Arizona SB 1070

The Arizona SB 1070 arguably may be one of the most controversial state immigration laws passed in Arizona. Arizona Governor Jan Brewer, Republican Party, signed the bill into a law on April 23, 2010. The bill implemented three key provisions: it permits people to sue their local government, agencies, cities, and counties if they believe that the immigration law is not actively being enforced. Second, it requires that police officers, when practicable, check the immigration status and detain those they deem suspicious as residing illegally in the United States. The final provision require an individual to possess their immigration documentation at all time. The bill intended to discourage the flow of those illegally entering the U.S. and prevent

The American Civil Liberty Union, since the second provision of the law took effect, received hundreds of calls about the possible rights violation related to the provision, hence the reported victims reveal that they (U.S. citizens and permanent residents) were subjected to racial profiling and unlawful detention by law enforcement (Wessler, 2013). The bill is a violation of the United States’ 4th Amendment that protects people against unreasonable searches and seizure. The policy grant law enforcement the authority to detain people through subjective judgement, therefore, police officers can harass and discriminate against those whose visually appear to be Mexican or Hispanic, regardless of the person’s immigration status or

The Arizona Republic reported that “most of SB 1070 was either never challenged for constitutionality or survived such challenges,” therefore, the key provisions of the policy remain effective today as it was since implemented back in 2010. The law’s provision which require the individual to show evidence of their legal status have been continuously upheld in the U.S. Supreme Court ruling. However, there have been minor policy reform in regard to a part of its provision. A part of SB 1070 provisions which prohibited day laborers to be pick up on the streets as the activity causes a disturbance in the flow of vehicle traffic. The provision violated the First Amendment: the freedom of speech, and ruled as