Washington, May 30 (DPA) Thousands of demonstrators converged in the capital of Arizona state in the US on the weekend to protest a controversial state migration law they claim will institutionalise racial discrimination.
Protesters from around the nation began arriving in Phoenix early Friday to make a stand and urge the Obama administration to push for ‘integral’ federal immigration law reform, media reports said.
Immigrants were joined by native-born citizens such as Eric Ruder of Chicago, who said, ‘The criminalisation of immigrants is a dangerous road this country is taking’, broadcaster CNN reported.
The law adopted last month by the border state permits police to demand proof of citizenship from any person, without suspicion of any crime.
Obama has ordered the federal Justice Department to conduct an analysis of the legislation to see if it is unconstitutional, while various civil rights groups have filed suits in court, hoping to delay the July effective date.
But the law has many supporters, and counter demonstration was being planned in Phoenix suburbs. More than a dozen other states are said to be considering similar legislation to control illegal immigration.
