By: Sara Goldenberg
PHOENIX – A new state bill would make it against the law for an illegal immigrant to use public resources including driving on public roads.
State Representative Carl Seel (R-District 20) said House Bill 2192 would only affect undocumented immigrants who have committed a crime.
Seel said it would be an additional violation law enforcement could tack on in addition to the crime that led to the initial arrest.
The bill would make it a misdemeanor for an illegal immigrant who has been to court for a crime to use public benefits, including attending a public school or using the services of any public entity in the state of Arizona.
“I think that we deserve to put some teeth in there so law enforcement can hold people who have come here illegally and committed a crime– we need more teeth to hold them accountable,” Seel said.
The ACLU thinks it’s unconstitutional.
“It’s extremely broad, and it’s clearly unconstitutional if it would lead to harassment of people of color,” said Alessandra Soler, executive director of the ACLU of Arizona.
“This bill would create even more problems of racial profiling then we’re currently seeing,” she said.
Seel said the bill does not call for targeting undocumented immigrants.
The bill has not been introduced yet at the state capitol.

Read more: http://www.abc15.com/dpp/news/region_phoenix_metro/central_phoenix/state-bill-calls-for-restrictions-on-public-resources-for-illegal-immigrants#ixzz2sfAwih8b