Frustrated by Washington’s apparent inability to deal with the growing immigration crisis, the Arizona State House voted 35-21 to pass Support Our Law Enforcement and the Safe Neighborhood Act in an effort to protect state residents from a wave of illegal immigration.
SB 1070 will make it a state misdemeanor to fail to comply with federal law requiring that foreign nationals register and carry their documents with them. It also requires police officers, if they have a "reasonable suspicion" that someone is an illegal immigrant during a lawful stop, to determine that person’s immigration status and, if necessary, transfer them into federal custody.
The bill furthermore prohibits state and local agencies from adopting "sanctuary" policies that prevent police from inquiring about immigration status.
"[This] is a no-nonsense, common-sense example of a state acting where the federal government is failing," said Dan Stein, president of the Federation for American Immigration Reform (FAIR).
However, the United States Hispanic Chamber of Commerce (USHCC), has expressed its disappointment with the law, saying it will jeopardize the safety of Arizona communities and result in the racial profiling of Latinos.
USHCC has called on Governor Jan Brewer to veto the bill, something commentators say she is unlikely to do. 