Arizona’s Governor Signs Restrictive Immigration Bill

23 Apr 2010

*** UPDATE ***

Arizona's Governor, Jan Brewer, has signed into law a state bill that would require the state's police officers to determine whether or not a person is in the U.S. legally.

***

Arizona’s Governor, Jan Brewer, will announce her decision on whether she will sign her state’s restrictive immigration bill this afternoon. The bill, which directs police officers to determine a person’s immigration status if they reasonably suspect the person is an illegal immigrant, has been the cause of much dissent locally and nationally. It has been criticized by a number of immigration advocacy groups and even police organizations such as the Arizona Association of Chiefs of Police and the national Law Enforcement Engagement Initiative.

Earlier today, President Obama additionally criticized the bill in remarks he made at a naturalization ceremony for active-duty service members:

“Indeed, our failure to act responsibly at the federal level will only open the door to irresponsibility by others,” the president said. “And that includes, for example, the recent efforts in Arizona, which threatened to undermine basic notions of fairness that we cherish as Americans, as well as the trust between police and their communities that is so crucial to keeping us safe. In fact, I’ve instructed members of my administration to closely monitor the situation and examine the civil rights and other implications of this legislation. But if we continue to fail to act at a federal level, we will continue to see misguided efforts opening up around the country.”