This bill has been passed by the Arizona Legislature and sent to the governor for signing.
This bill makes me nervous. On the surface it looks okay. Even says it's going to protect our civil rights.
J. This section shall be implemented in a manner consistent with federal laws regulating immigration, protecting the civil rights of all persons and respecting the privileges and immunities of United States citizens.
However, it looks to me like it is just waiting for corruption and abuse. I think this is just opening up a big can of worms. Just imagine the outrage and lawsuits that will happen when legal status documents are demanded of U.S. citizens for no apparent reason.
Before anyone starts the outcry that this bill requires probable cause, as does any other law allowing citizens to be searched, detained, etc. please take into account that a certain sheriff of Maricopa county has been accused of doing exactly that and is being investigated. And that is without this new law in place.
Maybe something does need to be done about illegal immigration but I don't think this is the right way to do it. Not being a lawyer, or lawmaker, I don't know what to do, I just don't think this is it.
