The new law makes illegally entering the country a state crime, a misdemeanor. A peace officer, which is broadly defined and can include such people as local police officers and security officers of the state medical board, can inquire about a person’s citizenship and immigrant status if they think they have entered the U.S. illegally. If so, a magistrate can order them out of the country.
How long until Latino Americans are stopped by police officers and have their citizenship papers demanded or else they’ll be arrested and threatened with deportation? How long until a judge railroads the case because they are convinced that Latino = Illegal Immigrant and the American citizen is deported?
What do you mean, “How long?”
If I were a Hispanic-looking guy living or traveling through Texas, American citizen or not, I’d have my birth certificate and passport ready to go.
Good point. Of course, the next question would be: How long until a police officer arrests a Latino American despite them having their papers and confiscates the papers claiming that they are “forgeries?”
(If the 2017-present has taught us anything, it’s to never underestimate how cruel and corrupt people in power can be.)
ICE has been arresting and deporting US citizens for decades now. What changes here?