MAKING A FUSS DOES SOME GOOD

The wingers in the AZ legislature took note of the protests about SB 1070 and decided another bill was needed to amend some of its shakier provisions.

Immigration law scaled back
In deciding whom to stop, police may not factor in race, ethnicity or national origin

Howard Fischer Capitol Media Services | Posted: Friday, April 30, 2010 12:00 am

PHOENIX - State lawmakers voted late Thursday to repeal one of the more controversial provisions from the new law aimed at illegal immigration.

HB 2162, approved by the House and Senate, changes the law to specify that when deciding whom to question about immigration status, police may not use race, ethnicity or national origin as a factor.

But another change negotiated between Brewer and legislators could have an even more sweeping effect.

As originally approved, SB 1070 requires police to determine the immigration status of those with whom they have "lawful contact" if there is reasonable suspicion the person is not here legally.

That "reasonable suspicion" language remains. But the language about "contact" is replaced with a reference to "stop, detention or arrest." Paul Senseman, the governor's spokesman, said the changes effectively reduce checking immigration status to "secondary enforcement."

"There have to be other steps, such as another law being broken first," he said, before an officer could, with reasonable suspicion, inquire if a person is a citizen or legal resident.