The Mexican government announced Tuesday that it will challenge Arizona’s SB 1070 immigration law on the grounds that the measure is unconstitutional and harms bilateral relations with the United States.Mexico filed the challenge in a U.S. federal court saying it was concerned for possible discrimination acts against its citizens.
“Mexicans citizens will have fear to visit Arizona, whether is for work or pleasure. They will be subject to scrutiny and illegal detention by the Arizona police” detailed the brief by the Exterior Relations ministry of Mexico.
The Mexican government urged the US federal court to block the law and declare it unconstitutional.
The SB 1070 law will take effect July 29, and makes it a felony to be illegally in the U.S. state of Arizona.
The measure empowers the police to ask anyone suspected of entering the country illegally about their immigration status.
“Disappointed”
The governor of Arizona Jan Brewer, said she was “disappointed” with her “neighbors and friends” from the south when it was confirmed that Mexico supported several law suits filed by civil and religious organizations against the controversial law.
“Despite false assertions and factual inaccuracies expressed by the country of Mexico in their recent brief filed in U.S. federal court, Arizona’s immigration enforcement laws are both reasonable and constitutional” said Brewer in a press release.
“They mirror what has been federal law in the United States for many decades, and they have built-in and clear protections for civil rights.” said the Arizona governor.
The administration of President Felipe Calderón expressed that it will ensure none of the fundamental Human Rights of all the Mexican citizens in the state of Arizona are violated, independently of their immigration status.
More cities want similar laws
The US population has divided views on illegal immigration. Several cities and states around the country are looking for the possibility of adopting similar laws like Arizona while others condemn related initiatives.
On Monday, Fremont, a little Nebraska town passed an ordinance that prohibits renting and hiring illegal immigrants.
Several municipalities justify their intentions of wanting to stop illegal immigration with regional laws, arguing that the federal government does not work efficiently in the field.
On June 17, several media announced that the Barack Obama administration will file a law suit against the SB 1070 law for considering it, a Human Rights violation.