| Arizona made headlines, and history, when they | | | | laws into their own state legislation. The |
| passed SB 1070, the most controversial | | | | Immigration Policy Center has at least 15 states |
| immigration law to date in American history. This | | | | considering radical immigration legislation: |
| law has already caused protests and heated | | | | * Arkansas |
| debate between Arizona citizens, state | | | | * Maryland |
| governments, and the White House. What used to | | | | * Michigan |
| be a very distinct line between Democratic and | | | | * Minnesota |
| Republican views on immigration has been blurred, | | | | * Missouri |
| as has which ways Arizonians are leaning politically. | | | | * Nebraska |
| Arizona's new immigration law (scheduled to go | | | | * Nevada |
| into effect July 29th) makes it a crime to be in | | | | * New Jersey |
| the country without proper paperwork, and gives | | | | * North Carolina |
| police permission to question individuals about their | | | | * Ohio |
| status if they suspect they are undocumented. | | | | * Pennsylvania |
| This has become such an extremely hot topic | | | | * South Carolina |
| between immigration rights groups and the | | | | * Tennessee |
| government because it brings into question | | | | * Texas |
| Constitutional rights as well as how far the | | | | * Utah |
| American government is willing to go on | | | | Not only is the country divided on whether they |
| immigration. | | | | think the Arizona immigration law is going to have |
| Arizona, a Republican-run state, is arguing against | | | | a good or bad impact, but Arizonians are blurring |
| the accusations that SB 1070 will cause racial | | | | the lines of bipartisanship with their views on the |
| profiling and has already encountered multiple | | | | matter. Their opinions are not only skewed over |
| lawsuits, most notably from the Mexican | | | | the legislation, but over Obama and the bipartisan |
| American Legal Defense and Educational Fund. | | | | ideologies as well. |
| The Nations Response on Arizona's Immigration | | | | The overall prediction of this political battle in |
| Law | | | | Arizona is that Republican support will rise, but |
| Democrats are historically less forceful about | | | | only in the short run. Only 31% of the Latin |
| immigration reform. Before Arizona Governor Jan | | | | population, which is the largest growing |
| Brewer signed the bill, President Obama strongly | | | | demographic in the country, supports the Arizona |
| criticized it, saying it is "misguided" and looking to | | | | immigration law, according to a NBC/MSNBC |
| the Justice Department to determine if it is | | | | Telemundo poll. |
| infringing on civil rights. | | | | It is no surprise to note that the overall Latin |
| Obama's administration is leaning towards a more | | | | community thinks that Democrats will better |
| comprehensive immigration reform to take place | | | | protect and represent their community on a |
| this year, as opposed to the more radical reforms | | | | national level, but it is shocking to see the |
| Arizona is taking. | | | | decrease in national support of the Democratic |
| Brewer's response to the protests and federal | | | | Party when it comes to immigration. |
| criticisms is simple. She says she is doing what is | | | | The nation is pulled in two over the controversial |
| best for the people in her state, Republican and | | | | Arizona immigration law. It is still a question if the |
| Democrat alike. "I firmly believe [the law] | | | | bill will actually be passed on time due to the |
| represents what's best for Arizona," Brewer told | | | | substantial amount of lawsuits that have already |
| ABC. "Border-related violence and crime due to | | | | been put against the state. However, as the |
| illegal immigration are critically important issues for | | | | Arizona governor pointed out, the Arizona |
| the people of our state, to my administration, and | | | | immigration law SB 1070 is the state's way of |
| to me as your governor and as a citizen." | | | | working to solve a crisis that it did not create and |
| Other states are taking the lead from Arizona | | | | which the federal government refused to fix. |
| and considering incorporating harsher immigration | | | | |