Amendment to Arizona’s SB1070 Immigration Law, Meaningful Change or Lip Service?
Late Friday night, Arizona Governor Jan Brewer signed a Bill that she believes would make the state’s controversial SB1070 Immigration Law less likely to lead to racial profiling.
Under the newly amended Law, a suspected illegal immigrant could only be stopped and asked for papers if they are suspected of another infraction. The list of suspected infractions include things like speeding and loitering.
The possibility of being asked for documentation as a result of loitering is in itself problematic as the city of Boston had to repeal a proposed 2004 anti-loitering law when residents and law enforcement accused the lawmakers of racist intents. Likewise, in 2009, the American Civil Liberties Union (who are vocal opponents of Arizona’s SB1070) filed suit against Prince William’s County for what they believed to be the racially motivated arrest of 4 men standing outside their own apartment building under anti-loitering laws. In fact, anti-loitering laws in general are known to be often challenged as being racially motivated:
The new Arizona law requires immigrants to carry their alien registration documents at all times and requires police to question people if there is reason to suspect they are in the United States illegally.
Under the law, police would be able to detain an individual based merely on the suspicion that he or she entered the country illegally. But one of the changes — which had been adopted by state lawmakers Thursday night — says police could stop suspected illegal immigrants only while enforcing some other law or ordinance.
Arizona governor signs changes into immigration law [CNN]
