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being stopped in the US because you are a Mexican


Fred Habacht

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Posted

NO....we were stopped in Alabama because of our Mexican plates and for no other reason. No traffic ticket was given. I just want to reach someone who might think this is wrong....

It is now a state law in Arizona and Louisiana that police can stop anyone they feel like to ask to see proof of legal residency. Maybe Alabama is following Louisiana´s led there. It is against US federal anti - discrimatory laws. IMO

http://topics.nytimes.com/top/reference/timestopics/subjects/i/immigration-and-emigration/arizona-immigration-law-sb-1070/index.html

Posted

You may want to file an official complaint with the Civil Rights Division of the Department of Justice. You might also want to file a complaint with the American Civil Liberties Union.

Posted

It is now a state law in Arizona and Louisiana that police can stop anyone they feel like to ask to see proof of legal residency. Maybe Alabama is following Louisiana´s led there. It is against US federal anti - discrimatory laws.

Are you saying AZ & AL have no say on who can drive in their state?

Simple....guess you can just stay out of Arizona & Alabama if it bothers you.

Posted

You may want to file an official complaint with the Civil Rights Division of the Department of Justice. You might also want to file a complaint with the American Civil Liberties Union.

Please tell me how a State law enforcement officer who wants to know your legal residency status is violating your civil liberties?

Posted

Dept of Justice, Homeland security and ACLU....say put it in writing but we really don't see a problem if all they did was question you and let you go...so we, respectfully give up. Thanks to those who had good advice.

Posted

It should be noted that the U.S. is a republic. Under that form of government, federal law supercedes state and local law. State and local authorities are required to abide by the federal Constitution. In this case, the Thirteenth and Fourteenth Amendments to the Constitution, as well as a large body of federal civil rights legislation guarantee certain individual rights. In addition, immigration is the purview of the federal government and not the individial states. This has been well establish in the U.S. courts.

Posted

Dept of Justice, Homeland security and ACLU....say put it in writing but we really don't see a problem if all they did was question you and let you go...so we, respectfully give up. Thanks to those who had good advice.

Then you should put it in writing. They keep a statistical record of these events. The more often it happens, the more likely they will try to put a stop to it.

Posted

That used to happen to us, especially in GA and AL, when they saw our plates; you know, from NY, PA, etc. Foreign places to Bubba! I would have been tempted to speak only Spanish to that officer; just for effect, of course. Might have made national news.

Posted

Gosh, I've never ever been stopped here just because I have NOB plates, am lilly white and have gray hair? And, another reason not to nationalize your cars if you go home to visit.

Posted

Dept of Justice, Homeland security and ACLU....say put it in writing but we really don't see a problem if all they did was question you and let you go...so we, respectfully give up. Thanks to those who had good advice.

"respectfully give up". What are you giving up? I just don't see the problem when states give themselves the power to know who is in their state? Do you not care who is in your state?

Posted

this looks like a national expat past time: making trouble. finding trouble. ACLU, pleeeeese. they are another group w/time on their hands. if you really were mexican they may have taken it more seriously. the southern border states are trying to just check things out. not a big deal. right now there is conflict between state rights vs federal govt. if you drive, expect checking there AND on the roads to guad. i dont drive, but from reading this board, your "experience" is very small potatoes. you behaved correctly, so did they. rvgringo's approach may not have not gone over that well.

Posted

It should be noted that the U.S. is a republic. Under that form of government, federal law supercedes state and local law. State and local authorities are required to abide by the federal Constitution. In this case, the Thirteenth and Fourteenth Amendments to the Constitution, as well as a large body of federal civil rights legislation guarantee certain individual rights. In addition, immigration is the purview of the federal government and not the individial states. This has been well establish in the U.S. courts.

"State and local authorities are required to abide by the federal Constitution". Not everybody is listening. Fire up a doobie in Colorado or

Washington and see how many federal marshals will arrest you.

The bigger issue is when the Federals refuse to enforce their own laws which in turn leave the states to suffer the consequences. Do you think it is perfectly OK to, let's say, let thousands of illegal immigrants just parade over the border into Arizona just because the Federals will not enforce laws they are sworn to uphold? Does Arizona have no say in this matter? And please explain to me how being asked for identification is a in conflict with a "guarantee (of) certain individual rights"?

Posted

xcalaker, this is getting very political. i am in your corner, but please dont get this thread locked. thanks.

Posted

"respectfully give up". What are you giving up? I just don't see the problem when states give themselves the power to know who is in their state? Do you not care who is in your state?

This has really become a political thread that is just going to stir up trouble.

I appreciate the original post because I wondered if I would be hassled driving through the States with Mexican plates. Did they ask for Passport/Green Card or proof of citizenship? That would bother me, but not just being stopped. Cop may have been bored and might have stopped a Canadian car out of curiosity as well. Ok..... I doubt that, but its possible!

Posted

lets stay on topic. stopping cars in the US is the main point. the person is alluding that it is an immigration issue, but there is no proof. maybe, just maybe they were looking for someone from mexico. it is such a minor non incident, why invent or project, or fictionize it? that seems to be a main theme on this board. speculation is speculation.

Posted

According to the OP, I assume that the cop flagged her down, approached the car and said, "I am stopping you because I suspect that you are Mexicans." Is that really the way it went down? I doubt it.

Posted

The action of one cop in one southern state is nothing conclusive on the expansion that is going on. Hasn't anyone here heard of DWB in Maryland?

Inconvenient, yes, tempest in a teapot - definitely.

Posted

I know several Canadiens who were stopped in US for no apparent reason and it also made them furious.

So it is not exclusively Mexicans. I do not know if they (Canadiens) did anything about it.

Posted

I know several Canadiens who were stopped in US for no apparent reason and it also made them furious.

So it is not exclusively Mexicans. I do not know if they (Canadiens) did anything about it.

Yes, a rogue black-op U.S. cop gang preying on hapless Canadians. A.K.A., the infamous "DWC caper" cops. If they stop you, avoid saying: "Eh???"

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