The state where being illegal is… illegal?
With Senate Bill 1070 signed into law, police officers will be able to ask for proof of residency if they have “reasonable suspicion” that the person is in the country illegally. Being an illegal immigrant is illegal so what’s the big deal, right?
The big deal is that those who induce “reasonable suspicion” will be those that are not “white.” Also, those with less than fluid English skills will be targeted.
Racial profiling is not a random side effect of this bill that should be disregarded.
Racial profiling is the point of this bill.
Gov. Jan Brewer said it is a response to a lack of government action to the problem of border security. The bill will do nothing to solve the problems of human smuggling and drug trafficking associated with illegal immigration.
This bill will not only harass those of Hispanic descent, but people with darker skin, as well.
Tourists from Mexico won’t want to vacation and spend money in a state that targets them as criminals for being “brown.”
When Arizona is already experiencing a budget deficit, anything that takes away revenue from the state is a bad idea.
Phoenix Mayor, Phil Gordon, plans to fight the bill, even if that means going into the court room. The American Civil Liberties Union and the Mexican American Legal Defense and Education Fund will fight the law as well. These legal battles will also hurt a state hurting for money.
After Brewer signed the law, the Mexican government issued a statement saying, “Arizona lawmakers and the executive branch did not take into account immigrants’ contributions – economically, socially and culturally.”
Arizona needs to wake up and realize the benefit of those contributions.
