Immigration Bill Sparks Protests in Arizona, Around Country

Even before Arizona Governor Jan Brewer signed SB 1070 into law, protests against the contentious immigration bill already had begun at the state's capitol with more than 100 people gathering to urge the governor to veto it. On April 20, Arizona police arrested nine college students who had chained themselves to the Capitol Building's doors, declaring that they would not unchain themselves until the Governor vetoed the bill.However, Gov. Brewer did not follow the actions of her predecessor, former Arizona governor and current Secretary of Homeland Security, Janet Napolitano, and veto the bill. Instead, on April 23, Gov. Brewer signed the controversial immigration measure into law and secured Arizona's place as front and center in the fight over U.S. immigration reform.New protests against the bill began almost immediately. The same day the bill became law, President Obama spoke out against it, saying it threatened "to undermine basic notions of fairness that we cherish as Americans, as well as the trust between police and our communities that is so crucial to keeping us safe."Several California cities, including Oakland, San Francisco, and most recently Los Angeles, have declared boycotts against Arizona and have passed formal resolutions not to enter into any new contracts with Arizona-based businesses. Other organizations, including the National Council of La Raza, have urged broader boycotts of Arizona tourism, which nearly 30 other organizations have agreed to support.Protests also have been waged in other U.S. cities against the law. In New York, more than 6,500 gathered to protest the bill while a rally in Los Angeles brought together more than 50,000 to voice their opposition to Arizona's immigration law and demand the federal government take action against it.Arizona's immigration law also is making news in other countries. In Mexico, the Foreign Ministry issued a statement that it was concerned about the safety of Mexican citizens living in the U.S. as well as the country's relations with Arizona. In the U.K., one newspaper referred to the bill as "draconian."What Does SB 1070 Do?The most controversial provision of SB 1070 allows Arizona police to question a person about his or her immigration status if the police officer has a "reasonable suspicion" the individual is in the state illegally.Before the police may question a person about his or her legal status, the police must have made a lawful stop, detention or arrest of the individual for violating a state, county, city or town law or ordinance.In these cases, the police can make a reasonable attempt to determine the person's status, which generally would include asking the individual to produce a valid green card, driver's license or other proof of legal residency. If a person cannot produce the necessary documentation, then the police could take him or her into custody and detention until federal immigration officials have confirmed lawful or unlawful immigration status.Some of the other important changes SB 1070 makes to Arizona state law include: portland immigration lawyer