Barring a preliminary injunction, Arizona's SB 1070 will go into effect on Thursday. Under the new law, it will be a state crime for undocumented immigrants to be in Arizona, the only state with such a law in its books. Opponents predict that the far-reaching legislation will lead to racial profiling a violations of equal protection. Under the new law, local police will have the power to ask about immigration status solely on reasonable suspicion that the person is undocumented. It is yet unclear how reasonable suspicion will be determined.
In reaction, many immigrants are considering fleeing the state. Others live in constant fear of leaving their own homes. Opponents of the law have filed legal challenges based on civil rights violations and infringement on Federal powers. It remains to be seen whether the law will survive.
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