Posted on 04/13/2010 3:42:14 PM PDT by mdittmar
The bill mandates that police determine people's immigration status if there is a 'reasonable suspicion' they are undocumented. Immigrant rights groups say it amounts to a police state.
Arizona lawmakers on Tuesday approved what foes and supporters agree is the toughest measure in the country against undocumented immigrants, making it a crime to be an illegal immigrant in Arizona and allowing local police to determine whether people are in the country legally.
The measure, long sought by opponents of illegal immigration, passed in the state House of Representatives. The state Senate passed a similar measure earlier this year, and Republican Gov. Jan Brewer, who has not spoken publicly about the issue, is expected to sign the bill.
The bill's author, State Sen. Russell Pearce, said the law simply "takes the handcuffs off of law enforcement and lets them do their job."
But police were deeply divided on the matter, with police unions backing it but the state police chief's association opposed the bill, contending it could erode trust with immigrants who could be potential witnesses.
Immigrant rights groups were horrified, and contended that Arizona had just been transformed into a police state.
(Excerpt) Read more at latimes.com ...
Washington, DC Senator John McCain (R-AZ) will give the keynote address during the National Affiliate Luncheon at the 2004 National Council of La Raza (NCLR) Annual Conference, which will be held June 26-29 in Phoenix, Arizona. The Senator will speak at the luncheon, which honors outstanding affiliate organizations for exemplary work in serving their local communities, and for supporting NCLRs policy and programmatic initiatives, on Saturday, June 26 beginning at 12:30 p.m. in the Ballroom of the Phoenix Civic Plaza.
Bye John.
Hopefully the people of AZ will dump McCain.
HA...NO...we’re PRO-AMERICAN.....and anti-terrorist ....come in legally, and you’ll see how nice we are!
Excellent!
The bill mandates that police determine people's immigration status if there is a 'reasonable suspicion' they are undocumented. Immigrant rights groups say it amounts to a police state.
Boohoo. If you don't like our police state, go back to your own damn country!!!
(Illegal) “Immigrant rights groups say it amounts to a police state”
It’s about time!!
“Police State” you gotta be kidding me. You are an illegal you need to be seeing the police, duh.
California here they come...
That's pretty weak.
The illegals have only rarely came forward as witnesses...if at all.
They usually scatter like cockroaches when a crime is committed.
Gosh, the next time I'm pulled over for speeding, or commit a crime, I'll remind the police chief that I am a "potential witness"! I'm sure I'll be given a hearty hand-shake and permission to go about my business immediately.
I have a very close ‘American (born in Detroit)’ that lives in AZ. She is an AF veteran and patriot. It greatly pains me to know she could be targeted to prove she is an American. I know it must be done, but if you knew her as I do you too would have heartaches...
PS...she is of Hispanic/Mexican decent...
Now, if only Joe Arpaio would run for Governor - the state would be on the right track!
Of course she is, otherwise she would be left alone.
She’s a victim of Liberal policies.
AZ law needs to become the law of the land, and then, after the illegals are gone, she will be left alone.
Small price for her to pay to be a citizen of the greatest country in the world.
Sorry,but your post makes no sense.-
What if a certain person that has had trouble proving his citizenship were to be asked by a law enforcement officer in Arizona to show he is a legal citizen?
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“They usually scatter like cockroaches when a crime is committed.”
More than likely they committed it...
“It greatly pains me to know she could be targeted to prove she is an American.”
She should be proud to prove she’s an American. It’s the illegal’s that make her look bad, I would think she would support this.
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