Lawmakers in the Arizona Senate voted 17 to 11 to approve the bill, widely regarded as the toughest measure yet taken by any U.S. state to curb illegal immigration.
The state's House of Representatives approved the measure last week. Governor Jan Brewer, a Republican, has five days to veto the bill or sign it into law.
Immigration is a bitterly fought issue in the United States, where some 10.8 million illegal immigrants live and work in the shadows, although it has been eclipsed in recent months by a healthcare overhaul and concern over the economy.
The law requires state and local police to determine the status of people if there is "reasonable suspicion" that they are illegal immigrants and to arrest people who are unable to provide documentation proving they are in the country legally.
It also makes it a crime to transport someone who is an illegal immigrant and to hire day laborers off the street.
"I believe handcuffs are a wonderful tool when they're on the right people," said Russell Pearce, the Republican state senator who wrote the bill.
We want to "get them off law enforcement and get them on the bad guys," he told Reuters.
Opponents of the Arizona law, some of whom held a vigil outside Brewer's home on Monday to urge her to veto the measure, say it is unconstitutional and would discriminate against Latinos.
"You cannot tell if a person walking on a sidewalk is undocumented or not ... (so) this is a mandate for racial profiling," said Pablo Alvarado, director of the National Day Laborer Organizing Network.
Alvarado said his group would call on the federal government to intervene and was considering legal action to overturn the bill.
30 comments:
Although illegal immagration is a big deal in the United States it is not right to ask someone to see their papers just because of their race. Anyone could be an illegal immigrant and stopping people on the streets is not an appropriate or efficient way of stopping this problem.
I agree with the fact the US needs a solution to illegal immigration problems. However I dont think that this bill is going a bit overboard. I think it is a little unreasonable to just accuse people off the street of being illegal.
I am all for this new law. I'm skeptical, however, as to how effective it will be. Who's to say what defines reasonable in regards to suspicion of an illegal immigrant? I don't see this law doing much for us, but I hope that this paves the way for more border control legislation in the future.
Immigration is an issue and there needs to be laws enacted. However, it seems that certain measures are unecessary. The article says the law makes it a crime to transport someone who is an illegal immigrant. If this is talking about across the border then thats understandable but if it means in general then the law may be being taken too far. It seems also that day laborers are serving a good purpose and should not be officially banned.
Although I agree that every country needs to protect its boundaries, I do not support the new Arizona law. Arresting a person for the suspicion of illegal immigration violates human rights. A person should be given the right to present the documents of his or her legal residency, even if that document is not on him.
Considering this bill has no boundary of racal discrimination, whos to say that some may not take advantage of the "suspects" who could possibly just be a normal latino. This bill seems to pass somewhat a law of discimination towards latinos. Yes there may be many illeggals in the United states but those who are here legally can be just as equally discriminated against.
I do think that racial profiling is evident, but lets think about it. What other country borders arizona? Would arizona have illegal immigrants from china on a regular basis? No, the answer is that 99% of the illegal immigrants would be from mexico. If they don't want racial profiling, stop the flow of illegal mexican immigrants.
I completely agree that there is no way for you to tell if someone is undocumented by getting a "suspician". As a hispanic, I would hate for someone to look at me or my family members and asume. "oh, look, they might be an illegal immigrant" I have elderly grandparents who moved here legally but mostly speak spanish. I do not think this law should be passed because it is basically legalizing racial descrimination. What are they going to do about canadian illegal immigrants?
i think that its wrong just to say if your an illegal immigrant you should not be in the country. if that person is just trying to better their lives and their family's lives it shouldn't matter. plus they do the jobs that no one else wants to do so why not just let them stay.
i agree to an extent with this bill, it would cause an uproar and increase of racial profiling, thus causing media and citizen (along with non citizens) involvement, but in a way its necessary to create some type of order.
This law is ridiculous. What exactly qualifies as "reasonable suspicion"? Do illegal immigrants have a certain code of how to dress and act? This law solves nothing and if anything makes us look ignorant. The issue of illegal immigration can't be solved in this way.
I agree with this bill and think that it should be passed. I think that the "reasonable suspicion" should be specified a little bit more. But illegal immigration has become too big of a problem in America and this sounds like a good way to start resolving the problem.
Arizona has a bad reputation with the issue of illegal immigration. First that cop who was too tough on illegals (I forget the specifics, but I'm pretty sure he put them in overcrouded jails), and now this bill that clearly encourages discrimination against Latinos.
i don't think that it is fair for a police officer to confront someone who they believe is an illegal immigrant. i do think that people who do not have legal documents that says that they are a legal citizen should be deported back to their country.
