The Controversial Arizona Immigration Law
Late April, 2010, the governor of Arizona, Jan Brewer signed the nation’s toughest bill on illegal immigration. The purpose of the law was to identify, prosecute and deport illegal immigrants. This created a backlash from immigrants’ rights groups and forged a divide within the nation, between those who praise the move by Arizona for taking charge of the immigration problem in their state, and those who believe Arizona has overstepped the Federal government’s power over immigration laws.
The law provides authority for Arizona police officers to demand immigration papers from an individual if they have a "reasonable suspicion…that the person is an alien who is unlawfully present in the United States. "It also allows law enforcement officers to arrest a person without a warrant if the officer has "probable cause to believe that the person has committed any public offense that makes the person removable from the United States.” How exactly they will determine who "looks suspicious" enough to be illegal is questionable. What kind of extra training will the officers need to get in par with Federal Agents to know what "removable” offenses are? We have yet to see how this law will be implemented.
An amendment was quickly passed to clarify when officers can inquire about immigration status a few days after protests started. Rather than "in any lawful contact" it was changed to during "any lawful stop, detention or arrest…" Also, the addition included language "prohibiting law enforcement officers from "solely considering race, color or national origin in implementing the requirements" of that law. No racial profiling allowed. Critics argue that to include such a clause is easier written than enforced. Even if the Arizona law is "facially" neutral, it may still be unconstitutional if it is applied and administered by public authority with impartiality.
Opponents of the statute called for a boycott of Arizona. Just on Wednesday May 12, 2010, Los Angeles became the largest city to boycott Arizona over the new law targeting illegal immigrants. It joined San Francisco, Oakland and San Diego to protest against Arizona. This will affect more than $8 million in contracts with the state. Organizations such as the American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA) made a statement when it decided to pull its fall conference originally out of Scottsdale, Arizona, shortly after the law was passed. The MLB Players Association also opposes the law, as well as the Phoenix Suns professional basketball team. Even The Republican Party, at the National Council of La Raza’s urging, decided against having the 2012 national convention in Phoenix, and chose Tampa, Florida instead.
The consequences of this law are enormous and we have yet to see if other states will condemn or follow Arizona’s stance on immigration.
Groups that announced travel boycotts of Arizona: (as of May 13, 2010)
The law provides authority for Arizona police officers to demand immigration papers from an individual if they have a "reasonable suspicion…that the person is an alien who is unlawfully present in the United States. "It also allows law enforcement officers to arrest a person without a warrant if the officer has "probable cause to believe that the person has committed any public offense that makes the person removable from the United States.” How exactly they will determine who "looks suspicious" enough to be illegal is questionable. What kind of extra training will the officers need to get in par with Federal Agents to know what "removable” offenses are? We have yet to see how this law will be implemented.
An amendment was quickly passed to clarify when officers can inquire about immigration status a few days after protests started. Rather than "in any lawful contact" it was changed to during "any lawful stop, detention or arrest…" Also, the addition included language "prohibiting law enforcement officers from "solely considering race, color or national origin in implementing the requirements" of that law. No racial profiling allowed. Critics argue that to include such a clause is easier written than enforced. Even if the Arizona law is "facially" neutral, it may still be unconstitutional if it is applied and administered by public authority with impartiality.
Opponents of the statute called for a boycott of Arizona. Just on Wednesday May 12, 2010, Los Angeles became the largest city to boycott Arizona over the new law targeting illegal immigrants. It joined San Francisco, Oakland and San Diego to protest against Arizona. This will affect more than $8 million in contracts with the state. Organizations such as the American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA) made a statement when it decided to pull its fall conference originally out of Scottsdale, Arizona, shortly after the law was passed. The MLB Players Association also opposes the law, as well as the Phoenix Suns professional basketball team. Even The Republican Party, at the National Council of La Raza’s urging, decided against having the 2012 national convention in Phoenix, and chose Tampa, Florida instead.
The consequences of this law are enormous and we have yet to see if other states will condemn or follow Arizona’s stance on immigration.
Groups that announced travel boycotts of Arizona: (as of May 13, 2010)
- Service Employees International Union
- United Food and Commercial Workers International Union
- National Council of La Raza
- Asian American Justice Center
- Center for Community Change
- League of United Latin American Citizens
- National Puerto Rican Coalition
- Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights
- Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity Inc., the oldest African American Greek-lettered fraternity, cancelled a July meeting at the Sheraton Phoenix Downtown Hotel (with an estimated 5,000 attendees) Convention moved to Las Vegas.
- American Immigration Lawyers Association cancelled its fall conference at the Camelback Inn in Paradise Valley.
- National Urban League. The group issued a rebuke of the city and suspended consideration of Phoenix’s bid to host its 2012 annual conference.
- National Autonomous University of Mexico has canceled its exchange program with the University of Arizona.
- Autonomous University of San Luis Potosí has canceled its exchange program with the University of Arizona.
- Boston
- St. Paul, Minn.
- Oakland
- San Diego
- West Hollywood
- El Paso (city and county)
- Boulder, Colo.
- San Francisco.
- Los Angeles.
 Print | Click here for Immigration Updates  |