Show me your papers!

[ichi 0]

This has me befuddled. Exactly what "papers" would one present if pulled over in Arizona because the officer suspected that driver of being an illegal immigrant?

A US born citizen would likely not have his/her birth cert on hand, and most Americans don't even have a passport, let alone drive around with it in their glove compartment.

A Naturalized citizen probably isn't going to be carrying around their Naturalization certificate, which costs nearly $400 to replace if damaged/lost, and from what I understood at my husband's recent ceremony....it's not even legal to photocopy it, except for immigration purposes. A naturalized citizen may or may not have a US passport, but then again, aren't going to be driving to work etc with it.

Obviously neither example will have proof of legal residency with a green card.

So, what then...detainment until proof can be presented, status verified? Guilty until proven innocent? And, based on what? An accent? Skin tone?

Edited June 27, 2012 by ichi

[ready4ONE 5,400]

Accent and skin tone are pretty much all that is needed.

[TBoneTX 46,126]

"If you intend to question me, Officer, my attorney insists that he be present. Am I free to go, please?"

[Penguin_ie 5,996]

I always carry my passport card since naturalising. I guess it is a "European thing", where everyone, inc citizens, are required to be able to identify themselves to law enforcement upon request, so I have no problem with it.

[^_^ 5,021]

Make sure your drivers license, auto reg and ins are in order and Arpaio's thugs will leave you alone.

[^_^ 5,021]

From the Editorial Board of the Austin Statesman:

Transitory political implications, however, should take a back seat to how the "papers please" law will be enforced without police resorting to racial profiling. What constitutes a reasonable suspicion that someone stopped by police is in the U.S. illegally?

Obviously, officers will have wide latitude in asking individuals to show proof of their immigration status. In Arizona, a driver's license is presumed to be such proof.

If you're a responsible driver (that is, you have a valid license), you should have no trouble at all regardless of the color of your skin.

[Lornaevo 48]

"If you intend to question me, Officer, my attorney insists that he be present. Am I free to go, please?"

Great Answer.

[JohnR! 5,495]

This has me befuddled. Exactly what "papers" would one present if pulled over in Arizona because the officer suspected that driver of being an illegal immigrant?

A US born citizen would likely not have his/her birth cert on hand, and most Americans don't even have a passport, let alone drive around with it in their glove compartment.

A Naturalized citizen probably isn't going to be carrying around their Naturalization certificate, which costs nearly $400 to replace if damaged/lost, and from what I understood at my husband's recent ceremony....it's not even legal to photocopy it, except for immigration purposes. A naturalized citizen may or may not have a US passport, but then again, aren't going to be driving to work etc with it.

Obviously neither example will have proof of legal residency with a green card.

So, what then...detainment until proof can be presented, status verified? Guilty until proven innocent? And, based on what? An accent? Skin tone?

All you need to present is your driver's license, registration and insurance, if you are a US citizen.

On a personal note, I drive to Arizona on occasion and if I am ever stopped for a traffic violation I plan to affect a heavy accent just for my own amusement. LOL.

[JimVaPhuong 4,863]

According to the Wikipedia article on SB1070:

A person is "presumed to not be an alien who is unlawfully present in the United States" if he or she presents any of the following four forms of identification: a valid Arizona driver license; a valid Arizona nonoperating identification license; a valid tribal enrollment card or other tribal identification; or any valid federal, state, or local government-issued identification, if the issuer requires proof of legal presence in the United States as a condition of issuance.

Most states require proof of lawful presence in order to get a driver license or ID.

[mawilson 2,133]

I always carry my passport card since naturalising. I guess it is a "European thing", where everyone, inc citizens, are required to be able to identify themselves to law enforcement upon request, so I have no problem with it.

Not in the UK or Ireland.

"If you intend to question me, Officer, my attorney insists that he be present. Am I free to go, please?"

Of course, if you add "Si man", you won't be.

[natty bumppo 297]

"If you intend to question me, Officer, my attorney insists that he be present. Am I free to go, please?"

Of course, if you add "Si man", you won't be.

a sexual assault detention will get him in more trouble at home with Mrs. T-Bone than with the law officer ....

[^_^ 5,021]

Ok, that's gross.

[I AM NOT THAT GUY 5,715]

Of course, if you are a US Citizen, you are free to tell the officer, "I am a US Citizen! I don't need to show you no stinking papers."

The rest is still a gray area, although you are required to carry your proof of legal presence with you at all times if you are not a US Citizen, not just a derivative document. However, even if you are detained, no one will come get you from the Immigration and Customs Enforcement in the state of Arizona for an immigration violation.

[Usui Takumi 1,562]

This has me befuddled. Exactly what "papers" would one present if pulled over in Arizona because the officer suspected that driver of being an illegal immigrant?

A US born citizen would likely not have his/her birth cert on hand, and most Americans don't even have a passport, let alone drive around with it in their glove compartment.

A Naturalized citizen probably isn't going to be carrying around their Naturalization certificate, which costs nearly $400 to replace if damaged/lost, and from what I understood at my husband's recent ceremony....it's not even legal to photocopy it, except for immigration purposes. A naturalized citizen may or may not have a US passport, but then again, aren't going to be driving to work etc with it.

Obviously neither example will have proof of legal residency with a green card.

So, what then...detainment until proof can be presented, status verified? Guilty until proven innocent? And, based on what? An accent? Skin tone?

If your stopped and have an out of state license that does not require legal status to obtain....................................play along! You might just luck out at win some money from the state of AZ.

[ichi 0]

I think the law is ridiculous. According the constitution, some powers belong to the states, and some to the federal government - immigration enforcement being one of the federal powers. This law completely muddles the two, and I'm sure will have negative impact on communities and local economies. I watched an interesting documentary last night "Liberty 9500" that highlighted a similar situation in Virginia...