According to Los Angeles, five more states namely Michigan, South Carolina, Minnesota, Pennsylvania and Rhode Island have introduced a similar immigration law that has been passed in Arizona. The Arizona law has met with severe criticism but it is scheduled to kick in on July 29.
"Lawmakers are frustrated with federal inaction. Until the federal government acts, states will still see this as an area where they see the need to play a leadership role," said Ann Morse, a program director with the National Conference of State Legislatures.
The Arizona law has been deemed as too harsh by civil rights and religious groups, which has protested the new law. The new law makes it mandatory for the immigrants to carry documents related to their status. It also gives authority to the police to ask people about their immigration status if they have "reasonable suspicion."
Critics argued that the law could lead to racial profiling, while the supporters of the law said that it is important to implement this law because the federal government has failed to curb illegal immigration. A federal judge started hearing arguments last week over whether the law should be implemented from July 29 or not. There are seven challenges in total to the law. The U.S. Department of Justice has also challenged the law.
According to Peter Brown, assistant director of the Quinnipiac University Polling Institute, the Arizona law could become a factor in the November elections. "The Arizona immigration law has emerged as a major divide in the country, but the numbers are on the side of those supporting it," he said.
