Thread: Traveling to Arizona? Here's what documents to bring

By EDWARD SIFUENTES - esifuentes@nctimes.com | Posted: April 26, 2010 6:51 pm | 1 Comment | Print

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Now that Arizona has adopted its tough new immigration law, what documents will Californians who visit the neighboring state have to carry?

That depends.

The new law, Senate Bill 1070, requires police in Arizona to check people's immigration status if they have a "reasonable suspicion" the person is in the country illegally. It makes it a state crime to be in the country without legal documentation, in addition to being a federal crime.

A spokesman for the governor said people will not have to carry any more documents than they do now. But critics say people, especially Latinos and people of color, should carry anything they have to prove they are citizens ---- just to be on the safe side.

Federal law requires noncitizens to carry their immigration documents, such as visas or "green cards" for legal residents, at all times. The Arizona law mirrors federal law, saying that "willful failure to carry alien registration documents" is a misdemeanor and subject to arrest and penalties under state law.

According to the Arizona Legislature's website, people can show government-issued ID cards to comply with the new law, including Arizona driver's licenses. Valid federal, state or local government-issued cards are acceptable if the agencies require proof of legal residence before they are issued.

Because California requires people to provide proof of legal status before it issues ID cards and driver's licenses, those documents presumably would qualify under the Arizona law. Documents used by California to prove legal status include a passport or birth certificate.

The regulations for the law signed by Arizona Gov. Jan Brewer on Friday have not been written and therefore details remain vague. The law doesn't go into effect until 90 days after the end of the legislative session, which means it could take effect sometime in August or September.

"No additional documents or ID will be necessary for Californians that are visiting Arizona than the documents that they are currently required to have under federal law while lawfully residing in California," said Brewer's spokesman, Paul Senseman.

Procedures and training will be overseen by the Arizona Peace Officers Standards and Training Board before the law is implemented, Senseman said. The board is made up of members of city police agencies, the Arizona Attorney General and other law enforcement agencies.

Immigrant rights advocates said they fear it could be left largely up to police officers to decide who will be questioned and what documents will be accepted as proof of legal status.

The law says that officials are required to try to determine the immigration status of a person when there is "reasonable suspicion" regarding the person's immigration status.

"That can be as narrow or expansive as any law enforcement officer chooses to make it," said Jeanne Butterfield, a senior legal adviser for the National Immigration Forum, a Washington-based group that supports the easing of restrictions on immigrants.

San Diego immigration attorney Jan Bejar said he plans to advise clients to carry whatever they have to prove their immigration status.

"Carry your birth certificate or your passport to establish where you were born," Bejar said.

Call staff writer Edward Sifuentes at 760-740-3511.

http://www.nctimes.com/news/local/sdcou ... 690e4.html

CDL's can be purchased all over downtown LA and Pico Union area for 100.00.

The police need training in stopping illegal documents from Ca.

San Diego immigration attorney Jan Bejar said he plans to advise clients to carry whatever they have to prove their immigration status.

Carry your birth certificate or your passport to establish where you were born,"



Well then.....guess that means we won't be overwhelmed by visits from 99.9% of California's population

Quit supporting MOLES,,, all you need from California is a valid drivers license, or Ca ID card,,,,or a valid passport with visa stanps,,,