ACLU chapters across the nation issue Arizona travel warnings, citing state’s immigration law
By Bob Christie, APWednesday, June 30, 2010
ACLU issues warnings for travel to Arizona
PHOENIX — The nation’s top civil liberties group has issued travel warnings for Arizona, saying the new state law cracking down on illegal immigrants could lead to racial profiling and warrantless arrests.
American Civil Liberties Union affiliates in Arizona, New Mexico and 26 other states put out the alerts Wednesday, in advance of the heavily traveled Fourth of July weekend. The Arizona chapter says it’s received reports that law enforcement officers are already targeting some people even though the law doesn’t take effect until July 29.
The alerts are designed to teach people about their rights if police stop and question them.
The law requires police to question someone’s immigration status during legal encounters if they suspect the person is an illegal immigrant.
