Jeb Bush opposed to Arizona’s “papers please” anti-immigrant law

Posted by AzBlueMeanie:

Politico reports that former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush is speaking out against the new hard-line immigration law in Arizona, becoming the first prominent national Republican to do so. (how sad is that?) Jeb Bush speaks out against Ariz. law:

"I think it creates unintended consequences," he said in a telephone interview with POLITICO Tuesday. "It's difficult for me to imagine how you're going to enforce this law. It places a significant burden on local law enforcement and you have civil liberties issues that are significant as well."

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"I don't think this is the proper approach," he said.

The former governor recounted how, after he gave a speech Monday night in California, he was approached by a Hispanic man who was concerned about the measure leading to racial profiling and unfair targeting of Latinos.

"He said, 'My parents live here, my grandparents live here — I'm Mexican-American,'" Bush recalled, adding that the man said, "'I could be picked up.'"

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Bush is a supporter of comprehensive immigration reform. He said the new law underscores the necessity for such federal legislation — what he called "an opportunity not a problem." On Thursday, Bush will join other conservative leaders on an open-press conference call to renew the push for the stalled legislation.

Bush's comments came on the same day that former Florida Speaker and Senate candidate Marco Rubio also came out in opposition to the Arizona law.

Rubio, whose parents were Cuban immigrants, said the legislation could "unreasonably single out people who are here legally, including many American citizens."

Perhaps Jeb Bush is more attuned to this sensitive issue because he is married to a Latina — Columba Garnica Gallo, who is a native of León, Guanajuato, Mexico.

Jeb Bush endorsed John McCain for reelection to the U.S. Senate back in March. McCain since endorsed Arizona's "papers please" anti-immigrant law despite admitting that he had not read the bill and doesn't know "whether all of it is legal." Jeb Bush may want to reconsider his endorsement after John McCain's shameless pandering to the nativist right in Arizona.