According to a report by The China Press, the strictest anti-illegal immigration bill in the United States, signed into law by the Governor of Arizona last week, has triggered strong backlash from rights activists and minority communities across the country, including Silicon Valley, and has sparked significant controversy across all sectors of society. California State Assemblyman Paul Fong, who represents the Silicon Valley area, explicitly stated that the bill contains elements of racial discrimination.
In an interview, he pointed out that, on the surface, Arizona police can question the immigration status of individuals, check documents, or even make arrests when they have a reasonable suspicion that someone is an illegal immigrant. However, in reality, many minority groups, especially in Arizona, are composed of people of Mexican and Asian descent. Based on their skin color, attire, and language, they could all become targets for questioning. In other words, this bill is purely based on appearance, and its targets are primarily minorities. Therefore, it is no longer just a standard anti-illegal immigration bill; it involves the issue of whether the rights of minorities are protected in law enforcement. Looking at this bill, it is clear that it contains elements of racial discrimination.
Fong stated that the anti-illegal immigration bill, which is set to be implemented in Arizona in 90 days, undermines the fundamental principles of civil rights and is an affront to basic civil liberties. He further argued that on the issue of immigration, state law cannot conflict with federal law. Whether this strict anti-illegal immigration bill passed by Arizona violates federal immigration law remains to be determined by experts. However, it is certain that if state law conflicts with federal law, the state law will be considered illegal or automatically invalidated.
Fong also emphasized that Arizona's immigration law will also harm Asian Americans, including those of Chinese descent. The reason is simple: among the many illegal immigrants, there are not only a large number of Latinos but also a significant portion of Asians, many of whom are of Chinese descent. Therefore, the scope and impact of this anti-illegal immigration bill will be very extensive.