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May 10, 2010

Holder Expresses Concern over Arizona’s Anti-Immigrant Law
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Attorney General Eric Holder voiced concern Sunday that Arizona’s new
immigration law could lead to racial profiling. The law allows police
officers to stop and interrogate anyone they suspect is an undocumented
immigrant. During an appearance on ABC This Week, Holder was asked if he
thought the law was racist.

Eric Holder: “I don’t think it’s racist in its motivation. But I think
the concern I have is how it will be perceived and how it perhaps could
be enacted, how it could be carried out. I think we potentially get on a
slippery slope where people will be picked on because of how they look
as opposed to what they have done, and that is, I think, something that
we have to try to avoid at all costs.”

Meanwhile, the US ambassador to Mexico, Carlos Pascual, said Friday that
the US government is working to defeat Arizona’s controversial
anti-immigration law.

Carlos Pascual: "What we’re going to continue doing is looking,
analyzing every legal means to continue fighting the law. It’s a
commitment from the highest levels of the United States, and we’re going
to continue working in that direction.”

Last week a coalition of civil rights and labor groups announced a
nationwide boycott of Arizona over the state’s anti-immigrant law. The
boycott could impact several Arizona-based businesses, including Cold
Stone Creamery, Circle K and U-Haul. Meanwhile, the manufacturers of
Arizona Iced Tea has launched a campaign to inform customers that
despite the name the company is not from Arizona. The company is
headquartered in Long Island, New York.



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