Small Crowd Protests Arizona Immigration Law

Across the United States, including right here in the Coachalla Valley, criticism continues to mount over a new Arizona law aimed at stopping illegal immigrants from heading into that state.

The law signed by the state’s governor Friday will allow police to stop people they believe may be in Arizona unlawfully, and ask for identification.

Close to a hundred people were at Monday’s protest in Desert Hot Springs.

They say something needs to be done to stop that from happening here.

Many were afraid a law like the one in Arizona could be a reality here.

They spent part of Monday night on the corner of Palm Drive and Two Bunch Palms Trail in Desert Hot Springs protesting.

?It?s anti human rights,? said one protester. ?We?re taking a step back instead of moving forward.?

They don?t want a bill like Arizona’s becoming law here in the Golden State.

?This is the first time for DHS,? said another protester. ?I’ve never seen people out on the streets.?

Since Arizona’s governor Jan Brewer signed Senate Bill 1070 into law on Friday, the state’s law has been at the center of discussions and controversy.

On Friday President Obama called the law ?misguided.?

The department of Homeland Security estimates there are 11-million people living illegally in the United States.

After a large weekend protest in downtown Phoenix, someone smeared the state capitol windows with refried beans in the shape of Swastikas.

The law will start being enforced sometime this summer if it survives the multiple legal challenges promised by opponents.