The recent immigration law in Arizona has led to both controversy and immediate, undeniable impact. The law gives authorities in the state the right to check documentation of anyone suspected of being an illegal immigrant. It is now being reported that since the law's creation, over tens of thousands of illegal immigrants have left the state of Arizona.
Anti-immigration measures enacted over the past several years were designed to push over 400,000 undocumented laborers out of the state of Arizona. This is the latest such measure, after another was passed three years ago requiring companies to check a worker's status against a federal database.
The state of Arizona is known for being a highway of human trafficking and drug smuggling into the United States. The governor of Arizona, Jan Brewer, signed the bill into law after spikes in violence related to illegal immigration. In spite of massive protests, polls show that the majority of Americans and Arizona citizens are in agreement with the law.
Those who oppose the law say that it opens the door for serious racial profiling problems. President Obama's administration has filed a suit against the state to oppose the act. Recent events in Arizona have pushed the issue of immigration reform to the top of President Obama's agenda.
Another complication of the law is that it jeopardizes the freedom of those who are here legally but associated with illegal immigrants. Anyone transporting an undocumented citizen is also subject to arrest. This has put most of the Hispanic community in Arizona on high alert.
The Arizona immigration law creates a long list of future complications for our country. On one hand, the apparent success of the law is likely going to lead other states to replicate it. Many of the undocumented workers in Arizona are planning to leave for other states across the country, whose leaders might be fearful of the crime that some argue is connected to undocumented residents.
On the other side of the fence, there are many supporters of the president within the Hispanic community who are expecting him to find a way to stop this law. Protests have been held across the country, and the Latino voting base is not as secure for the president as, say, African Americans. Therefore, when the Latino community makes a demand on Obama, he responds in full force. The same is true for Attorney General Eric Holder.
African Americans have a mixed perception of the immigration law. Some oppose it, due to the disturbing racial profiling implications. Others, including some African Americans in the state of Arizona, have found that less competition for jobs has made it easier to find employment. Black leadership, including Rev. Al Sharpton and NAACP President Ben Jealous, have been vocal in opposing the law. The direct nature of their opposition must be delicately balanced against some within the African American community who've felt that their job availability and wages have been impacted by the presence of lower cost labor.
Given that real wages for American workers have remained stagnant over the past 20 years, they might have a strong point. At the very least, everyone agrees that comprehensive immigration reform is an absolute must for Obama. He has to get this done.
Dr. Boyce Watkins is the founder of the Your Black World Coalition and a Scholarship in Action Resident of the Institute for Black Public Policy. To have Dr. Boyce commentary delivered to your email, please click here. 
Comments: (33)
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By: Tonya on 7/28/2010 2:40PM
Dr. Watkins, I don't think you described this law accurately.
Just to clarify: Section 2 of SB 1070 states that law enforcement cannot stop a person for the sole purpose of determining immigration status. An officer can inquire about immigration status only if a person is stopped or detained on suspicion of another crime, and if there is reasonable suspicion that the person is in the U.S. illegally.
They aren't going to just stop you on the street and be like- HEY you look illegal where is your papers?
The issue is if they will have a problem with DWB(rown), or illegally framing people for a crime. Which of course is distinct possibility.
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By: jeromequigley on 7/26/2010 1:27PM
Tonya, very good point! It is very frustrating when "writers or reporters" of facts can not (or in most cases WILL NOT)report the facts!! Seems people who oppose the new law always seem to leave out the fact that police can not just walk up and ask people for their paperwork. It can only be asked for after the person has been detained for some other crime or violation!! Yes of course a cop can abuse/get around that part. But most are just out there trying to protect the citizens of that area. But thanks for pointing that out so readers DO KNOW THIS!!
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By: Christina on 7/26/2010 1:53PM
While yes this is true, we have a history in Arizona of the sheriff’s department doing "crime sweeps" in mainly Hispanic neighborhoods and stopping people for the slightest infraction. "Crimes" such as not signaling long enough or making too wide of a turn can get someone pulled over. While this may assist in creating more mindful drivers; they do this when they could be working on more serious crimes. Their department alone has a backlog of warrants and arrests that have yet to be made; so as a citizen, this makes me wonder of our taxpayer dollars are being properly spent and if we are truly safe in our community.
