Arizona Immigration Law: A study in Racial Profiling and Injustice

I have heard the chorus of protests from friends, family, celebrities, leaders and even those charged with the enforcement of this unjust law. I have seen the smug, evil smile of Arizona Governor, Jan Brewer, who is laboring under the misconception that this law is a good idea. What the heck is she thinking? Are we trying to turn the clock back and bring back the days of Jim Crow? Are we trying to make our society akin to the Soviet Union, where you had to present your papers upon demand? I know America is better than this. In fact, I have traveled to other countries and have always felt that we did it better, faster and were more just than any other nation on the face of this earth. I have always felt a sense of pride to be an American. I dare say America is the standard that other nations measure themselves against. The aforementioned statement may have been an incredibly arrogant one, but I believe it to be true. Countries around the world look to us as a shining example of what is right. However, recent events have given me a moment of pause. I know we are way better than this. For a long time this was the place that welcomed all people with open arms, no matter what skin color, religion or nationality. With the stroke of a pen, Arizona has changed that perception.

People of Latino descent that have worked so hard to advance themselves are about to be taken to task by a stupid, racist and moronic law. They are being penalized for the color of their skin. Yes, you can argue that the law is designed to prevent illegal immigration and secure the border. However the means of effectuating that process are far too sweeping. Arizona has effectively made racial profiling legal. The consequences that this law will have are too damaging to fathom. Police officers who are duty bound to enforce this law are going to be put in danger. Not only are they going to have to perform their regular duties, but they are also going to have to act as border patrol agents. The resources of law enforcement will be spread thin which is certainly a public safety concern. Officers will be placed in situations that they may not be equipped for or trained to handle.

My next question is how do police officers determine if someone is here illegally? Is there some type of test they are suppose to be administer to determine if there is a reasonable suspicion to question someone? I'm sorry, but how do you determine if somebody is in this country illegally by merely peering through the glass of your squad car? This means any person with tan or brown skin may be subject to a protracted interrogation about their immigration status. Isn't this a violation of one's Fourth Amendment rights if they are here legally? Arizona has unilaterally decided that it doesn't care whether violates the Fourth Amendment rights of American citizens of Mexican descent ? Is this what is happening here? No matter what, police have the authority to stop you based solely on the color of your skin. I used to live in Arizona, but I have some serious reservations about moving back.

This law is nothing but a slippery slope that allows anybody to be questioned for anything by the police if they so choose. There are those out there that will certainly argue that my characterization of what might happen is a gross exaggeration. However, I don't think so. Any police report can be fabricated to make it look like law enforcement is operating within the broad framework of this law.

"Yes, your honor. Mr. Jenkins looked Puerto Rican so we detained him incident to an immigration check and found contraband in his car. We thought he was here illegally, so we stopped him on the I-10."

It is high time that the states reexamine the consequences of their legislative actions.

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