Republican Gov. Jan Brewer is expected to sign a new immigration law passed by the state House of Representatives.

It will now be a misdemeanor to not have the proper immigration paperwork in Arizona.  It will also require police to determine a person’s immigration status, if they feel they may be an illegal immigrant.  Currently, police can only look into someone’s legal status if they are involved in a crime.  The new law will make it impossible for illegal immigrants to report crimes, harsh working environments, or seek medical attention because of the fear of deportation.

The bill may also encourage police officers to take immigration verification into their own hands.  The bill specifically says that race can not be used as a factor to determine if someone may or may not be a citizen, civil rights groups expect officers will use that as a factor.  American minority citizens would be targeted and unduly burdened by the new law.  Americans could be arrested for simply not having their driver’s license with them or because they look like a minority without being associated with any crime.

Federal courts have stuck down similar bills before stating that the federal government is the only entity with the authority to enforce immigration.  The law also makes day labor illegal, which violates the 1st Amendment.  Law suites are expected to be filed once the bill is signed into law.