ACLU Issues Travel Warnings To Arizona

The nation’s top civil liberties organization has issued a travel alert for Arizona because of its belief that its immigration law is racist and will lead to profiling and warrantless arrests.

American Civil Liberties Union affiliates in Arizona, New Mexico and 26 other states put out the warnings in advance of the Fourth of July weekend. The Arizona chapter has received reports that law enforcement officers are already targeting some people even though the law doesn’t take effect until July 29, its executive director said.

The ACLU wants people to know their rights in case they’re stopped by authorities.  Five lawsuits are pending in federal courts and the Justice Department is preparing a suit against Arizona.

“We have a long history of racial profiling in this state, and this is basically going to really exacerbate that problem,” said Alessandra Soler Meetze, executive director of the ACLU of Arizona.

The ACLU’s warnings were accompanied by a “bust card” that citizens or non-citizens can print out or download to their mobile phone instructing them about their rights during encounters with police.

“There is a tremendous amount of misinformation out there about the law,” Soler Meetze said. “It’s a very complicated piece of legislation that gives police unprecedented powers to stop and question people about their identity and their citizenship. I think it is important for people to have this information easily accessible.”

By: Alan

Alan Colmes is the publisher of Liberaland.