The law, which allows police to question anyone they suspect of being in the country illegally, is scheduled to go into effect July 29. The heads of several law enforcement agencies told Attorney General Eric Holder that the law will lead to increased crime by breaking down the trust between police and residents in certain communities, while taking police away from more important enforcement activities.
"We will be unable to do our jobs," Los Angeles Police Chief Charlie Beck told reporters after meeting with Holder. "Laws like this will actually increase crime, not decrease crime."
John Harris, president of the Arizona Association of Chiefs of Police, said the law comes at a time when many municipalities are in the midst of budget difficulties. In addition, Tucson Police Chief Roberto Villasenor said the law will not be effective because "we doubt the federal government can even handle the numbers of people we will bring to them."
Police chiefs from Philadelphia, Houston, Minneapolis, San Jose and Salt Lake City were also at the meeting, which was organized by Holder and the Police Executive Research Forum. The fact that the heads of some of the largest police organizations in the country are against this law says a lot.
Holder has spoken out against the new law, saying it could increase racial profiling. He is also considering a legal challenge to the law.
At least five lawsuits challenging it are pending, including one from an Arizona police officer who says the law does not give him any criteria to stop people and would force him to racially profile.
It's clear that this law is not the answer to this country's immigration issues. President Obama's plan to send 1,200 troops to help police the U.S. border with Mexico is also a band-aid measure. Congress needs to begin an examination of our immigration policies and find ways to fix our broken system before more states are tempted to pass desperate laws. Most Americans agree with the need for an overhaul.
"It is clear that a failure to act on the federal level is resulting in state policies that undermine our most cherished values and, quite frankly, our safety," Holder said earlier this month.
The first step, however, is to strike down the immigration law in Arizona. It's time for Holder to act.
21-May-10 - Its tough for a tiger to change its stripes. And in the case of the 70-year-old Julianna Farrait, wife of Frank Lucas, one of the most notorious drug kingpins in American history, prison stripes might again be a part of her wardrobe.
21-May-10 - Its tough for a tiger to change its stripes. And in the case of the 70-year-old Julianna Farrait, wife of Frank Lucas, one of the most notorious drug kingpins in American history, prison stripes might again be a part of her wardrobe.
20-May-10 - A Memphis, Tenn., man was babysitting his girlfriend's toddler when she defecated on the floor. The man reacted to the accident by beating the 2-year-old toddler to death with a basketball shoe.
17-May-10 - Geoffrey Fieger, the attorney representing the family of Aiyana Jones, a 7-year old who was shot dead during a police raid, says police are trying to cover up the truth about what exactly happened.
18-May-10 - Vicki Valentine has had to live through the foreclosure nightmare that is affecting all of America. She recently watched a crew of men break the lock on her door and take possession of the home she owned for 30 years. Her father paid off the mortgage in 1984, only to see his daughter lose the home 26 years later over a $362 water bill.
18-May-10 - President Barack Obama's very colorful, very opinionated ex-pastor, Jeremiah Wright, is making headlines yet again, but this time it is in the form of the written word. The Associated Press came across an explosive, missive written by Wright that talks about the president in a very unflattering light.
14-May-10 - Popular 'Today' show host Matt Lauer and his wife of 12 years, Annette, have split. Word on the street is that when Lauer was in Vancouver covering the Winter Olympics, he allegedly "bumped Uggs" with Whitney Houston's half-sister, Alexis Houston.
12-May-10 - Rap megastar Lil Wayne, who is currently serving time at Riker's Island due to a 2007 gun charge, was snitched on by a fellow inmate for concealing "unauthorized music contraband."
12-May-10 - The Kellogg Foundation is awarding $75 million over five years to undo the effects of racism on children in poor communities, I cheered the efforts of the Michigan-based nonprofit.
Its America with no K's Hotep. Speak English! And anytime I get pulled over I am asked for my license and registration so why is that alright but not for the wetbacks? Stop letting illegals that have babies the right to have automatic citizenship for these kids and that will stop another reason for them to come here. Quit having signs made in Spanish and no more pressing 2! We should boycott anyone or state or country that doesn't support the law. The ranchers and landowners should shoot first and let em rot where they lie. Don't even report it. After awhile they will be to afraid to cross not knowing if its safe. To radical? They don't care about you or the Rancher that was killed! Right now all they fear in getting caught is a hot shower and a meal before getting sent back to try again until they succeed I'm retired so I'll volunteer to man the border and shoot anything climbing the fence. Maybe do what the Iraqis did to our soldiers and plant IED's before the fence and let themselves get blown up!
If the law was active,those college students would not have gotten shot in the head,4-young people tryin to go to school,had NO record..try puttin self in there shoe's...aliens should NOT be here,have enought problems ALREADY! why cause they where black?...go home.
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By: Ronald Catchpole on 5/30/2010 10:24PM
Its America with no K's Hotep. Speak English! And anytime I get pulled over I am asked for my license and registration so why is that alright but not for the wetbacks? Stop letting illegals that have babies the right to have automatic citizenship for these kids and that will stop another reason for them to come here. Quit having signs made in Spanish and no more pressing 2! We should boycott anyone or state or country that doesn't support the law. The ranchers and landowners should shoot first and let em rot where they lie. Don't even report it. After awhile they will be to afraid to cross not knowing if its safe.
To radical? They don't care about you or the Rancher that was killed! Right now all they fear in getting caught is a hot shower and a meal before getting sent back to try again until they succeed I'm retired so I'll volunteer to man the border and shoot anything climbing the fence. Maybe do what the Iraqis did to our soldiers and plant IED's before the fence and let themselves get blown up!
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By: tp on 5/31/2010 2:12AM
If the law was active,those college students would not have gotten shot in the head,4-young people tryin to go to school,had NO record..try puttin self in there shoe's...aliens should NOT be here,have enought problems ALREADY! why cause they where black?...go home.
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By: Jerry on 6/04/2010 9:31AM
What a bunch of wimps. Get with it or resign. You should be ashamed,
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