'Misguided' immigration law brings Obama, Arizona governor to the table

(News Today) - President Obama plans to meet Thursday with Arizona Gov. Jan Brewer -- their first face-to-face since the governor signed the state's controversial immigration reform law.

The president has called the Arizona law misguided.

For her part, Brewer made clear Tuesday she's not worried about a potential legal challenge from the Obama administration over the law.

"We'll meet you in court," Brewer said. "I have a pretty good record of winning in court."

Protesters are planning to gather outside the White House to picket the law.

The American Civil Liberties Union is currently leading a court challenge against the law. Attorney General Eric Holder, who met with a delegation of police chiefs from Arizona and last week to discuss the law, has yet to indicate whether the federal government would file a legal challenge.

The new immigration law, implemented in April, allows police officers to check the residency status of anyone who is being investigated for a crime or possible legal infraction if there is reasonable suspicion the person is an illegal resident. Critics, including Holder, have said the law will promote racial profiling.

But Brewer said Tuesday the law does not target an individual's specific race. She also made clear driver's licenses are not sufficient to prove citizenship.

"It wouldn't matter if you are Latino or Hispanic or Norwegian," she said. "If you didn't have proof of citizenship and the police officer had reasonable suspicion, he would ask and verify your citizenship. I mean, that's the way that it is. That's what the federal law says. And that's what the law in Arizona says."

Brewer strongly defended the law, saying she would not suspend it even if Obama sharply increased the number of U.S. troops at the Mexican border.

Source : CNN

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