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Arizona Senate Bill 1070 (SB1070) was signed into law by Arizona Governor Jan Brewer on April 23, . The bill, officially titled Support Our Law Enforcement and Safe Neighborhoods Act, gives law enforcement in the State of Arizona the right to inquire about and investigate the immigration status of any individual they arrest.

The bill states: Where reasonable suspicion exists that the person is an alien who is unlawfully present in the United States, a reasonable attempt shall be made, when practicable, to determine the immigration status of the person and that any person who is arrested shall have the person s immigration status determined before person is released.

The bill will take effect on July 29, . Many Latinos all over the United States, as well as the ACLU and immigrant s rights organizations, protest the bill as an enabler of racial profiling. In an interview with CNN s Larry King, President Barack Obama stated that SB 1070 puts American citizens who look Hispanic or are Hispanic potentially in an unfair situation.

The Federal Department of Justice filed a lawsuit against the State of Arizona on July 6th, for the bill, claiming that states do not have authority to regulate immigration. If Arizona sets the precedent of regulating their own immigration, the federal government is wary of other states following suit, creating inconsistency and an even more complicated immigration policy.

Since July 28, , the most controversial parts of the law have been blocked by the Federal Courts.  The U.S. Supreme Court is expected to rule on the constitutionality of the law in .  (See below.)

We hope that the information provided below assists you in better understanding SB 1070

This page is divided into the following subtopics:

NEWS STORIES ARIZONA S IMMIGRATION LAW