Arizona Signs Immigration Bill Targeting Latinos

Arizona Governor Jan Brewer just signed the controversial bill that would require the police to ask people about their immigration status if officers have any reason to suspect they are in the country illegally. The signing of the bill represents a tragic day for Arizonans and for this country, but could mark the beginning of a fierce and necessary battle to overhaul the country’s immigration laws.

Disgusted with this bill? Let Congress know!

In an effort to try and appeal to the reasonable elements of the Arizona electorate, President Obama blasted the bill as a threat to “undermine basic notions of fairness that we cherish as Americans, as well as the trust between police and our communities that is so crucial to keeping us safe.”

The bill now makes the failure to carry immigration documents a crime, and gives the police broad power to detain anyone suspected of being in the country illegally. It is an offensive, racist bill and to suggest otherwise is laughable. Does anyone really think the bill is targeted at anyone other than Latinos? Give me a break.

This is not the first time the bill has been brought up. Janet Napolitano had vetoed similar measures before being tapped to head the Department of Homeland Security by President Obama.

If a sliver of hope can be found through all this racism and hatred it is that the issue is likely to energize Latino voters, Democrats, and further fracture a destabilizing Republican base. This should push immigration reform to the forefront and once and for all expose the current Republican leadership as supporting a fascist law akin to those enacted by the Nazis. This includes Sentator McCain who, in his ever-lurching desperate movement to the right, endorsed the bill a few days ago. No longer can reasonable Republicans claim their party has not been taken over by the racist fringe.

Call on Congress to overhaul an immigration system that is unfair and failing all of us.

RELATED CARE2 PETITIONS:

photo courtesy of Saopaulo1 via Flickr

quick poll

vote now!

Loading poll...

no!
leaning no
leaning yes
yes!

no!
leaning no
leaning yes
yes!

Disclaimer: The views expressed above are solely those of the author and may not reflect those of
Care2, Inc., its employees or advertisers.

Russell U.

10:50AM PDT on May 21, 2010

Nellie KA, you are right on one front. We are ALL immigrants, but those who choose to immigrate ILLEGALLY are breaking our laws. Please read my previous comments... AS FOR ARIZONA, New Mexico is saying "GO ARIZONA!". John McCain just put California in their place...He reminded them that with their "boycotts", they are hurting themselves BADLY because Arizona provides California with A LOT OF POWER AND A LOT OF WATER! McCain did not support this bill at first, but went with it because now Washington HAS TO LISTEN. My grandparents immigrated here legally from Germany and my step-mother immigrated here LEGALLY from Jalisco, Mexico. Hell, if a poor, uneducated farmer's daughter can get it right by contacting INS and filling out the required paperwork to stay within the laws of this country, EVERYONE ELSE SHOULD BE HELD TO THAT SAME STANDARD!

send a green star

Bill R.

6:57PM PDT on May 19, 2010

continued from last post:

Boycott Boston, MA
posted May 17, 2010 9:50 AM by Brett Scott
Their city council has passed a resolution to boycott Arizona businesses.
Boycott Austin, Texas
posted May 17, 2010 9:50 AM by Brett Scott
Their city council has passed a resolution to boycott Arizona.
Boycott Los Angeles
posted May 17, 2010 9:49 AM by Brett Scott
Their city council has resolved to not only boycott Arizona, but to seek to end any current contracts that can be terminated.
Boycott San Diego
posted May 17, 2010 9:47 AM by Brett Scott
The city council of San Diego has passed a resolution to boycott Arizona. Their losses so far have been estimated to be 10 million.

Lets close our border before we get some radical Muslim terrorist crossing that will do more than cost money.

Bill Reese

6:54PM PDT on May 19, 2010

I see that the writer of this story is calling for a boycott of Arizona, well, here is a list that maybe we should boycott these cities and organizations that will mention below. It is time for Americans to stand tall and be counted. Please read the following boycotters:
There has been many business's calling for a boycotting Arizona because of Arizona having to implement a law like the Federal law that Obama will not enforce. we need to boycott all of those business, to tell Arizona that we stand with you, and thank you for standing up for not just Arizonan's but America. Here is the black list to boycott: http://azfightsback.com/ Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund
posted May 17, 2010 2:05 PM by Brett Scott
Lawsuit against Bill 1070
American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU)
posted May 17, 2010 1:42 PM by Brett Scott
Filing a lawsuit against Bill 1070.
NAACP
posted May 17, 2010 1:42 PM by Brett Scott
Filing a lawsuit against Bill 1070.
Boycott Highland Park, IL
posted May 17, 2010 9:54 AM by Brett Scott
Home of the radical school principal who cancelled a girls high school basketball team trip to Arizona for a tournament. The kids raised their own money for this trip. Such a shame.
Boycott San Francisco, CA
posted May 17, 2010 9:52 AM by Brett Scott
This city council has aggressively attempted to harm Arizona businesses.
Boycott Boston, MA
posted May 17, 2010 9:50 AM by Brett Scott
Their city council has passed a resolution t

