SB1070 Update: Rep. Kirk Adams is wrong (what a surprise!)

by David Safier

Republican Rep. Kirk Adams had an op ed in the Republic yesterday. He said racial profiling is forbidden in SB1070.

He's wrong. Racial profiling is an integral part of SB1070. Read the post below to understand why.

Here's what Adams wrote:

The trailer bill [HB2162, which amends SB1070] makes it crystal-clear that racial profiling is not and will not be tolerated.

Wrong.

This paragraph is a treasure chest of obfuscation:

Furthermore, Arizona Gov. Jan Brewer issued an executive order requiring the state to use representatives from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement to train our law-enforcement officials, ensuring they receive appropriate training to apply federal standards. In any event, the legislation clearly states that law-enforcement officials "may not consider race, color or national origin" while enforcing immigration law.

First, ICE people use racial profiling on a regular basis. The U.S. Supreme Court says it's acceptable for immigration enforcement. So the ICE trainers will actually teach police officers how to use racial profiling legally.

Second, the quote Adams pulls out of the law — which he says "clearly states" racial profiling is forbidden — leaves out the rest of the sentence, which says officers can use racial profiling to the extent it's allowed by the U.S. and Arizona constitutions. And rulings have said it's allowable by both constitutions.

"Read the law," SB1070's supporters say over and over. What they mean is, "Read the parts of the law we want you to read. And please don't talk to a legal scholar. That would just confuse you."