Arizona’s Anti-Immigrant Law

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.