The Supreme Court struck down much of the Arizona immigration law SB1070, but upheld the controversial "show me your papers" part of it.
Governor Jen Brewer was happy with the partial victory. Now police there still have a right to check a person's immigration status while enforcing the law if "reasonable suspicion" exists that the person is in the US illegally.
Though I wonder just how these cops will define "reasonable suspicion" when they are on the job.
"Civil rights will be protected and racial profiling will not be tolerated," said Governor Brewer, who then added that cops are not supposed to solely consider race, color or nation of origin.
But it seems as though this law requires officers to do just that. Isn't that the whole point of it? They want to weed out people of a certain race, who are from a particular country of origin and are not here legally. There is no way to avoid racial profiling. I doubt they will harass just as many white, blue-eyed, blond-haired people about their citizenship.
I'm not blaming the police officers. They have to uphold the law, but how can they do that without trampling on the rights of all the people they "suspect" to be illegal immigrants. Not all of them will be.
How will these cops avoid unfairly questioning American citizens who are Mexican or citizens who even just look Mexican. President Barack Obama said he remains "concerned about the practical impact" of the law and that "No American should ever live under a cloud of suspicion just because of what they look like." He's right.
What do you think of this law?
Images via tolomea/Flickr
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Comments 63
I agree with the guest poster, if statistics were showing that most illegals in Arizons were coming from Europe or Canada, I'm betting no one would become all flustered about it.
But, because it MAY offend any legal Mexicans, or Mexican Americans, the Obama administration is being all PC and refusing to enforce any laws regarding illegal immigration on the Mexico/Arizona border. I don't have a problem with people of any nationality coming to this country LEGALLY. But if your here legally, GTFO....PLEASE!
If this was any other country and you weren't carrying your work papers/legal status/citizenship papers, they would bounce you out ASAP.
"The police are only going to ask for your identification if you commit a crime *and* you happen to look foreign."
Oh, Rhonda, you are soooo wrong about that. Greetings from Arizona. Let me tell you what the law really states: During a valid stop (an officer needs probable cause to believe there has been a violation of Arizona traffic code or criminal law), if the officer has reasonable suspicion to believe that you may in the country illegally, he or she is entitled to ask your immigration status. Having brown skin or an accent is not an acceptable reason. Not being able to produce a driver's license or insurance when being pulled over for a traffic violation is a completely acceptable reason (hey, I'm White and I'm still asked to show my driver's license, registration, and insurance whenever I'm pulled over. Why? Because it's the law, not because I'm being "picked on" or "profiled" because of my color, gender, or the type of car I drive).
So, please, get your facts straight before you start spewing hate towards Arizona.
Because it is easier to shriek "racist" than to admit to not having a valid counter-argument.
And AZ is not the biggest problem state, it is one of the first to take on the problem where the federal government failed to act. The People's Democratic Republic of California has a HUGE problem with illegals being a burden on the state budget but the Cali Commies refuse to act on it even as California's state budget explodes out of control. Half the population growth in AZ came from Californians tired of the socialist policies of California. Nice trying saying it's only Arizona with a big problem lol.
If what you say is true, you have given proof that the President of the United States, the Democratic Party, and all those holding liberal ideologies are domestic enemies of the United States, and henceforce need to be treated as such!
Absolute BS!!! We have the most permissive LEGAL immigration policy on the planet! Furthermore, we are among a very small number of countries that even permit immigrants to become full citizens. I have several friends who have done it, and it is NOT "hard".
if they follow the law (besides being illegal) why can't they become legal?
LOL!!! It's as They are just looking for a better life.
It's a shame we don't have infinite unlimited capacity to take everyone who has the notion to come here. It's a shame everyone can't win the lottery. It's a shame everyone can't be a movie star...
You know American, you're the only one who twisted my comment around and you've gotten enough of my time.
If I get pulled over without my license, I have to pay a $240.00 fine, why is this so complicated????