Arizona Lawmakers to Crack Down on Immigration

(CBS)  More people enter the U.S. illegally through Arizona than anywhere else - almost 700,000 were arrested here in the last three years, reports CBS News correspondent Bill Whitaker.

"There are so many bad guys coming across - bandits and smugglers," said one concerned citizen.

So, the Arizona legislature is about to pass the toughest law against illegal immigrants in the country.

"It's intended to be the toughest," said State Sen. Russell Pearce.

The bill's sponsor said there's little doubt it will be signed into law next week.

"They're illegal," Pearce said. "This is not harsh."

Arizona Shuttle Bus Human Smugglers Busted

The legislation would make it a state crime to be in the U.S. illegally. Police will also be able to ask anyone to prove their legal status and demand to see a driver's license or state ID whenever the officer felt "reasonable suspicion exists." Without proper documents, immigrants can be jailed, fined or deported.

Seventy-one law enforcement agencies around the country already turn immigrants over to Immigration and Customs Enforcement, but only when arrested for serious crimes. Police here like Arizona's tougher stance.

"This new legislation opens up the freeway to common sense," said Mark Spencer, the president of the Phoenix Police Union.

But critics say it looks like racial profiling.

"In this country we are normally innocent until proven guilty," said Alessandra Soler Meetze with the American Civil Liberties Union of Arizona. "But what this law says is that if you don't have ID you are guilty of being undocumented."

Iron company owner, Sheridan Bailey, who opposes the law, said in this global economy Arizona looks intolerant - and it's bad for business.

"It's just nuts," Bailey said. "So who would want to do business here is the thing."

CBS News spoke with a woman who came to Phoenix illegally 16 years ago. She owns a small business, but fears the new law.

"I feel I'm being attacked by the state," she said in Spanish. "I have a lot of fear that I will encounter the police. I try to avoid them."

But Pearce insists the law is good policy.

"Illegal is not a race, it's a crime and we're going to enforce it in the state of Arizona," he said.

Arizona expects other states to follow its lead, but opponents expect to fight the new law in court.

[inclan444]

Please stop the violence, the hate, and the Racism, the hispanic people are human above everithing, the looking for better live is a human right, if you don't like the ilegals put a soldier on the border, and make a better labor law, that the companies not hire people or cheapest labor, but not be inhuman with the people that are here...no human deserve what we are doing here...stop..

[youcancallmeroy]

IF YOU CROSS THE NORTH KOREAN BORDER ILLEGALLY YOU GET 12 YEARS HARD LABOR.

IF YOU CROSS THE IRANIAN BORDER ILLEGALLY YOU ARE DETAINED INDEFINITELY.

IF YOU CROSS THE AFGHAN BORDER ILLEGALLY, YOU GET SHOT.

IF YOU CROSS THE SAUDI ARABIAN BORDER ILLEGALLY YOU WILL BE JAILED.

IF YOU CROSS THE CHINESE BORDER ILLEGALLY YOU MAY NEVER BE HEARD FROM AGAIN.

IF YOU CROSS THE VENEZUELAN BORDER ILLEGALLY YOU WILL BE BRANDED A SPY AND YOUR FATE WILL BE SEALED.

IF YOU CROSS THE CUBAN BORDER ILLEGALLY YOU WILL BE THROWN INTO POLITICAL PRISON TO ROT.

IF YOU CROSS THE U.S. BORDER ILLEGALLY YOU GET

1 - A JOB,
2 - A DRIVERS LICENSE,
3 - SOCIAL SECURITY CARD,
4 - WELFARE,
5 - FOOD STAMPS,
6 - CREDIT CARDS,
7 - SUBSIDIZED RENT OR A LOAN TO BUY A HOUSE,
8 - FREE EDUCATION,
9 - FREE HEALTH CARE,
10 - A LOBBYIST IN WASHINGTON
11 - BILLIONS OF DOLLARS WORTH OF PUBLIC DOCUMENTS PRINTED IN YOUR LANGUAGE
12 - AND THE RIGHT TO CARRY YOUR COUNTRY?S FLAG WHILE YOU PROTEST THAT YOU DON?T GET ENOUGH RESPECT

[inclan444]

from the 2 to 12 not any more...and the first one anly companies that like cheapest labor bring people from the border for work....but guess what worse because is only hispanic people that match your schedule, so all that you put about the venezuelan, aftgan an other countries, read your self, is in the border, we can do the same here, but judge to the people that are here, that is not human, an is not right for any human, you are treat the hispanic like garbage....

