Arizona tightens immigration law

[Gob]

Arizona tightens immigration law

Arizona's governor has signed into law an immigration bill seen as one of the toughest in the US, despite strong criticism by President Barack Obama.

The bill signed by Governor Jan Brewer will require state police to question people about their immigration status if there is "reasonable suspicion".

The bill - which takes effect in 90 days - also makes it a crime under state law to be in the US illegally.

President Obama has described the law in the US border state as "misguided".

Gov Brewer signed the bill into law live on television, saying it "protects every Arizona citizen".

She said the measure would strengthen border controls in the state, which borders Mexico.

The governor also said she had to act because the federal government had failed to tackle illegal immigration.

"We in Arizona have been more than patient waiting for Washington to act. But decades of inaction and misguided policy have created a dangerous and unacceptable situation."

President Obama said he had instructed the Justice Department to examine if the bill was legal.

He also said Washington should consider enacting immigration reform at the federal level.


"That includes, for example, the recent efforts in Arizona, which threaten to undermine basic notions of fairness that we cherish as Americans, as well as the trust between police and their communities that is so crucial to keeping us safe," Mr Obama said.

Civil rights groups have said they will mount a legal challenge to have the law overthrown on the grounds that it paves the way for widespread discrimination against Hispanics.

One group, the National Council of La Raza, said the bill would turn Hispanics, regardless of their legal status, into suspects in their own communities.

Supporters of the bill say it will help bring illegal immigration under control in Arizona.

The state is the main entry point for undocumented immigrants into the US.

Story from BBC NEWS:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/2/hi/a ... 641346.stm

[Grim Reaper]

Arizona apparently wants to be in the running for "stupidest state":

Arizona House OKs Birther Bill
House votes to check candidates' citizenship

Updated: Thursday, 22 Apr 2010, 5:58 AM MDT
Published : Monday, 19 Apr 2010, 4:44 PM MDT

PHOENIX (AP) - The Arizona House on Monday voted for a provision that would require President Barack Obama to show his birth certificate if he hopes to be on the state's ballot when he runs for re-election.

The House voted 31-22 to add the provision to a separate bill. The measure still faces a formal vote.

It would require U.S. presidential candidates who want to appear on the ballot in Arizona to submit documents proving they meet the constitutional requirements to be president.

Phoenix Democratic Rep. Kyrsten Sinema says the bill is one of several measures that are making Arizona "the laughing stock of the nation."

Mesa Republican Rep. Cecil Ash says he has no reason to doubt Obama's citizenship but supports the measure because it could help end doubt.

Statement from Rep. Sinema:

"Republicans continue to take Arizona down the wrong track by wasting taxpayers time on frivolous legislation instead of working on important issues like health care for kids and seniors and education."

"Republican Rep. Judy Burges amendment to Senate Bill 1024 today would require the Arizona secretary of state to verify a presidential candidate's birth certificate before the candidate's name is allowed on a ballot in Arizona. A presidential candidate already is required to prove that he or she is a naturally born citizen before they can run for that office."

"This bill is nothing more than a waste of taxpayers time when the legislature should be working to fix more important issues like the fact that it eliminated KidsCare, which forfeits all federal health care dollars for kids and seniors in Arizona. "

[Gob]

Time to boycot Arizona?

Calls to boycott Arizona’s businesses and tourism industry spread across America yesterday after the passage of an immigration law that some politicians have condemned as reminiscent of the early days of Nazi Germany.

The law, described by President Obama as un-American, requires Arizona police to arrest anyone they suspect of being in the country illegally — a move that critics say will lead to discrimination and racial profiling.

The shock waves from the legislation, signed into law this week by the Republican Governor, Jan Brewer, have spread far beyond the state’s borders, with the Mexican Government issuing a warning for its citizens planning to travel to Arizona and President Calderón saying yesterday that he was “angered and saddened” by the move.

Eric Holder, the US AttorneyGeneral, said the Justice Department might sue the state to get the law overturned, while Janet Napolitano, the Secretary for Homeland Security — and a former Arizona Governor — told the Senate yesterday that it could siphon off resources to combat crime.


John Harris, head of the Arizona Association of Chiefs of Police, opposed the law. Gavin Newsom, the Mayor of San Francisco, in neighbouring California, issued an immediate ban on city employees travelling to Arizona on official business while 7 of the 15 members of the Los Angeles city council signed a proposal for a boycott, calling for the city to “refrain from conducting business” or participating in conventions in Arizona. “When people are asked to show their papers it brings back memories of Nazi Germany,” declared Janice Hahn, a Los Angeles councillor.

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/w ... 110954.ece

[Long Run]

I don't know about the show proof of citizenship to get on the ballot (that sounds too dumb since every candidate has to do that at some point in the election), but after 15 years of waiting for the federal government to do one of its first priorities -- protecting the border -- I can be sympathetic when a state decides it is going to start enforcing the federal law. Sure makes for strange political alliances, though.