Yesterday, the State of Arizona passed the most restrictive immigration law in the country. The law requires Arizona State police to stop and interrogate any person who appears to be unlawfully present in the United States. This law will inevitably result in United States citizens being arrested, interrogated and treated like criminals for simply looking like an undocumented immigrant. What does an undocumented immigrant look like? What does a United States citizen look like? The Arizona police force is supposed to make these decisions? Based upon what? Such an arbitrary police power should make all lovers of freedom cringe.
The Arizona law, which is likely unconstitutional, is the result of years of federal inaction on the immigration issue. President Obama rightly called the law “misguided,” but he and the Congress must do much more than condemn the Arizona law. They must pass immigration reform, which will not only preempt Arizona’s draconian laws, but will provide fairness and humanity to a broken system. The federal government cannot afford to dither any longer on this issue.
You can help by contacting your Representative or Senator and telling them to support immigration reform.