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Mexico president criticizes Arizona immigration law

By Bernard Hibbitts (editor) and University of Pittsburgh School of Law students.

[JURIST] Mexican President Felipe Calderon on Monday strongly criticized Arizona's new immigration law, claiming that the measure opens the door to intolerance and hatred. The Arizona bill, signed into law last week by Governor Jan Brewer, makes it a crime to be an undocumented immigrant and requires police to question anyone whose immigration status appears suspect. Calling the law a violation of human rights, Calderon promised that it will be a pressing item on his agenda during his upcoming visit to Washington in May. Calderon has also called on Mexico's foreign ministry and consulates in the US to begin defending the rights of Mexicans and suggested that trade and political ties between Arizona and Mexico will be seriously affected. Two Latino advocacy groups have said they plan to challenge the constitutionality of Arizona's new immigration law, alleging it permits racial profiling. Officials from the Mexican American Legal Defense and Education Fund (MALDEF) and the National Coalition of Latino Christian Clergy contend the law will let police single out minorities for immigration inspections. US President Barack Obama has also criticized the law, calling for federal immigration reform. Under the law, it is designated a crime to be in the country illegally, and immigrants unable to verify their legal status could be arrested and jailed for six months and fined $2,500.

Full post as published by JURIST - The Paper Chase on April 27, 2010 (boomark / email).