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PHOENIX (KPNX) — An Arizona state lawmaker is drawing political fire for proposed legislation banning people from using public resources if they are in the state illegally.
Republican Representative Carl Seel contends he just wants to protect state coffers and hold people to their promise of leaving on their own terms.
But the 22 lines he authored as part of House Bill 2192 have immigration rights activists accusing the lawmaker of racial profiling.
Seel says it's really a continuation of the proper role of the state government in relation to the federal government and enforcing immigration law
But immigration activists disagree. They call the measure bad politics and say such measures simply divide communities.
This is no longer the time when people can win on being anti- immigrant. What is he doing?
–-Lydia Guzman, League of United Latin American Citizens
"Are families going to be concerned with now do we not only take our picnic stuff do we also have to take our papers? Is this what it's going to resort to?" said Lydia Guzman of the League of United Latin American Citizens.
Guzman says she sees fear in this plan and says some in her community are buzzing with worry wondering if it's time to pack up and leave.
"This is no longer the time when people were jumping on the bandwagon to be anti-immigrant. This is no longer the time when people can win on being anti-immigrant. What is he doing?" asks Guzman.
Guzman says she thinks Representative Seel's plan is smokescreen for new roundups of undocumented families out enjoying places like parks, insisting there's much more to the legislation.
So far Seel is the only sponsor and it's unclear whether any committee will take up the plan to make it criminal for those not legally in the state to use public resources.
