The lives of illegal immigrants is about to get very tough in Arizona. Illegal immigrants could be charged with trespassing under a new controversial measure that is doing its rounds through the Legislature. If the bill is passed, Arizona would become the only state with this type of measure in place.

But rather than the trespassing charge ruffling any feathers, it is the other measures proposed in the bill that are causing the controversy. Hiring or being hired as a day laborer is a crime IF the vehicle that stops to hire the laborer is impeding traffic. Therefore, the person doing the hiring and the person(s) getting into the vehicle as a result of the hire can be charged under this law. But the most controversial measure is that the law requires law enforcement to ascertain whether a person is in the country legally or illegally. In other words, the law will require law enforcement officers to officially indulge in racial profiling and take decisions based on that.

Those who are against this law, point out that this is a waste of time & resources on the part of the law enforcement department. This could result in legal taxpaying immigrants leaving the state due to persecution caused by the racial profiling. They also contend that everyone would have to carry a proof of their citizenship with them all the time to prove their identity and immigration status.

While support against the bill mounts, the bill itself is buzzing through the legal system. Identical bills have been placed in each chamber of Legislature; this would cause it to be processed faster as there would be a fewer number of public hearings.