>>>>Here's one law-abiding citizen who would object to being stopped and asked to show proof of citizenship.
>>>>
>>>>Well, Andy is a law-abiding permanent resident of this country who is required, by law, to have his green card with him at all times and to display it to law enforcement when asked.
>>>>
>>>>He does not have a problem with this precisely because he is a law-abiding person <s>.
>>>
>>>As a resident alien, he has agreed to those provisions.
>>>
>>>One of the things that supposedly makes the US (and the other "first world" countries) different from the old "second world" countries is that in the first world, you don't have to carry your "papers."
>>>
>>>Tamar
>>
>>Unless you are not a citizen. That has been the case going back many many years. It is really no different in any other country. When I got stopped in most countries I've visited or lived in I had to produce my passport, military id, or papers authorizing me to live, work, or visit that country. That was in every country, not just 3rd world or 1st world countries. There is nothing unreasonable about that. As soon as you step foot in any other country other than your country of birth, that is the almost if not always the norm. Anyone entering any country agrees to abide by the laws of that country or else they risk punishment, imprisonment, or removal.
>
>Right. But under this law, what happens if a citizen is stopped, the officer suspects the person is illegal, and asks for papers? The citizen rightfully isn't carrying them. I suspect that citizen gets a visit to the police station and has to produce papers. IOW, if you're a citizen who happens to look like an illegal immigrant (and surely in Arizona, "look like" will turn out to mean have a Hispanic name and an accent), you'd better carry your papers, which we just agreed Americans don't have to.
>
>Tamar

But the alternative is not fair either. Do hispanics get a free pass because they are hispanic? All immigrants, visitors and temporary workers and residents are expected to produce their papers when/if asked. It has been unfair to others who come here legally for years. They don't get all of the free services that those who come here from latin american countries (and it's not just Mexico but those who come here by traveling through Mexico). If they are stopped for any reason they are expected to prove they are here legally by producing their papers. This has turned into a free pass simply to avoid any appearance of profiling.