A local legislator is proposing to make the Arizona immigration law also the law in Rhode Island.
The Arizona measure allows police officers with "reasonable suspicions" to request citizenship paper from residents.
Bill sponsor Rep. Peter Palumbo said his proposal is just like the controversial law recently passed in Arizona. That bill has sparked much debate. Asked if he's ready for an Arizona type backlash, the representative says, "Bring it on."
"There's absolutely nothing to panic about if you're here legally,"says Palumbo.
Palumbo filed a carbon copy of Arizona's new immigration policy. There have been protests over the law there, and across the country, even some protests in Providence.
The key provision of the law calls for police to check IDs for anyone who comes in contact with police, who they suspect is an illegal immigrant.
Someone who is just walking down the street would not be stopped said Palumbo.
The Arizona/Palumbo bill also carries a penalty for not carrying a valid ID, states that no government agency can restrict immigration enforcement to less than the full extent of federal law, and bars employers from knowingly hiring illegal immigrants.
It’s good for Rhode Island., you do not need to be a border state in order to have, and any where there are problems with illegal aliens, he said.
“It costs us between $151 and $300 million annually to address the problems we are having with illegal immigrants, the problems include education, housing, hospital care and corrections."
But not everyone agrees. Juan Garcia of Immigrants In Action said, “This bill is not good for Arizona, not good for the United States, not good for Rhode Island."
Garcia said the proposal is all about racial profiling.
“How you see who is documented and who is undocumented? How you see?"Garcia said the law is directed to the Hispanic community.
But Palumbo claims the measure has provisions to prevent racial profiling, stating that police cannot act solely based on race, color, or national origin.
Palumbo said they would bring in immigration and follow the law. He expects his bill to get a hearing next week.
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