Friday, December 13, 2024

Racial Profiling Already Happening in Arizona

Arizona WatchAlthough Arizona Gov. Jan Brewer (R-AZ) said that she “will NOT tolerate racial discrimination or racial profiling in Arizona.”  3TV News has reported that an individual of Latino descent who is a commercial truck driver was pulled over at a weight scale check spot.  Abdon, who did not want to give his last name, was handcuffed and detained at the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) building in Phoenix.

He was released when his wife came and provided both of their birth certificates. The invidivual said that even though he gave officers both his driver’s license and his Social Security number, police wanted more proof that he was legal. He feels like he was “targeted for his race and forced to provide his birth certificate.”

A representative at ICE told 3TV that the incident was “standard operating procedure.” According to the spokesperson, the agents said it was not uncommon for someone’s birth certificate to be required to prove citizenship.

His wife stated, “It doesn’t feel like it’s a good way of life, to live with fear, even though we are okay, we are legal…still have to carry documents around.”

Think Progress