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Arizona Racial Profiling Law Threatens Civil Liberties
en espanol
(Kentucky) – In response to civil liberties threats caused by the recent passage of Arizona’s racial profiling law, the American Civil Liberties Union of Kentucky issued a travel alert today informing Kentucky residents of their rights when stopped by law enforcement when traveling in Arizona. The unconstitutional law,known as SB 1070, requires law enforcement agents to demand "papers" from people they stop who they suspect are not authorized to be in the U.S. If individuals are unable to prove to officers that they are permitted to be in the U.S., they may be subject to warrantless arrest withou any probable cause that they have committed a crime.
Although the law is not scheduled to go into effect until July 29, the ACLU of Kentucky is concerned that some law enforcement officers are already beginning to act on provisions of the law. Moreover, there has been a history of rampant racial profiling by law enforcement in Arizona, especially in Maricopa County, as well as a stated anti-immigrant policy of “attrition through enforcement” by Arizona lawmakers meant to create a hostile enough environment for Latinos and other people of color that they voluntarily leave the state.
“It is critical that Kentuckians understand their rights before traveling in Arizona,” said Michael Aldridge, Executive Director of the ACLU of Kentucky.“Kentuckians should be aware that under S.B 1070,people who look or sound “foreign’ are more likely to be stopped for minor infractions like having a broken taillight or littering and then asked for their ‘papers’ if police believe, just by looking at them, that they could be in the country unlawfully.”
In addition to the travel alert, the ACLU has made available in English and Spanish materials on individuals’ rights if stopped by law enforcement in Arizona or other states as a result of SB 1070 or for any other reason. The materials include a downloadable card with instructions – applicable in any state – on coping with vehicle stops and questioning by police, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents or the FBI, as well as a Frequently Asked Questions document about SB 1070.
“Our goal is to protect Kentuckians from unlawful persecution from law enforcement and to make sure they know their rights should they encounter it,” said Aldridge. “A proportion of our residents fit the racial profile that police will inevitably rely on to unlawfully detain travelers in Arizona. Furthermore, we find that individuals are generally unclear on their rights when stopped by law enforcement and as part of our educational effort we welcome the opportunity to provide that information.”
The ACLU and other leading civil rights organizations filed a lawsuit challenging the Arizona law in May, but until the law is struck down,the ACLU warns that individuals traveling in Arizona must be aware of their rights if stopped there.
The travel alert is available at: http://www.aclu.org
Materials informing individuals of their rights when stopped by law enforcement and more information about the Arizona law, including an ACLU video and slide show, can be found at: www.aclu.org/what-happens-arizona-stops-arizona
Materials informing individuals of their rights when stopped by law enforcement optimized for mobile devices is available at: mobile.aclu.org
More information about the ACLU’s lawsuit, including information on co-counsel and plaintiffs, can be found at: www.aclu.org/immigrants-rights-racial-justice/aclu-and-civil-rights-groups-file-legal-challenge-arizona-racial-pr
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American Civil Liberties Union of Kentucky
