Barack Obama orders review of Arizona immigration law

[maddezmom]

Source: The Telegraph

Barack Obama has asked the US Justice Department to launch a review into whether draconian new immigration laws in Arizona are unconstitutional.

By Alex Spillius in Washington
Published: 7:21PM BST 27 Apr 2010


The US president has called the measures "misguided" and said he wants more advice on the implications of the plans before deciding how to proceed.

Homeland Security chief Janet Napolitano said justice officials had "deep concerns" about the legislation that critics fear will encourage racial profiling and discrimination.


The law signed by Arizona's Republican governor allows police to question and detain anyone in the southwestern border state they believe may be an illegal immigrant, even if they are not suspected of committing another crime.

Napolitano told a hearing of the Senate Judiciary Committee the Justice Department was reviewing "whether the law meets constitutional safeguards".



Read more: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/northamerica/usa/barackobama/7640317/Barack-Obama-orders-review-of-Arizona-immigration-law.html

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Napolitano, Holder Voice Concern About Arizona Immigration Law

April 27 (Bloomberg) -- Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano told U.S. lawmakers her agency has “deep concerns,” about a new immigration law in Arizona and said the U.S. should pursue a comprehensive overhaul of its immigration policies.

Attorney General Eric Holder, at a news conference in Washington, said he also has concerns and said the Justice Department is considering going to court to challenge the Arizona statute.

The new Arizona law “will detract from and siphon resources that we need to focus on those in the country illegally who are committing serious crimes, in addition to violating our nation’s immigration laws,” Napolitano told members of the Senate Judiciary Committee today.

Arizona Governor Jan Brewer signed legislation last week that would make it a state crime to be in the U.S. illegally and require local police to determine the immigration status of anyone an officer suspects of being in the country without proper documentation.

more: http://www.businessweek.com/news/2010-04-27/napolitano-says-she-has-concerns-about-arizona-immigration-law.html