UN experts say Arizona immigration law may not be compatible with international human rights
May 12th, 2010 - 2:44 am ICT by BNO NewsUNITED NATIONS (BNO NEWS) – Independent United Nations (UN) experts expressed their serious concern over the new Arizona immigration law on Tuesday.
The UN experts questioned whether the legislation is compatible with international human rights treaties which the United States has signed on to.
“A disturbing pattern of legislative activity hostile to ethnic minorities and immigrants has been established with the adoption of an immigration law that may allow for police action targeting individuals on the basis of their perceived ethnic origin,” they said.
“The law may lead to detaining and subjecting to interrogation persons primarily on the basis of their perceived ethnic characteristics,” the UN experts continued, as they explained that those who appear to be of Mexican, Latin American or indigenous origin are more likely to be targeted.
The new law requires that state law enforcement officers determine the immigration status of people based solely on a “reasonable suspicion” that they are in the U.S. illegally, and arrest people without a warrant if officers have “probable cause” to believe they are illegal aliens.
But, “relevant international standards require that detention be used only as an exceptional measure, justified, narrowly tailored and proportional in each individual case, and that it be subject to judicial review,” they added.
“States are obligated to not only eradicate racial discrimination, but also to promote a social and political environment conducive to respect for ethnic and cultural diversity,” they continued.
The experts include Jorge Bustamante, Special Rapporteur on the human rights of migrants, Githu Muigai, Special Rapporteur on contemporary forms of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance, James Anaya, Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights and fundamental freedoms of indigenous people, Farida Shaheed, Independent Expert in the field of cultural rights, Vernor Muñoz, Special Rapporteur on the right to education, and Gay McDougall, Independent Expert on minority issues.
- UN expert expresses need of culturally adequate reforms for indigenous in Australia - Mar 10, 2010
- UN envoy blasts Australia for breaching rights of indigenous population - Feb 25, 2010
- UN opens conference in Finland on Nordic indigenous people - Apr 15, 2010
- Mexican human rights activists pay with their lives: UN - May 12, 2010
- UN human rights body claims racial discrimination "embedded" in Australia - Aug 28, 2010
- UN expert says human rights defenders in Mexico are under increasing threat - May 13, 2010
- Migrants to Japan suffer racism and exploitation: UN expert - Apr 01, 2010
- India wins election to UN panel on racial discrimination - Dec 01, 2011
- UN says racism entrenched in Australia - Aug 27, 2009
- Now UN rights rapporteur recommends AFSPA repeal - Mar 10, 2012
- India's human rights defenders need better protection: UN expert - Jan 22, 2011
- At least 78 killed in western Myanmar clashes - UN - Jul 29, 2012
- Over half of world's school dropouts are from minorities: Report - Jul 16, 2009
- UAE says human rights report is 'unbalanced' - Jan 25, 2010
- Australian aborigines demand UN refugee status - Aug 26, 2009
Tags: anaya, bno, cultural diversity, ethnic characteristics, ethnic minorities, forms of racism, fundamental freedoms, human rights treaties, illegal aliens, immigration law, immigration status, independent expert, international human rights treaties, jorge bustamante, legislative activity, police action, political environment, racial discrimination, reasonable suspicion, relevant international standards