Immigration law polarizes Arizonans

[Raineyrocks]

http://www.cnn.com/2010/POLITICS/04/24/arizona.immigration.reaction/index.html?hpt=T2

Immigration law polarizes Arizonans
By Emanuella Grinberg, CNN
April 25, 2010 11:03 a.m. EDT
This story started on Oprah CNN iReport
Arizonans on new immigration law

(CNN) -- These days, Jessica Mejia doesn't leave the house without three pieces of identification to prove her citizenship.

Mejia, a University of Arizona student who was born and raised in Tucson, says the habit formed last week, after a series of raids in Arizona targeting illegal immigrants. And now, a new state law that cracks down on illegal immigration has given her more cause for concern.

"Even if you're legal, you're in fear that maybe your driver's license isn't going to be enough or if you're walking down the street and the police stop you," said Mejia, 21. "It's a constant fear we're living in and even legal citizens are afraid to go out."

Senate Bill 1070 is set to take effect in August or September, if it withstands legal challenges that a number of groups who oppose the legislation are expected to raise.

Mejia's concerns were echoed by others in Tucson and across the country who oppose the legislation, which requires police to question people if they have reason to suspect they're in the United States illegally.

Mejia, who helped organize a protest in front of the state capitol Friday, is one of many student activists in Arizona organizing against SB 1070.

Protests continued Sunday outside the capitol building in Phoenix, with hundreds gathering in a largely peaceful demonstration against the new measure.

Read about Sunday's protest

The law also requires legal immigrants to carry their alien registration documents at all times. But U.S. citizens like Mejia, who identifies herself as Chicana, says she carries her driver's license, voter registration card and school fingerprint card at all times out of fear of being racially profiled.

"How can you tell what will give an officer reasonable suspicion to stop you?" she said. "We understand there's a need for protection on the border, but we think it should come more with immigration reform, not by pulling over people and stopping them on the street."

[EthanLeeVita]

Oh so very true. When I was coming across I-10 through Arizona, New Mexico, and Texas a couple weeks ago, there were 24-7 military helicopters or jets overhead and several border checkpoints. I'm surprised I made it through safely.

I had a cop incident near Flagstaff, but he was very relaxed and just did the usual name and d.o.b. search before driving me up the road. The unit had no cushioned seat like the ones in TN (how are ones in NH?). I'm sure it would have been very different in southern Arizona. I suppose being white-skinned helped me through border checks. I'm surprised they took my word for being a U.S. citizen (I hated saying it, but would rather slide under radar until I get to NH) since I carry no ID so I have no proof. Though I wonder what they'd do. Lock me up until identity confirmed? It could be a long time and would be odd since there was no proof I was illegal in first place (got to worry about those German illegals! Oh wait, didn't you get the memo? That was last century!). Never had a driver's license so I'm not really in their databases (maybe its different for border patrols since I used to have a passporty, but city/county/state cops don't pull that up on their searches). The mexican I got a ride from had to have records of his naturalized citizenship of course. They let the Arkansas Ranger I got a ride from through once they saw his gun and badge (also the same time when I had the resin which I tossed after seeing drug dogs).

Edit: Just a quick one to remove embarrassing mistakes.

[AntonLee]

SNL was good this week on this subject  "Earth to Arizona, don't you know that EVERY nazi movie ever made REQUIRES the line "show me your papers""

[Raineyrocks]

Oh so very true. When I was coming across I-10 through Arizona, New Mexico, and Texas a couple weeks back there was 24-7 military helicopters or jets overhead. Several border checkpoints. I'm surprised I made it through...

I had a cop incident near Flagstaff, but he was very relaxed. I'm sure it would have been very different in the south. I suppose being white-skinned helped me through border checks, though I'm surprised they took my word for being a U.S. citizen (I hated saying it, butt would rather slide under radar until I get to NH). I carry no ID so I'd have no proof. Never had a driver's license so I'm not really in their databases (maybe its different for border patrols since I used to have a password, but city/county/state cops don't pull that up on their searches). The mexican I got a ride from had to have records of his citizenship of course. They let the Arkansas Ranger I got a ride from through once they saw his gun and badge (also when I had the resin which I tossed afterward).

Wow, and I was just watching  a little bit of news last night and the governor was "downplaying" the whole thing saying that people were blowing it out of proportion.  I'm glad your okay! 

[EthanLeeVita]

And rereading my statement, I must have been horribly tired to have made so many errors...editing time!

[Raineyrocks]

And rereading my statement, I must have been horribly tired to have made so many errors...editing time!

Really, I didn't notice but could imagine with the journey your on it would be understandable.