Last Friday, Arizona Governor Jan Brewer signed into law the country's most repressive immigration bill, SB 1070, which criminalizes undocumented immigrants and gives police the authority to demand papers from anyone they suspect of being undocumented. Though Brewer, a Republican who took over from Janet Napolitano when she left to become Obama's Homeland Security secretary, claims that there are protections in the bill to prevent racial profiling, it's hard to imagine a way that officers will decide from whom to demand papers that won't involve the color of their skin or the language that they
speak.
Rinku Sen of ColorLines and the Applied Research Center joins us to discuss the bill, the criminalization of immigrants, and what to do to fight back.
Dear Ms. Flanders I think the new law by jan Brewer is excellent. A good first step. Obviously you do not operate in a journalistic manner when doing these interviews. That’s a shame because an honest debate can teach more than a one sided infomercial. One point to consider….your side says this legalizes racial profiling. Could you please give me an example because I can give you an example of how it does not legalize racial profiling.
By David Haley on April 27th, 2010 at 9:47 pm
Rinku Sen avoided the question asked by Laura Flanders “have their been deaths resulting from the illegal immigrant and illegal trafficking across our borders?” While i am in no way in support of racial profiling or the militias or minute men, these people are breaking the law! There has been deaths of innocent people living near the border along with home invasions. It is often in our news, people living near the border who have been harmed or killed by illegal immigrants and illegal traffickers. Other countries immigration policies and requirements are far more strict than that of the US. If a person chooses not to lawfully apply for a visa and citizenship and instead to unethically and dishonorably sneak in, then they do not belong and should not be allowed to stay no matter where they come from. As an indigenous person this reminds me of the history told to me of the spanish invasion ….the conquistadors did not ask to settle here they simply took what they wanted, killing indigenous and taking their lands. These latin people were the first conquerors of this land, and they were the cowboys(vaqueros) who killed innocent indigenous people and they had no problems or issues with settling stolen indigenous lands,,,this is where the cowboy vs. indian struggle originated.
Further i have been asked for my “papers” in many countries i have traveled.
so in the perspective of the Rinku Sen:
we are racist if we oppose sneaky illegal immigration and illegal trafficking?
we are racist if we oppose the continued latin invasion of our native land?
(aztlan is not an indigenous movement!!! it is a continued consistent latin invasion…and without valid claim …their belief that this land belongs to them is a lie in the same manner as manifest destiny or zionism! …mexico obtained the land purchased from them by the US through conquer and conquest!!!
…that which is stolen does not rightfully belong to the thief despite their delusions and false claims!)
Perhaps the capitalists owe these people, but we the people/taxpayers do not!!!!!!!!
By jediofthedesert on April 28th, 2010 at 9:44 am
REMEMBER – it is AMERICANS who are hiring illegal immigrants EVERY DAY and it is AMERICANS who are buying ILLEGAL DRUGS from ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS every day. Until we stop buying the drugs and stop hiring them they will continue to come. Why? Perhaps because PRESIDENT RONALD REAGAN gave them hopes that another President, like Ronald Reagan, will give AMNESTY to them. No one is rounding up the illegal immigrants from Canada – and thousands of illegals fly into this country every day from Asia, Saudi Arabia, Iraq, who overstay their Visas. STOP HIRING THEM and they will leave! In the mean time Arizona is going to turn into one giant Ghost Town – NO LEGAL CITIZEN is going to go to Arizona for any reason in fear that they might be pulled over and placed in holding! So, the stores are empty, the restaurants go out of business, unemployment goes up, taxes then have to go up – even the residents of Arizona know what is coming and they are moving out! Don’t want illegals here – STOP HIRING THEM and STOP BUYING THEIR DRUGS!
By John Richard Petersen on May 1st, 2010 at 2:29 pm
@ John Richard Peterson
You are obviously not from Arizona. Our stores are full, as are our restaurants, things are good
As for unemployment, the job openings vacated by illegals and those who wish to leave are providing opportunities for employment otherwise not available. The opportunities for employment in the jobs vacated by illegals will help those unemployed legal citizens looking for work. We disagree that people are too picky or too good for these jobs, people are grateful for any employment opportunity that becomes available,…this is the propaganda spread by both those employers who hire illegal immigrants and the immigrants themselves who believe that legal citizens would not want their jobs…which is simply not true…the unemployed legal US citizens want your jobs!!! 
I would not hire illegal immigrants and do not know anyone who would. As US citizens and residents of Arizona we are pleased with the enforcement of our immigration laws and look forward to the future, we will continue to reside here, and don’t know anyone who is planning on moving. So, to those who wish to boycott or leave, your efforts are in vain, as they will not change our immigration laws and enforcement there of. Your leaving or boycotting will ensure more job openings for unemployed legal US citizens who are residents of Arizona! 
By jediofthedesert on May 5th, 2010 at 10:17 am