More than 60 percent of Americans support the state of Arizona law to criminalize illegal immigration, which is set to take effect tomorrow, July 29, 2010.

“The law, known locally as SB1070, requires police officers, "when practicable," to detain people they reasonably suspect are in the country without authorization and to verify their status with federal officials, unless doing so would hinder an investigation or emergency medical treatment. The law also makes it a state crime - a misdemeanor - to not carry immigration papers. In addition, it allows people to sue local government or agencies if they believe federal or state immigration law is not being enforced,” according to The New York Times.

The US Justice Department filed a lawsuit against Arizona earlier this month to challenge the law. The federal government asserts that manipulating immigration policy is its own responsibility, not that of the states.

The question of whether SB1070 is unconstitutional is also under speculation.

According to recent Gallup poll results, 45% of Americans believe immigration needs to decrease while 17% think it should increase. The remaining 34% find current levels of immigration to be ideal.

There are between 15 000 and 40 000 Bulgarians residing illegally in the USA, according to estimates of Assen Assenov, a Bulgarian professor at the American University School of International Service.

In spite of Arizona’s law and hope to remove illegal immigrants, the Obama Administration is working toward giving the illegal immigrants already in the USA legal status.

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