April 28, 2010 - Farr Statement on Arizona Anti-Immigrant Law

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Congressman Sam Farr (D-Carmel) released the following statement in response to Arizona's immigration law forcing police to demand citizenship papers from anyone they suspect is in the country illegally:

"Arizona's new anti-immigrant law is a black eye for America and an embarrassment to all of us.

The immigration law recently signed into law gives local police the authority to demand papers from anyone they have "reasonable suspicion" is in the country illegally. If those papers can't be provided, they can be arrested on the spot.

At a time when we want our communities to work with and trust our law enforcement agencies, states shouldn't be pitting local police officers against the public in this way. Immigration policy is the responsibility of federal law enforcement, not local law officers.

To say this new law strikes a blow against American values is a gross understatement. Police in Arizona say they won't use racial profiling, but how can they avoid it?

There are two ways to enforce this law: by asking for papers from everyone with dark skin, or by arresting everyone without proof of citizenship. I don't know about you, but I don't carry papers with me when I go to the grocery store. I shouldn't have to, I don't live in the Soviet Union.

Beyond the blatant discrimination, this law has some glaring practical problems. The vast majority of police departments in Arizona don't want this law. They don't want to enforce immigration policy, which is a federal responsibility. And for every officer who dedicates time to demanding proof of citizenship, that's one less officer on the street fighting violent crime.

The solution? Comprehensive immigration reform. As opposed as I am to this new law, it's just one more piece of evidence that our immigration system is broken. And the only way to fix it is to overhaul the system and put in place a rational policy that addresses the root causes of illegal immigration.

The vocal minority arguing for an America without diversity goes against the very building blocks of our country. The only way we'll get beyond these malicious and hurtful laws is to pass immigration reform as soon as possible."