Ethnic Profiling on Obama’s Turf

Adoption of new legislation against illegal immigrants in Arizona, retaliation measures imposed by neighboring California … The issue of immigration is putting the country in a state of turmoil.

Tension is climbing between Arizona and neighboring California. A few weeks ago, to protest the new anti-immigration law considered to be repressive and discriminatory, the city of Los Angeles launched a call for an economic and tourism boycott of Arizona. On May 18, 2010, an Arizonan responsible for energy responded by threatening to cut off supplies of electricity to the City of Angels (25 percent of supply of the latter). A wasted effort though: The boycott remains in force. Fifteen contracts totaling between 7 and 8 million U.S. dollars could be suspended while the cities of San Diego, Oakland, San Francisco and a few others have joined the movement to repeal the law SB 1070, signed April 23, 2010 by Arizona Gov. Jan Brewer.

The bill, which aims to curb illegal immigration, first targets the Hispanic population in Arizona. But it puts America in turmoil. Tens of thousands of people have demonstrated in dozens of cities, while professional sports federations canceled various competitions in Arizona. Even Mexican President Felipe Calderon blasted the “inhuman” aspect of this law in front of Barack Obama

Ethnic Profiling

There are approximately 5 million Mexicans residing illegally in the United States, and only 450,000 in the State of Arizona (6.5 million inhabitants). The law SB 1070 authorizes police to check the identity of a suspect in the case of “reasonable doubt” in a given situation. For monitoring to be legally justified, it is no longer necessary for a crime to have been committed. Also, note that the problem of illegal immigration was previously an exclusive federal government matter … In addition, any person arrested is now obliged to submit his identity papers on the spot, under penalty of fine or imprisonment.

To its critics, the law therefore legalizes “racial profiling” and opens the door to the related abuses of ethnic profiling. That is why various civil rights groups have filed complaints to try to block the bill’s entry into force in late July 2010. “We are not a ‘show me your papers’ country, nor one that believes in subjecting people to harassment, investigation and arrest simply because others may perceive them as foreign,” Omar Jadwat, counsel for the American Union for Civil Liberties (ACLU), said in a statement. Indifferent to the accusations of racism — “pure rhetoric,” she said — Brewer has signed another law banning all Arizona schools from teaching the role and importance of ethnic minorities in the construction of American culture.

“Do Your Job!”

However, as shown in the polls, the new legislation is largely approved by public opinion. Egeria of the Republican Party, Sarah Palin, was quick to rush to the aid of Brewer: “We’re all Arizonans now and, in clear unity, we say Mr. President, do your job.” The Governor justified the initiative on her part by the need to secure the border with Mexico, where drug cartels hold sway.

The debate highlights the lack of federal initiatives in this area. For many Hispanic voters, who overwhelmingly supported him during his successful campaign, Obama has not kept his promise to make immigration reform a priority. The Chief Executive strongly criticized the text as “irresponsible and unfortunate,” including that the Department of Justice is very closely examining the law. Many believe that the law will finally be ruled as unconstitutional and repealed.