[kimfin01]

Amen brother...

[thebob-bob]

Sounds like a re-make of the movie, 'Born in East L.A.'

If you look "Mexican" then that State Cop has a "reasonable suspicion" that you might be illegal so, kiss your rights goodbye. You might just find yourself on a bus, heading over the border before you can say, "Hey wait, man! I'm an American!!!!

If you're Hispanic, looks like you have one choice, vote these racist crackers out of office. "May I see you papers please?"

[ld43233]

So rather then punishing the industries who employ these people (cause lets face it the 2 million plus people who come over here aren't all just hanging out in front of the home depot) we are going to literally impose a "Show me your papers!" policy? They are taking our "jobs" because its cheaper and easier for a construction or meat company to hire someone who you can work to the bone for **** poor pay and if they try and demand better working conditions or any type of union right they can just be kicked right back out of the country. Instead of demanding papers we could just actively enforce a law that prevents the employment of undocumented workers.

[fedup12]

"But critics say it looks like racial profiling. "

If it quacks like a duck it must be a duck. Bleeding heart libs.

[es48]

It's not called illegal immigration because it's legal. When the federal government violates the Constitution and refuses to protect our borders, the sovereign states have the duty and every right to protect themselves and their citizens.

[cpforest]

Illegal immigration is a civil infraction under international law not a misdemeanor or a felony. This is a international treaty and UN convention that we are a signatory to. International Treaties constitutionally supersede state laws. I would not want to be a US citizen traveling in Mexico with a Arizona State ID, because this illegal and idiotic law will invite retaliation. Texas residents have found this to be true when arrested in Mexico, many were denied consular visits because Texas denied their citizens consular visits. Hillary Clinton our brainless Secy of State needs to step in and put a stop to this law. There are plenty of legal remedies already in the books that can be and are being used. If a illegal alien in this country works with an ID other than their legal name that's identity theft and or fraud and prosecutable with legal criminal statutes.

[Dgunner]

I will trade you, mexico four dead beat non child support paying americans for two hardworking illegal immigrants any day any time!

[fedup12]

U are part of the problem.

[babooph]

It seems the State has the right to protect its people-but is it acting in violation of the law itself in demanding "proof" in a document from its own?

[URunderarrest]

This law is LONG PAST DUE. It should be a Federal law but the politicians in Washington have no spines. American taxpayers spend billions on the issue of illegal immigration. Border patrol agency, the I.C.E. and health care costs for illegals are astronomical. NO MORE FREE RIDE AMIGO'S/AMIGA'S. It's over in Arizona anyway.

As for American citizens that collect welfare by having children whose fathers are no where to be found, it's time for that practice to end here and now. If you have children, support them or go to prison where you will still be a drag on society but at least you won't be free to create more fatherless children for the state to pay for.

Void Master: Bush destroyed the basic rights of citizens by enacting the Patriot Act (which is the equivalent of erasing the Fourth Amendment) so I could care less about the rights of illegal immigrants rights. Only citizens are afforded due process.

[ICJohn]

The headline alone indicates where CBS News stands on the issue of illegal immigration. To say, 'Arizona Lawmakers to Crack Down on Immigration' is simply misleading and untrue. Arizona is trying to crack down on Illegal Immigration. Immigration is not the problem and Arizona doesn't appear to have any problems with immigrants. Illegal Immigration is a huge problem that must be fixed and that starts by dealing with the Illegal Immigrants.

For CBS News to continue to call this an Immigration issue when they are fully aware that this is a Illegal Immigration issue clearly points to their bias.