has refused to fix - the crisis caused by illegal
immigration and Arizona's porous border."
The legislation put Arizona in the national spotlight,
with President Barack Obama weighing in on it earlier in the
day and cable-news giant CNN broadcasting live Brewer's
signing and the Capitol demonstrations.
Even the Mexican government issued a formal statement,
saying it "laments that Arizona lawmakers and the executive
branch didn't take into account immigrants' contributions -
economically, socially and culturally."
"The criminalization isn't the path to resolve the
undocumented-immigration phenomenon," the statement added.
The legislation has widespread support among Arizonans,
according to one recent poll, but Latino leaders compared
the bill to apartheid in South Africa and the internment of
Japanese-Americans during World War II. A handful of teenage
girls, among the hundreds of high-school students attending
a Statehouse rally, openly wept after it was announced that
Brewer signed the bill.
"This is the most reprehensible thing since the Japanese
internment," said Alfredo Gutierrez, a former state senator
and community leader. "This is the saddest day for me. It's
shameful."
Arizona's immigration law, now considered the toughest in
the nation, makes it a state crime to be in the country
illegally and requires local police to enforce federal
immigration laws. It will require anyone whom police suspect
of being in the country illegally to produce "an alien
registration document," such as a green card or other proof
of citizenship, such as a passport or Arizona driver's
license.
It also makes it illegal to impede the flow of traffic by
picking up day laborers for work. A day laborer who gets
picked up for work, and traffic is impeded in the process,
would also be committing a criminal act.
The law goes into effect 90 days after the current
legislative session ends, likely in early May.
Sen. Russell Pearce, R-Mesa, the bill's sponsor, called
it "a good day for America," saying the law is reasonable.
Best for Arizona
After receiving intense pressure from both sides during
the past week, the governor stepped to a lectern in a
crowded room near the Capitol and said she would sign SB
1070 into law.
"This bill strengthens the laws of our state, protects
all of us, every Arizona citizen," she said. "It does so
while ensuring that the constitutional rights of all remain
solid, stable."
Brewer said that she listened patiently to supporters and
opponents and that, although "many people disagree, I firmly
believe it represents what's best for Arizona." She
criticized the federal government for a lack of action to
secure the border, and she said her signature provided
"security within our borders."
"We cannot sacrifice our safety to the murderous greed of
drug cartels," Brewer said. "We cannot stand idly by as drop
houses, kidnappings and violence compromise our quality of
life."
Brewer insisted that protections built into the bill and
training she has requested from the Arizona Peace Officer
Standards and Training Board will protect citizens against
discrimination based on race or color. Yet law enforcement
has been split over the bill, with many rank-and-file
officer groups supporting it and the police chiefs
association opposing it.
Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio is among the
supporters who believe it will give officers more tools to
detain illegal immigrants.
Critics suggest the law opens the door for police to make
unreasonable stops based on skin color or a lack of English
fluency if there's probable cause to believe someone is in
America illegally.
"We've got some very serious crime problems out there,
and this bill does not address them. It does not give us
tools to go after criminals that are part of the cartels,"
said Attorney General Terry Goddard, a Democrat who is
running for governor.
The faith community also weighed in, with clergy
criticizing the law and calling for calm.
Inside a chapel at Queen of Peace in Mesa, a congregation
gathered for a monthly healing Mass.
Father Charlie Goraieb comforted his congregation, saying
in Spanish, "It's going to be all right."
His parish is 60 percent Latino.
"It's a terrible situation and a reflection of fear and
overreaction and total loss of perspective and how we are as
a people and as a nation," he said before Mass.
Josefina Martinez, 56, of Phoenix, said, "I lived here
for 25 years. I never had to deal with this. It's not fair."
Earlier in the day, Rabbi Maynard Bell, the Arizona
office of the American Jewish Committee's area director,
said the law makes a laughingstock of the state and does
nothing to make the border with Mexico more secure.
"It's going to cost the state economically. It's going to
tarnish the state's image. It's a lamentable day for
Arizona," Bell said. "I don't think it will stand up to
legal tests."
Legal fights
Just after Brewer signed the bill, opponents promised
legal and economic fights.
Phoenix Mayor Phil Gordon said he will ask the City
Council on Tuesday to consider suing the state on grounds
the new immigration law is unconstitutional and
unenforceable.
The American Civil Liberties Union and the Mexican
American Legal Defense and Educational Fund, a civil-rights
group, promised to fight implementation of the law by
challenging its constitutionality. But the ACLU said the
timing and strategy have to be worked out.
"We are definitely planning on filing a lawsuit," said
Alessandra Soler Meetze, the group's Arizona executive
director. "This is a direct attempt by Arizona to regulate
immigration laws. And it's forbidden by the federal
government."
Bill opponent Rep. Kyrsten Sinema, D-Phoenix, said that
the legislation violates the rights of all Arizonans and
that a legal team will seek an injunction to keep the law
from being implemented.
Gutierrez said he will lead efforts for economic
sanctions against Arizona. He declined to disclose details,
but one proposed sanction would include boycotts by
out-of-state tourists.
Capitol protests
At the Capitol, demonstrators exchanged catcalls after
Brewer's announcement, and roughly 80 police officers from
the Capitol Police, the state Department of Public Safety
and the Phoenix Police Department worked to maintain order.
There were at least two breakouts of unruly behavior. One
occurred when a white-haired man with a beard agitated
demonstrators opposing the bill. Police tried to calm the
crowd as it closed around the man, who was escorted away.
Dozens of demonstrators ran into the streets, and police
formed a long human barrier on West Jefferson Street just
south of the Capitol complex.
Amid shouting and chanting all day, police made sure the
sides were separated. Supporters of the bill stayed in the
courtyard between the House and Senate buildings, guarded by
police and roped off with police tape.
Supporter Terry Irish of Chandler was elated when Brewer
announced her decision.
"This thing wouldn't be happening if they had sealed our
borders," Irish said.
Those leading the rally urged protesters to follow the
example of civil-rights leader Cesar Chavez, who in 1972 led
the unionization of farm workers in direct opposition to
Arizona law. They also urged peaceful opposition, and
despite several flare-ups, no serious injuries were
reported.
In southern Arizona, however, U.S. Rep. Raśl Grijalva,
who opposed the law, closed his offices at noon after
receiving multiple threats.
Arizona has about 460,000 undocumented immigrants,
according to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.
Currently, immigration offenses are violations of federal
law, something most local law-enforcement agencies cannot
enforce.
Pearce, the Mesa Republican, has been working with groups
across the state and nation for years to craft legislation
that would toughen enforcement.
Republic reporters Scott Wong, Sadie Jo Smokey, Casey
Newton, Mary Jo Pitzl and Angelique Soenarie contributed to
this article.