration and immigrants and their impact on all aspects of the economy. The following online presentations were developed to be used to educate the public business owners and elected officials. Feel free to share these with your friends and business associates.
If you would like an AZIER representative to speak to your business or community group, please
send us an email. Please be aware we are not able to accommodate all requests.
AZEIR In The States
As other states have began introducing Arizona-style immigration bills, chambers of commerce, business trade organizations and community groups began to look to AZEIR for suggestion in how to best educate elected officials and the public about the practical impacts these laws have on the business community and the economy. By contacting AZEIR and working with other organizations who share similar objectives of sensible immigration legislation, AZEIR was able to help these states warn legislators and business owners about the impacts and steer them towards more practical approaches, particularly at the federal level. Below is a list of the state where AZEIR has testified before their state legislatures.
- Utah (twice)
- Kansas
- Texas (four times)
Online Testimony
We were fortunate to have been able to influence sensible changes or defeat of Arizona-style bills in each of these states.
If you would like to see if AZEIR can help you put together fact-based informational programs for your state, please contact us by
sending us an email. We will be happy to see how we may be able to assist you in promoting sensible immigration efforts in your state.
Last updated:
January 24, 2012
