Federal Judge Blocks Arizona Immigration Law
Photo by Stand up against SB 1070
A federal judge has issued a temporary injunction that blocks sections of a controversial measure against illegal immigrants in the state of Arizona. The law which enjoys widespread popular support in the state would require law enforcement officials to verify the immigration status of persons arrested. Many Latin American countries, Costa Rica included have officially voiced opposition to the law, which ironically applies the same legal standards present in those countries.
For example, any expatriate who has been questioned by police in Costa Rica is typically requested to present identification and demonstrate a current status on their tourist visa or residency. Those who are arrested in Costa Rica are certainly subject to an evaluation of their immigration status prior to release. Mexican law enforcement is particularly notorious for being hard on undocumented persons.
One legal argument presented by those who oppose the law is that to check the immigration status of an arrested person might present an unfair burden on legal residents. The flaw in this logic is that checking immigration status is usually just a matter of verifying identity, which would seem to be a very reasonable task for law enforcement.
The more relevant argument may have more to do with the powers of the federal government, however voters in Arizona clearly believe that they have been neglected by the federal government. This the point voiced by Arizona Governor Jan Brewer.
Perhaps the best argument against the law is that it would represent a sudden change of what has been for years an official policy of looking the other way or neglecting the problem of illegal immigration. Resistance is guaranteed when so many people have found a niche or a way to live below the radar and then all of a sudden are subject to scrutiny.
Many Perpetual Tourists or expatriates on the fringe in Costa Rica can identify with such adversity. There are still many Questions about Immigration Changes in Costa Rica, and many people have commented on how policies have affected their lives.
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Filed Under: Expat Living
