15 States Seek Arizona-like Immigration Law

At least 15 states seek an immigration law modeled off of the controversial immigration law in Arizona that is currently on hold, while legislators in other states are awaiting clarification from the courts prior to introducing their own rules.

The Support Our Law Enforcement and Safe Neighborhoods Act, also referred to as Arizona SB1070, is the most contested legislative act in decades. It would allow law enforcement officers to stop people and demand identification and gives the officers the power to detain illegal immigrants while their immigration status is being adjudicated.

Arizona’s immigration law is currently on hold, waiting pending court appeals, after a federal judge blocked parts of the Arizona law in July, granting a request from the federal government.

President Obama strongly opposed to the law and called for a federal overhaul of immigration laws.

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Push in Iowa and California For Arizona-Style Immigration Laws

Supporters of Arizona’s controversial immigration law has groups from other states pushing for ballot initiatives on similar measures.

In Iowa and California, ballot initiatives are moving forward on measures that would allow authorities to check the immigration status of anyone they suspect may be in the country illegally.

A citizens group in Iowa is trying to collect 200,000 signatures to urge lawmakers to pass the law. The Des Moines Register reported that the Minuteman Patriots have sent petitions to 81 counties in the state hoping to reach its goal before the Legislature begins in January.

"We have illegal aliens working here and they are taking the jobs of American citizens," said Craig Halverson, of Griswold, the group's national director.

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Immigration law a threat to Texas competitiveness

Texas state Rep. Debbie Riddle, R-Tomball, made headlines recently for prefiling an Arizona-style immigration law called HB 17. An Arizona-style anti-immigration law would be disastrous for Texas.

But there are some major differences between HB 17 and Arizona's law (SB 1070). While Arizona's anti-immigration law is 17 pages long, Riddle's Texas bill is barely more than a page and only deals with identifying and removing undocumented immigrants during police stops if the officer has probable cause to believe that the suspect is in the U.S. without proper documentation.

Sounds mild, but the law makes no allowance for legal immigrants, like refugees awaiting court hearings or H-1B visa holders awaiting word for an extension on their visa. Both groups are legally in the U.S. but cannot prove it to police officers. Therefore, HB 17 would drive away many documented immigrants from the state.

Big chunks of the new Arizona law were declared unconstitutional by a U.S. District Court; an appeal by the state is now pending before the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals.

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