Recently, the governor of Arizona signed a bill into law that is suppose to cut down on illegal immigration, and punish those who are in America illegally. Many fear that the bill has gone too far by making it legal for police officers to racially profile, while others say that the bill is long overdue. The law will allow police to detain anyone that they suspect is an illegal alien, arrest and/or fine someone who is not able to show US identification, and arrest any legal citizens who hire or transport workers who are undocumented. According to Governor Brewer of Arizona, the federal government has failed in coming up with a solution to the immigration problem. The law has come under fire from President Obama, former governor Jeb Bush, the League of United Latin American Citizens, and many other politicians, organizations, and citizens, republican and democrat alike. There has even been talk of an Arizona boycott. The president of Mexico, Felipe Calderon, said that the government of Mexico "will use everything in its power to defend the rights of Mexicans who are affected by this legislation."
In my opinion, this law goes too far. It is no secret that police forces across America are accused of racially profiling. Claims of being racially profiled are not hard to find on the news, or in conversations with minorities. I myself have heard several upsetting stories of being profiled based on race from my friends and other people that I have met. I am not saying that all police officers, or all police forces use racial profiling, but I think there are many that do use it. By having a law that seems to encourage racial profiling, I don't see how arresting someone, pulling someone over, or harassment, upon the basis of race can be avoided. I wonder how this law will affect Hispanics who are here legally, and even those who were born in the United States. I think that the impacts of this law will be interesting and upsetting to see in the future. I hope that other states don't follow Arizona's example. Maybe we need to remember that besides American Indians, we were all originally illegal aliens too.
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I saw this one the news. It said that Arizona was the number one state that had illegal immigrants. I think the law has gone too far as well. I just have a problem with the fact that people get upset when immigrants come from mexico and other countries. I'm sure their lives in those countries were not very good if they are all wanting to come here. As Americans we have a lot of freedom and we should share that with others. It is our duty to help others, not keep them from coming to the United States.
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