TN lawmaker introduce resoulution honoring AZ 'leaders' for immigration law

[guruoo]

TN lawmaker proposes AZ-style immigration law

By Chas Sisk • THE TENNESSEAN • May 24, 2010

Arizona's controversial immigration law is scheduled to come up for debate today in the Tennessee House of Representatives when lawmakers consider a resolution honoring that state's leaders for having "the initiative and the courage ... to protect their citizens and the borders of our great nation."

The House resolution was introduced this month in response to criticism Arizona has received since the passage last month of a measure that expands the state's criminal trespassing law to cover undocumented immigrants. The law also empowers police to question people they believe may be in the United States illegally.

Seventeen states — but not Tennessee — are considering laws similar to Arizona's, according to Americans for Legal Immigration, a North Carolina group that lobbied for the law's passage.

But the Arizona immigration law also has led to boycott calls, condemnatory resolutions and threats of legal action on the grounds that it threatens non-white residents' Constitutional protections against police harassment. The sponsor of the Tennessee resolution, state Rep. Joe Carr, R-Lascassas, said critics do not understand the bill and are ignoring wording that prohibits racial profiling.

http://www.tennessean.com/article/20100524/NEWS0201/5240328/TN+lawmaker+proposes+AZ-style+immigration+law