Senate Passes a Resolution Denouncing Arizona Law

The Legislative Gazette

Published: Monday, May 10, 2010

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After hearing strongly worded testimony by Sen. Jose Serrano on the Senate floor May 4, lawmakers in the upper house passed a resolution denouncing any law that encourages racial profiling and urging the federal government to do the same.

The resolution specifically cites the recently passed immigration law in Arizona, which Serrano called a "slap in the face" to the history of immigration in America. The resolution was sponsored by Serrano, D-Bronx, and Sen. Jose Peralta, D-Queens.

"This resolution speaks to a very complex and disturbing issue we have, unfortunately, here in the United States," said Serrano. "We have a very broken immigration system, very much in need of immigration reform – one that respects the fact that this nation was founded on the backs of immigrants, people who came here to love this country and to die for this country."

Arizona's new law, SB 1070, was signed April 23 by Arizona Gov. Jan Brewer. The law requires police officers to question individuals regarding their immigration status if there is "reasonable suspicion" that they are in the country illegally and if the individual was already in contact with the officer for a different offense.