BBC News - Protests across US over Arizona immigration law

[Blocker]

Tens of thousands of people have joined protests in the US against a controversial anti-immigration law introduced in Arizona.

The biggest protest took place in Los Angeles, but others were planned in more than 70 cities across the country.

The law requires local police to question anyone they suspect of being in the United States illegally.

The protesters say the law could lead to Hispanics being targeted, and inflame racial tensions.

In Los Angeles, police estimated 100,000 people had joined a march led by singer Gloria Estefan.

"It's the right of every American to protect where they live," she told the crowd.

"But that doesn't give them a reason to place a law that could create racism and discrimination."

The BBC's Rajesh Mirchandani, at the rally, says there were banners calling for a boycott of Arizona, and even one portraying the state's governor, Jan Brewer, as Hitler.

Many of the protesters waved the US flag, while some carried slogans appealing for US President Barack Obama to intervene.

The law was signed earlier this month by Arizona's Republican Governor Jan Brewer, who said it "protects every American citizen".

Under the new rules, those unable to show that they are legally allowed in the US could be given six-month jail sentences and fined $2,500 (about £1,600).

Supporters of the bill say it will help bring illegal immigration under control in Arizona - a state which is the main entry point for undocumented immigrants into the US.

The state is home to an estimated 460,000 illegal immigrants.

Source:BBC News - Protests across US over Arizona immigration law

[0sai]

The police have enough power.
Checking for illegal immigration should be either a standard procedure in certain circumstances (i.e. no drivers license) which is not under the discretion of law enforces, or not done at all. Although, less practical, it will mean that police don't target people based on race or appearance even more than they already do.

[slikrapid]

The law requires local police to question anyone they suspect of being in the United States illegally.

The protesters say the law could lead to Hispanics being targeted, and inflame racial tensions.

isn't that yet another addition to the trend of restricting civil liberties in the usa (like the controversial anti-terrorist policy) giving even more power to the police, as if it already isn't repressive or trigger-happy enough

what they conveniently fail to mention is how the whole immigration problem started in the first place (free trade agreements, corporate expansion and prices/wage decreasing for further profits), who allowed it to progress up to the current level (usa governments, local border protection force & police) and how it continues to increase (through the borders, that should be the primary issue), meaning they are trying to push a flawed patch that probably won't reduce the original problem, but instead will generate a few others (racial tensions & hostility towards the local police, insecurity in the area), which again will later on need further tightening of law enforcement and so on, until the usa citizens find themselves in an obvious prison-like society aka dictatorship, not being able to make a single move without their government agencies monitoring it, or even worse, without the government approval

but since the immigration influx is a pre-planned scenario, with borders resembling more to a swiss cheese, allowing the mass immigration to flourish (not to mention the drugs & weapons trade via local gangs), that fits nicely in corporate (cheap labor), governmental (new problems so they have something new to chew on) & other (watering down of the usa 'patriotic body') plans, it is reasonable not to expect any real solution, just useless/fruitless/ambiguous political rhetoric as usual

and you will notice that once again there is a split into roughly two big camps, the pro & contra (for & against the immigrants or for & against the law), and they will discuss (or fight) over this issue fiercely, unfortunately the real culprits (government aided corporations) will stay outside of the discussion arena, continuing their business as usual - just as in any other case, the solution should address the core origin of the problem and not just some of its manifestations/results, but then again, the usa citizens are the ones who should realize this, for their sake, hopefully before its too late, when their own skin may be the one directly targeted by the aforementioned culprits