Arizona's new controversial immigration bill has raised the ire of many New Yorkers. The law will make being an undocumented immigrant in Arizona a state crime and police officers will be allowed to ask anyone suspected of being an illegal immigrant for documentation. Immigrants and lawmakers alike are criticizing the law, , and the Reverend Al Sharpton is planning a protest, "We will go to Arizona when this bill goes into effect and walk the streets with people who refuse to give identification and force arrest."
Senator Charles Schumer said, "We need comprehensive immigration reform, but this kind," while Mayor Bloomberg weighed in about a potential boycott of Arizona, "[M]any people from around the world may think twice before visiting Arizona and subjecting themselves to potential run-ins with the police." (Arizona business leaders are concerned.) And Public Advocate Bill DeBlasio said, "The disturbing trend of our immigration policies being influenced by xenophobia and racial profiling has reached a new level in Arizona."
Protests and rallies around the country are planned on May 1; there will be one in NYC at Foley Square at noon.
