Arizona lawmakers on Tuesday approved what foes and supporters agree is the toughest measure in the country against illegal immigrants, directing local police to determine whether people are in the country legally.
link
Did Arizona voters truly consider what this will mean to police officers on the street?
The bill, known as SB 1070, makes it a misdemeanor to lack proper immigration paperwork in Arizona. It also requires police officers, if they form a "reasonable suspicion" that someone is an illegal immigrant, to determine the person's immigration status.
So it now becomes the responsibility of the police in Arizona not only to ensure the safety and security of its citizens but also to verify the identity of individuals proclaiming to be citizens?
This is a recipe for a police state.
It is also a recipe for animosity against the police within the immigrant community.
What happens when trust is lost?
People die.
Death is bad public policy.