An Arizona state House committee on Wednesday will hold a hearing on a bill that could jail undocumented immigrants if they use public restrooms or other public resources like schools or roads.
The Committee on Federal and State Affairs will consider Republican state Rep. Carl Seel's (R) House Bill 2192 that would require people who use public resources to provide proof that they are in the U.S. legally or provide proof of citizenship.
A first offense would be considered a misdemeanor. Second offenses would result in felony charges and possible jail time. Undocumented immigrants who use public roads could also have their cars seized, according to The Huffington Post.
American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) of Arizona Executive Director Alessandra Soler told KERO-TV that the bill was unconstitutional.
“It's extremely broad, and it's clearly unconstitutional if it would lead to harassment of people of color,” Soler explained. “This bill would create even more problems of racial profiling then we’re currently seeing."
Seel, however, argued last week that the bill did not target undocumented immigrants and their families at all.
"It only applies to people who have had their day in court," Seel insisted to KTAR. "In other words, if you were here illegally and you were driving recklessly and you got arrested for it... and you had your day in court and thereafter, you could not show that you were legally here and you overstayed your court orders."
He said that only those "who have been ordered to self-deport" would be affected by the bill.
KSAZ reported that Seel previously sponsored a bill that would have required President Barack Obama to show proof of citizenship.
(h/t: Addicting Info)