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By: Vickiss on 7/26/2010 12:50PM
I'm sure we can all agree that it's a great law for white folks. We're all ultimately scrambling and begging for jobs from white people. The focus should be on them , since they are causing the problem.
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By: jeromequigley on 7/26/2010 1:34PM
Vickiss, what in the HECK are you talking about??? How is this a great law for white folks?? And how are Whites causing ALL this?? What is your idea to fix and focus this on whites?? You have lost your ever loving mind!!!! I am so glad I do not have to love in a place, and I am talking about in my soul and mind, where I just see and seek out hate against other races like that!!! It must be a very angry and repressive place to keep yourself! And yes I said KEEP YOURSELF!! Nobody is forcing you to lash out with racist comments like this and to continue to view whites as this big bad enemy! Like whites are all the same??? Sad, so very sad!!
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By: Vickiss on 7/26/2010 2:49PM
I believe that you may have misunderstood my comment. By focusing on white people , we are focusing on the problem of white supremacy , which is racism , which is the reason for the immigration law, and job shortages/discrimination towards all non whites in the first place.
http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2010/06/03/congresswoman-says-white-supremacist-groups-inspired-arizonas-immigration-law/
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By: LAURA J on 7/26/2010 1:32PM
Havent they been on our tip long enough? racial profiling..wonder where they got that?
They may as well leave now, because sooner or later its going to hit the fan!
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By: aouten3 on 7/26/2010 2:18PM
1st: The companies and people employing illegal immigrants are the REAL problem, why is this not addressed more?
2nd: As an African American man, I have been racially profiled many times. Stopped while walking("You match the description" routine), stopped while driving(bogus moving violation routine)asked for ID, cuffed, questioned, let go, not even a ticket. I'm not saying it's right, but it's the AMERICAN WAY. Black and brown folks have been dealing with this for years. If you have proper ID/Documentation and are not wanted for something, keep on moving. If not, YOU HAVE A BIG PROBLEM.
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By: Rudy Barbee on 7/26/2010 4:02PM
Dr. Watkins: The practice of kicking the can farther down the road by our Congress and executive branch over at least three amnesty related acts (including political asylum/refugee assistance to Vietnamese and Central Americans during the 70's and 80's) as well as the perverted interpretation of the 14th Amendment will have to stop during the next Congressional session![And, this western hemispheric notion "we're all americans" as being from two continents does not rise to the level of seriousness for sound public policy.] The enforcement and honest interpretation of current or soon-to-be-modified immigration quotas and administrative laws will just have to happen during the Obama administration. Acting now will avoid the rhetoric and intraethnic pandering that's about to increase. Many are not aware the U.S. has been for many years hit on all sides of its borders by folks from nations other than Canada and Mexico. Many are also not aware that some states have been quietly practicing for years what Arizona has demonstratively exhibited. Other states are looking at what's happening -- and what's not as governors seek to protect their states from financial and civil negatives brought on by factors that include harboring of illegal immigrants, exploiting human beings trying to better themselves, countries that allow significant class gaps of have's and have-nots, interstate commerce abuse by corporations and syndicates, and the failure of the federal government to accurately and timely reimburse states that expend for services that should not necessarily be borne by its constituents. The results of efforts against the self-centered acts within the financial markets are still being evaluated. Efforts at avoiding injustice to noncitizens and citizens. We must soon turn to effecting a comprehensive reform/enforcement of immigration and naturalization laws accurately interpreted and diligently followed by Americans and others.
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By: Christina on 7/26/2010 2:04PM
How do we know? We know by crime statistics. If anyone who is in favor of this law actually looks at the stats instead of just listening to those pandering for votes, they will find that many of the "facts" listed are outright lies. I find this type of question hilarious on this website, when this very same question was asked and will continue to be asked about the black community. Hispanics & mexicans are just the current popular scapegoat, particularly as we are entering into a new election season.
It is through uneducated fears such as these that allow the Tea Party and the racist that control it to grow and gain popularity in main stream society. We as civil minded citizens must for once stand together and let them know that racism and profiling is not acceptable. Because once the shine wears off of this groups, they will just move on to the next "threat" to our society.
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