Racial
Profiling: Illegal Immigration
The United
States has for many years faced a great challenge in establishing the exact
needs of its population as a result of illegal immigration. For this reason,
politicians whose strategies point out on combating illegal immigration have in
the recent past received a lot of public support from American citizens.
However, the new Arizona law seems to be taking a different dimension with some
citizens supporting it and others strongly opposing it. Arizona lawmakers
approved one of the harshest immigration laws of all time which makes it a
crime to be in the United States of America without the right registration
credentials. This law also gives the police the power to stop, question and
scrutinize the immigration status of people suspected to be illegal immigrants
in the United States (Archibold, 2012). The unique impacts of this law have
elicited different feelings among U.S. citizens.
Though
issues such as use of excessive force by the state’s law enforcement agencies, give
a bad press image of the Arizonian government and international relations have
had a big part in the great opposition being against this law, racial profiling
is the most prevalent issue among opponents of the Arizona immigration law. Even
though there are many Americans who support the new law but quite a number of
cities have staged protests against the Arizona immigration law because of the
many loopholes within it. Opponents claim that this law is likely to propagate
racial profiling since the excessive mandate given to the police could cause
prejudice against minorities who are the most at risk to federal laws and other
laws as opposed to American Natives. Opponents claim that the undefined clauses
give the policemen unjustifiable freedom to persecute people based on their own
judgments. In that regard, a policeman can unjustifiably decide to take on a
suspect based on racial grounds without being charged under a court of law.
Opponents claim that accepting this law will take America aback in its fight
against racism and hence counteract all the efforts that have been implemented
against racism so far.
Citations:
Washington., Randal C.
Archibold; Helene Cooper And Carl Hulse Contributed Reporting From.
"ARIZONA ENACTS STRINGENT LAW ON IMMIGRATION." The New York Times.
The New York Times, 24 Apr. 2010. Web. 03 Nov. 2012.
<http://www.nytimes.com/2010/04/24/us/politics/24immig.html?ref=us>.
Very interesting topic you picked to cover. I found it interesting that Arizona made it illegal for people to in the United States because they do not have the right paper work. I remember reading about that law when it went into effect and all the problems it created. I personally didn’t like the fact that they were arresting people left and right just because they didn’t the right paper work to make things worst they were arresting people based on the way they looked. Very interesting topic, and enjoyable reading.
ReplyDeleteAamir, I remember when this law was first brought to the attention of citizens. I found the law to be a violation of the constitution. After taking the CRJ 123 course, I continued to question how this law could be constitutional, in that the police only have to reasonably a person is an immigrant and they are able to pull a person driving over for mere suspicion as to their citizenship status. What effects is this law having? I would be interested in the statistics of how many people are actually arrested in comparison to those who are stopped, but can prove their citizenship. Are other states proposing a similar law?
ReplyDeleteThis topic is every interesting and important. I find this law to be unjust and unfair to people, specially only because they look undocumented. I find it very disturbing my self. I am of mexican origin, and to me this is discrimination to a certain extent. why? well, even though they say that it was not racial profiling, it proved to be the opposite. they were targeting those that looked Mexican/Hispanic and arresting them. There were many cases in which they arrested people that had legal status here. I would understand if they were arresting people with a criminal record and taking action, but thats not how it is. they are arresting people that are hardworking individuals that are trying to make a better living for themselves and their families. It makes me angry every time I come across this Arizona law. However, nice paper and good information. I'm sure this was an interesting topic to write about. Thanks for sharing!
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