Immigration conflict heats up

April 27, 2010 at 12:00a.m.

Associated Press

PHOENIX

The conflict over a sweeping crackdown on illegal immigration in Arizona intensified Monday as vandals smeared refried beans in the shape of swastikas on the state Capitol’s windows.

More protests took place Monday after thousands gathered this weekend to demonstrate against a bill that will make it a state crime to be an illegal immigrant in Arizona.

Opponents say the law will lead to rampant racial profiling and turn Arizona into a police state with provisions that require police to question people about their immigrant status if they suspect they are here illegally. Day laborers can be arrested for soliciting work if they are in the U.S. illegally, and police departments can be sued if they don’t carry out the law.

But supporters of the law, set to take effect in late July or August, say it is necessary to protect Arizonans from a litany of crimes committed by illegal immigrants. Arizona is home to an estimated 460,000 illegal immigrants.

Gov. Jan Brewer, who signed the bill Friday, argues Arizona must act because the federal government has failed to stop the steady stream of illegal immigrants and drugs that move through Arizona from Mexico.

The fallout over the dispute spread across the border Monday as Mexican President Felipe Calder ≥n said the law is discriminatory and warned relations with the U.S. border state will suffer. Calder ≥n says trade and political ties with Arizona will be “seriously affected,” although he announced no concrete measures.

The law has revved up the national debate, drawing the attention of the Obama administration and Congress. Obama has called the new law “misguided” and instructed the Justice Department to examine it to see if it’s legal.

Democratic Rep. Raul Grijalva asked the federal government not to cooperate when illegal immigrants are picked up by local police.

State Sen. Russell Pearce, the Republican who sponsored the legislation, said it’s “pretty disappointing” that opponents would call on the federal government to refuse to cooperate with Arizona authorities.