Arizona passes strict illegal immigration act

Source: Los Angeles Times

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 prevents any government agency from formulating policies to prevent enforcement of immigration laws and permits citizens to sue if they believe a law enforcement agency is failing to enforce the law.

It requires law enforcement officers who have a "reasonable suspicion" that someone is an illegal immigrant to determine that person's immigration status "when practicable." Previously, police who wanted to inquire about immigration status could only do it after stopping people for possibly violating other laws.

Read more: http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/la-na-arizona-immigration14-2010apr14,0,4677282.story

:mad:

This is Sheriff Joe's wet dream.

right out of my mouth.

disgustingly vague -- requires police officers, if they form a "reasonable suspicion" that someone is an illegal immigrant, to determine the person's immigration status. I imagine they will be checking a lot of tourists with Swedish, German and French accents, because there is reasonable suspicion too, eh? never, because this is directed at one group and one group only.

disgusting

like English is our offical language! they'll kick some butt

Source: LA Times

The bill directs police to determine the immigration status of noncriminals 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 illegal immigrants, directing local police to determine whether people are in the country legally.

The measure, long sought by opponents of illegal immigration, passed 35 to 21 in the state House of Representatives.

...
The bill, known as SB 1070, makes it a misdemeanor to lack proper immigration paperwork in Arizona. It also requires police officers, if they form a "reasonable suspicion" that someone is an illegal immigrant, to determine the person's immigration status.

Read more: http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/la-na-arizona-immigration14-2010apr14,0,4677282.story

to be in Arizona illegally? Who would've thunk? If they're going to be this strict, they need to do the same with employers to be effective. Big fines, jail time, etc.

"driving while speaking Spanish"?

Geeze!

This is a giant waste of money for a state already deep in the hole.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/8621853.stm

"US immigrant rights groups have sharply criticised a bill approved by Arizona's Congress that makes it an offence for a person to lack the proper paperwork. One group, the National Council of La Raza, said the bill would turn Latinos, regardless of their legal status, into suspects in their own communities.

This latest measure would cement Arizona's reputation as the US state with the toughest immigration laws in the country.

It gives sweeping new powers to the local authorities to determine a person's legal immigrant status - something which has traditionally been the domain of federal immigration.

Immigrant rights groups have said they will mount legal challenges to overturn the measure if it is signed into law, as expected by the state's Republican governor, Jan Brewer.