Obama slams controversial Arizona immigration bill over ‘racial profiling’ fears

PHOENIX - Arizona Governor Jan Brewer has signed a controversial immigration Bill into state law, which U.S. President Barack Obama said could violate people’s civil rights.

The Bill, which will take effect in 90 days, will make it a crime under state law to be in the country illegally.

The measure would also require migrants to produce papers verifying their status when asked to do so by a police officer,

After signing the law, Brewer, who faces a tough election battle and growing anger in the state over illegal immigrants, said the law “protects every Arizona citizen”.

“We in Arizona have been more than patient waiting for Washington to act, but decades of inaction and misguided policy have created a dangerous and unacceptable situation,” CBS quoted Brewer, as saying.

“We must acknowledge the truth: people across America are watching Arizona. Some of those people from outside our state are waiting to see us fail. We cannot give them that chance. We must use this new tool wisely. We must react calmly,” she added.

Russell Pearce, the Republican state lawmaker who sponsored the legislation, said critics of the Bill are “against law enforcement, our citizens and the rule of law”.

However, civil rights and Hispanic groups have condemned the measure, arguing it could lead to profiling.

Obama said that he has instructed the Justice Department to examine the Arizona Bill to see if it is legal.

He had earlier said that the Federal Government must enact immigration reform at the national level.

“That includes, for example, the recent efforts in Arizona, which threaten to undermine basic notions of fairness that we cherish as Americans, as well as the trust between police and their communities that is so crucial to keeping us safe,” Obama said. (ANI)