Saturday, December 14, 2024

Controversial Arizona Immigration Law Has Few Fans

Following Friday’s signing of Arizona’s controversial immigration law by Gov. Jan Brewer, Rep. Raul Grijalva vowed to protesters that they would overturn the controversial law, “We’re going to overturn this unjust and racist law, and then we’re going to overturn the power structure that created this unjust racist law.”

The controversial law titled SB 1070 requires police to question individuals about their immigration status—including asking for identification—if they suspect someone is in the country illegally.

Controversy has erupted because critics believe law could lead to racial profiling.  They believe officers would be more likely to target people who look like minorities—especially Hispanics in Arizona.

Last week, President Obama labeled the Arizona effort as “misguided”, a statement that was echoed by Department of Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano to ABC News. Napolitano said that Arizona’s law could lead other states to pass similar legislation, which could create a “patchwork” of immigration rules when an overall federal immigration system needs to be put in place.

“This affects everybody, and I actually view it now as a security issue,” Secretary Napolitano said.  “We need to know who’s in the country. And we need to know, for those who are in the country illegally, there needs to be a period under which they are given the opportunity to register so we get their biometrics, we get their criminal history and we know who they are. They pay a fine. They learn English. They get right with the law.”

On Sunday, thousands rallied in Phoenix to protest against the new law. Marchers came from all over the nation, marking three days of protests that have reportedly been largely peaceful.

Rep. Luis Gutierrez (D-Ill) told the Arizona Republic, “The police do not have an inherent right to carry out immigration enforcement. It is the responsibility of the federal government.”

Rev. Al Sharpton compared Arizona’s new immigration law to apartheid, Nazi Germany and the Jim Crow South and said, “We will bring freedom Walkers to Arizona just like Freedom Riders went to the deep South 50 years ago.”

On Saturday, Immigration advocate Sen. Chuck Schumer said that the nation needs a better, more “comprehensive immigration law,” and called the Arizona law “mean-spirited.”

Even Hollywood stars such as George Lopez, Ricky Martin and Eva Longoria Parker tweeted their dismay over this law that allows police to investigate a person’s immigration status and arrest them if they don’t have proof of legal residence.

The comedian Lopez tweeted, “ARIZONA .. George Lopez is coming .. Oops .. I just got pulled over .. Apparently I fit the profile .. Gacho !!”

Martin tweeted on Saturday, “Racial profiling should never be tolerated, in the US or anywhere in the world. We’re moving backwards. Scary. #SB1070.”

NY Daily News

USA Today

Christian Science Monitor

Chicago Now

Comments

  1. thomas bidd says

    It is very simple…
    “ITS AGAINST THE LAW TO COME HERE ILLEGALLY”
    and was illegal before before this passed. The Illegals have ignored this so, what do you want do do make this country like Mexico. Where the hell is the anarchical arrogance from illegals that was seen at the protests towards the Drug Lords? Clean your own house up and try to emulate this great country but do not try to change it because it is Our law passed by the people!…Pursue your mindset and you will have nothing to emulate!
    STOP COMING HERE ILLEGALLY AND THERE WILL NOT BE A PROFILED. If you have nothing to hide…

    • Juan Carlos says

      Thomas Bidd:

      Do you belong to the Tea Party? What happens to those “legal immigrants” with dark skin? Are they required to have legal documentation 24/7? How about if they do not have this documentation handy? Are they subject to go to jail? Charged of breaking the “law”?

      Where is the Tea Party crowd? Isn’t the whole premise of this movement is that overreaching government poses a grave threat to individual freedom? This seems to me like a “police state”. Very different from what you call the compassion of “this great country”. Please open your mind and be fair! Do not act like a Sarah Palin fanatic,ignorant and short sighted!

  2. This new law is disgusting. Just because I have dark hair and features..they might think I’m illegal? this is not fair and reminiscent of the Nazi and Jim Crow area.

    Who wants to work in the jobs that illegal immigrants do anyway? It is 2010. I am appalled that this law even passed. Arizona sure wont have as many tourists……….

  3. Ruth Crook says

    Arizona has made me ashamed being an American!! The only reason white people are so angry is that they feel Obama and the Blacks have taken over their country. Every where they look a black person has the best job. They are on every TV station. So they needed a whipping brown person to kick ass and show they are still the “Boss” Arizona is full of red neck Republicans. I was told that Russel Pearce son was killed by a Mexican and this is vindication!