6:36PM PDT on May 19, 2010

Arizona has done the proper thing by passing a law based upon the Federal Law. It is not profiling as they cannot stop anyone and ask for I.D., unless the person has been stopped for some other crime or illegal activity. If our Federal Government and Mr. Obama will not enforce the law, then it is the responsibility of the Arizona Government to protect their citizens from crime, illegal activities and cost of any entitlements that the legal citizen is entitled too. It is time all Americans stood up support Arizona and encourage other states to follow suite. Send an email to your Senators and tell them to back Arizona. The government we have today is trying to apologize to everyone in the World but it does not care about our own Citizen and our rights under the US Constitution. Stand up and be counted Americans.

Judith S.

7:16PM PDT on May 16, 2010

Anyone can be stopped and asked to present ID when driving. This is how it always has been. I can be stopped any time and asked to present my driver's license. As an American, I am required to carry it when driving. Hence, I always carry it with me when I am driving. If you have a driver's license, you should have no problem with this law; if not, why are you driving without one?

writer f.

4:49PM PDT on May 14, 2010

The problem here is the fact that police can stop anyone who appears to them to be illegal latinos.
This means they can stop any latino, even those who ARE legals. If they are not carrying papers showing they are legals they can be stopped and arrested. It is nazi tactics. reason being they can stop ANYONE who looks latino, even those who are legal.
I am an american, born here, and caucasin, and this is very imbarassing that a state in the united states of america can stop anyone appearing latin.... NOT GOOD.
This is a racist law. Note, i am not in favor of this law, and it behoves me to think that puerto ricans *who look latin^... can be pulled over... lets not forget that puerto ricans are americans....
this is akin to the germans during the war, targeting those who 'looked' jewish. Please stop this. This used to be america. what happened.... Arizona should be boycotted, and i am glad it is. no one should be committing a crime if they look latino.

Carrie W.

6:38AM PDT on May 8, 2010

Nellie K.A., I am a proud Native American and can assure you, this bill will not allow racial profiling! I agree 150% with this bill, how dare Hispanics protest with such violence and burn the "American" flag. For those wanting to be a true American, huge mistake!

7:57AM PDT on May 6, 2010

13 states are following suit, KUDOS to those brave enough to tackle this issue when our Federal Government will not.

Shame on those that only care about the Latino vote vs their own, Americans!

Lynn N.

12:01PM PDT on May 1, 2010

HURRAY for this bill!Arizona is brave and doing what our Federal Government has NOT done!We hope our entire country follows Arizona's lead.Good for them! Protecting their state and going after the criminals who call themselves "undocumented"--NO, you are Illegal Aliens/Criminals draining the resources of our country.
You should go back to Mexico and if you want to become a citizen, then do so LEGALLY!
We are sick and tired of this Liberal minded garbage.
IT's a crime to cross our borders illegally, remember THAT.
The illegals are unbelievably arrogant and demanding...who do you think you are?
And don't compare this to the European ancestors who came into our country 300 years ago LEGALLY. A much different story and these people respect our country and work and learn ENGLISH too. Didn't act like America owed them everything!!
Makes us sick.....GO ARIZONA!!

11:04AM PDT on May 1, 2010

THIS IS NOT PROFILING OF "LATINOS". You need to include East Indians, Arabs, Africans and all others that are immigrating ILLEGALLY from CANADA AND MEXICO! They don't only cross our borders! CHINESE are coming in on BOATS (in cargo holds)... COME ON, PEOPLE! GROW UP!
My grandparents immigrated here from Germany in 1918, went through Ellis Island and registered as immigrants. They took Citizenship classes, took the citizenship test and became AMERICANS. THIS IS HOW IT HAS BEEN DONE IN THE U.S. THE ENTIRE TIME. What makes the latino community think this is profiling of ILLEGAL MEXICAN IMMIGRANTS? We taxpaying Americans do not want ANY illegal persons sucking the life blood out of our economy. It just so happens that the biggest flow of ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS in Arizona are MEXICAN NATIONALS! If we were on the border with, say, India, the so-called "profiling protests" would be screaming that we discriminate against ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS FROM INDIA.

WE HAVE LAWS! If you want to read something interesting, look up the MEXICAN CONSTITUTION and read the language it has regarding ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS and their disposition under MEXICAN LAW.
Bottom line: WHAT'S GOOD FOR THE GOOSE IS GOOD FOR THE GANDER, TOO! BECOME AMERICAN CITIZENS THROUGH THE APPLICATION PROCESS AND WE WILL EMBRACE YOU! COME HERE ILLEGALLY AND WE WILL RUN YOUR CRIMINAL BUTTS OUT!