Tuesday, May 04, 2010

South American Nations Condemn `Racist' Arizona Immigration Law

By Shane Romig
Dow Jones Newswires

LA RESERVA CARDALES, Argentina -(Dow Jones)- The leaders of South American nations issued a joint statement Tuesday sharply criticizing the U.S. state of Arizona's recent enacting of a tough, new immigration law.

The Union of South American Nations, or Unasur, "rejects the criminalization of migrants [which will] allow people to be detained because of their racial, ethnic, language, and migratory status," the group said Tuesday.

The law could "legitimize racism [and] increase the risk of racist hate violence," the Unasur leaders said at an annual conference in Argentina.

Formed in 2004, Unasur includes Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Guyana, Ecuador, Paraguay, Peru, Surinam, Uruguay and Venezuela.

Arizona last month enacted a law making it a crime to be present in the state without legal immigration status, and authorized police to question people suspected to be illegal immigrants about their status.

Mexico was quick to criticize the state law, with U.S. federal officials also questioning the bill.

Mexico issued a travel alert to its residents and citizens, criticizing the "negative" political environment for immigrants, due to the new law.

"It must be assumed that every Mexican citizen may be harassed and questioned without further cause at any time," Mexico's foreign ministry warned.

U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton has equated the law with racial profiling.

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