Controversy over Arizona's immigration laws sparked protests in Tucson yesterday after an immigration rights activist and a father of six were detained by authorities citing immigration violations.
On Sunday, authorities charged Rene Meza with being in the country illegally and arrested activist Alcaraz Ochoa after he tried to prevent Meza's arrest by immigration authorities, the Los Angeles Times reports.
Police stopped Meza's vehicle after receiving a tip that his five children, who were in the car, were not safely buckled up, authorities said. Inside the silver Mercury Cougar police found four children under the age of five who were not in booster seats which are required by law. Meza did not have a valid U.S. driver's license and a background check showed he was previously apprehended by immigration officials.
As immigration authorities were detaining Meza, Ochoa happened to be driving to a community meeting in the area and saw what was happening. He stopped, questioned officials about the arrest and when Meza was not released Ochoa crawled under the Border Patrol vehicle refusing to move. He was pepper-sprayed and arrested.
News of the arrests led to a protest in front of the Tucson Police Department where 300 people gathered to demonstrate against such detentions which have been on the rise since Arizona legislatures passed one of the harshest immigration laws in the nation. Known as SB 1070, the law gives police the authority to check the immigration status of anyone they suspect is in the country illegally.
Alma Hernandez, spokeswoman for the civil rights organization Corazon de Tucson, was among the protesters. She called the arrests "unjust" and together with immigrant rights activist Raul Alcaraz Ochoa encouraged demonstrators to demand their release.
"We need to fight for all those who are detained," Alcaraz Ochoa said