Obamas Opinion on Az immigration law

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PHOENIX - President Barack Obama on Thursday criticized a pending Arizona law that would make it a state crime to be in the United States illegally and require anyone suspected of being an illegal immigrant to produce identification. Such legislation could "threaten to undermine basic notions of fairness that we cherish as Americans," the president said during a naturalization ceremony for members of the United States Armed Services. Gov. Jan Brewer is nearing a deadline to act o n the measure. Civil rights activists have said the bill would lead to racial profiling and deter Hispanics from reporting crimes. Hundreds of Hispanics protested the legislation at the State Capitol complex on Thursday. A Saturday deadline for Brewer, a Republican, to act on the bill was set on Monday when the legislation arrived on her desk. She can sign, veto or allow it to become law without her signature. Asked Thursday if she is concerned that the immigration bill could lead to racial profiling in the state, Brewer said that she is still considering the effects of the legislation. "I've been meeting with lawyers, and I’ve been looking at it very diligently," she said. Brewer, who became governor after Janet Napolitano left to lead the Department of Homeland Security, is facing a primary challenge from a handful of Republicans in August. Republican Sen. John McCain, who also is facing a primary challenge from the right, has said he supports the legislation. Obama said Thursday that he has asked members of his administration to "closely monitor" the situation. He warned that failure to act at a federal level to pass comprehensive immigration reform would only open the floodgates to irresponsible and overreaching measures on the state level, referring directly to "efforts in Arizona." Nation's busiest border crossing Arizona has an estimated 460,000 illegal immigrants and is the nation's busiest border crossing point. Other provisions of the bill allow lawsuits against government agencies that hinder enforcement of immigration laws, and make it illegal to hire illegal immigrants for day labor or knowingly transport them. The bill's sponsor, Republican Sen. Russell Pearce of Mesa, said it would remove "political handcuffs" from police and help drive illegal immigrants from the state. "Illegal is illegal," said Pearce, a driving force on the issue in Arizona. "We'll have less crime. We'll have lower taxes. We'll have safer neighborhoods. We'll have shorter lines in the emergency rooms. We'll have smaller classrooms." The bill would take effect 90 days after the current legislative session ends if it becomes law. The March 27 shooting death of rancher Bob Krentz on his property in southeastern Arizona has brought illegal immigration and border security into greater focus in the state. Authorities believe Krentz was killed by an illegal border crosser. Since the shooting, Brewer and other officeholders and candidates have toured the state's border with Mexico. On Thursday, she ordered a reallocation of state National Guard and law enforcement resources and called on the federal government to deploy National Guard troops. Arizona has previously passed a variety of get-tough measures dealing with illegal immigration. Napolitano, a Democrat, vetoed proposals similar to the bill just approved by the Legislature. But she signed a 2007 law that imposes sanctions against employers who knowingly hire illegal immigrants. Other state laws make human smuggling a state crime and restrict illegal immigrants' eligibility for public services. http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/36735281