PHOENIX — The anti-immigration law SB 1465 went into effect in Arizona Wednesday, prohibiting Arizona government agencies from accepting consular identification cards issued by foreign countries as a valid form of identification.
Supporters of the measure argued the foreign ID cards could be vulnerable to fraud and may falsely give the impression that cardholders are legal U.S. residents.
Critics of the measure warn that immigrants who are unable to provide identification will be more apprehensive of reporting crimes to police for fear of being arrested and handed over to federal immigration agents.
Critics also note that the consular ID cards are used for other uses besides identification, such as renting an apartment or opening a bank account.
The measure is one of several anti-immigration measures that went into effect in Arizona Wednesday. These include:
SB 1495
Grants Arizona Governor Jan Brewer the power to create a volunteer militia for “any reason considered to be necessary.”
SB 1451
Establishes a volunteer militia to guard and protect the border between Arizona and Sonora, Mexico.
SB 1406
Allows Arizona to build its own border wall using inmate labor and private contractors.
SB 1225
Criminalizes the use of false documents to rent a living space that can be later used as a drop house for human smugglers.
HB 2405
Further criminalizes human traffickers or anyone else helping to “smuggle” immigrants into the country
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