The new bill passed in Arizona I believe is not fair to many latinos that live in that state. I gives to much to the police to take someone that they might think to be an immigrant and have them prove to be a citizen because many will more than likely be apart of the US and it becomes something that is charaterized as racial stereotyping. Those that come to America are just looking for a better life for themselves and their family and without many of the illegal immigrants several business owners would loose their work force.
now that im leaving this comment i know that Arizona's governer has signed the bill so its the law. now I'm sure that this is not only the right thing to do for Americans im pretty sure it will help the state economicly, the jobs held by these illigal imigrants now could be filled by others and we all know how blue workers can help solve depressions.
I think this is wonderful. I don't think there is a better way to get illegals out of our country. I don't see why people are whining about "Racial profiling"; if someone who is Hispanic and a US citizen, they should simply show proof of citizenship, end of story.
How can you tell the difference between a legal day worker and an illegal one? I agree with Alvarado that this will increase racial profiling…
It looks like Arizona is doing everything possible to keep illegal immigrants out of the country. Although i support their attempts, i find this bill to be very controversial. My Democratic beliefs tell me that it is very wrong for racial profiling to be done, but I feel there has to be drastic measures for an issue such as immigration. Let's hope that this doesn't turn into a huge debacle.
I agree with Alvarado, this is going to make discrimination legal in a sense and I don't agree with it. I believe a solid compromise needs to be developed when it comes to immigration something that satisfies our country and the immigrants...this is not the way to go
Arizona governor Jan Brewer has signed into law this bill, which is supposed to fight illegal immigration. Individual states, such as the state of Arizona, do not have jurisdiction on immigration issues. It is the federal government’s responsibility under the Department of Justice and possibly the Department of Homeland Security.
Most importantly, as it is stated in the article this law, if not overturned will certainly lead to racial profiling, harassment and police brutality against the minority. Our country is a nation of immigrants, built by immigrants, including our forefathers who came on Mayflower. We need immigration reform and laws that will protect all Americans and prevent abuse of “suspected illegal immigrants”, but this law is unconstitutional.
I think this is a wonderful idea. Illegal immigrants should be arrested and taken back to their own country. It would be different if they weren't stealing our healthcare and causing so many problems in the U.S but it's a huge problem. The government should be more strict on this issue. And I would support the passing of this bill.
I think this law is crap it seems like it would be such a bother and a waste of time...
Though illegal immigration is a growing concern in this country, I think it's ridiculous to sterotype and then ARREST people who even look illegal. Illegals who are working should be given special status, not immediately arrested.
I believe this law is a good countermeasure, but has it's drawbacks. Like many laws of this kind-it is a double edged sword. The real question is which side of the sword will be used most? Will the law hurt more or help more? Sadly, this time I don't have a solution for this issue. Many people come over here to start new/better lives. While others come over to destroy the lives we are currently leading. Who's who?
I don't see the problem with wanting the people who are living in America to be legal. Lots of people take offense at the thought of sending someone home who isn't legal, but there are so many reasons why they need to be(disease,taxes,records,etc.). It's not a bad thing to tell people they can't be in America unless they meet certain conditions- in fact I think it's wise.
This bill is going to cause some discrimination, there's no way you can tell if someone isn't a U.S. citizen is one without it, and even then you could be wrong. It seems like it might cause more controversy than aid for illegal immigration control.
Wow, that bill is so wrong! Alvarado is right, you CAN'T determine if a latino on the street is illegal or not just by looking at him. The law requires local police to determine status if there is "reasonable suspicion"?
What exactly is reasonably suspicious about walking down the street or looking for a job? Not all day laborers on the street are illegal. Making it illegal to hire them is putting men out of a job that already is not very lucrative. This bill should not be passed into law because law inforcement will ultimately be accused of racial profiling, which I'm sure is not the image that should be displayed to the working public.
It seems that this law will encourage racial profiling in the Arizona community, yet if there are Latinos who are stopped AND they are citizens they only need to prove legal identification. It seems like a hassle though, if I lived in Arizona and got stopped all the time because I gave the police "reasonable suspicion" I would get frustrated. It might work, who knows.
it's reasonable to make a law to curb illegal immigration,but you really can't tell who is illegal immigrator or not in the street, i think what we need is the advanced measurement which will work accurately.
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