It’s easy for me to understand the cop’s perspective:

Three people, out in the boonies, at night, doing who-can-tell-what in an area (the desert at night) where illegals are known to travel. Your car was probably spotted by a helicopter. When the border patrol DID show up, probably driving too fast, the people get in the car and try to drive away.

He pulled you guys over, checked your IDs and didn’t detain you. I don’t blame you for being scared. There’s some unsavory people out there at night and who knows who that is speeding up on you. But where was the crime? Where was the profiling and encroachment on personal civil liberties?

Is it a crime to be out in the desert at night? Of course not but since our border is basically a turnstile, the border patrol must be vigilant and pursue things which seem to add up, ie. a car parked in the middle of no where.

After reading this, my mother jokingly suggested that in addition to my documents I also carry along some Fair & Lovely, to which I replied that I’d rather be locked up

ID checks are perfectly acceptable at national borders. However, it’s ludicrous to imagine that it’s possible to effectively identify and deport illegal immigrants spread over an entire state, when it can’t be done along a border. As a deterrent, it fails, because anyone singled out for a random check is already in Arizona. It’s not only a hateful and misguided law, it’s also completely useless.

Yeah, Germany has these cutesy-pie nicknames for its instruments of state control. In a similar vein, I propose ARizona SEcurity Watch for Illegal Immigration Prevention, or ARSEWIIP. Sehr Deutsch, ja?

Obama set to send 1,200 troops to US-Mexico border President Barack Obama will send 1,200 National Guard troops to help secure the U.S.-Mexico border, an administration official and an Arizona congresswoman said Tuesday, pre-empting Republican plans to try to force votes on such a deployment. Obama will also request $500 million for border protection and law enforcement activities, they said. The National Guard troops will work on intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance support, analysis and training, and support efforts blocking drug trafficking. The troops will temporarily supplement border patrol agents until Customs and Border Patrol can recruit and train additional officers and agents to serve on the border, the administration official said.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/us_national_guard_border

why are folks up in arms over this issue ? I dont get it. Is it such a big deal carrying ID with you. Dont you always carry a DL / wallet with you?

Because this is the US. Americans are not used to hearing, ‘Papers please’. This law is an overreach in govt. powers.

Does a photocopy suffice ? or does it need to be original id ?

Photocopies dont suffice. It has to be original ID. (Speaking from experience).

No doubt that this is being used to harass illegal mexicans out of the country. As is well known I dont have any sympathy for queue jumpers. I would be one of those who is likely to be harassed but it is price I am happy to pay. Probably worth it as every illegal immigrant devalues a legal one.

Well known by whom? If you are happy to pay, please stick your passport, visa, DL, social security card, EAD, I765, I20, I140, I485, labor certification in your car window. That way, no one will stop you for sure. Even if they do, they will like you even more because you are clearly legal.

Here I am happily cycling down a street right next to the University, and get pulled over(!!). Why dont you have a light on your bicycle, was the excuse. (It was 6pm in June). Show me your ID. Ok sir, here it is, gave him my University and the State issued ID. He didnt find anything and had to let me go.

The problem with this whole thing is, immigration law is extremely complex, and police men cant be expected to be aware of the intricacies. What if you show him your passport/Visa, but the Visa stamp has expired – but you have a pending I485 (Adjustment of Status) application with the USCIS? You are in legal status as long as USCIS doesnt respond, but will the AZ cops know/understand this? There are many many other cases like these, which you would know of only if you are an immigrant or an immigration lawyer.

The only solution for people not yet citizens/permanent residents is to avoid travel to Arizona at all.

Thats weird. It makes me type in “handsome,” though a few times it had “great abs.”

Steve Chapman | April 22, 2010, Reason magazine

This bill isn’t about crime or undocumented immigration, not when 30% of Arizona is Hispanic and almost 20% of the state’s Hispanics are US born. It is a naked attempt at hegemony by Scottsdale and Glendale over Saguaro and Tucson. This resentment has been brewing for years, piloted by welfare kings/queens (I mean carpet bagging snow birds early baby boomer retirees) who have wrecked Arizona with their obscene golf courses and retirement communities, uninsulated air-conditioned mansions, olympic sized swimming pools – stripped its resources bare, and are bent upon changing the face of the state erasing its heritage.

Vivek being a Tucsonista you should read William Hartmann’s Cities of Gold: A Novel of the Ancient and Modern Southwest and weep as did I. And so did my sister who lived in Arizona for many years and raised a family.

I was pulled over recently for doing a illegal left turn and was asked to step out of the car. Was it because I was brown? I stepped out, explained how I was lost and did not notice the no turn sign, was very apologetic and was let go without even a warning.

Every time I have to leave a comment here, I have to type in “brown” for the captcha thingie (seriously, 3rd time in a row!!). Is it because I am brown ?