Arizona: Immigration or Invasion?

There has been so much talk about Arizona's new immigration law, Senate Bill 1070. Everyone from Jesse Jackson, Al Sharpton, Mexican and Latino "defense funds" and Civil Rights groups have gotten worked up and gone on the record saying it's wrong, unfair, illegal, and unconstitutional. Even President Obama has spoken out against it:

"The failure to act responsibly at the federal level will only open the door to irresponsibility by others. And that includes, for example, the recent efforts in Arizona, which threaten to undermine basic notions of fairness..."

Really? "Undermine the basic notions of fairness"? I can't help but wonder if Mr. Obama has even read the bill (the link is on the right side of WTP's Home page). Page 1, Paragraph B, lines 20 - 24 states:

"FOR ANY LAWFUL CONTACT MADE BY A LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICIAL OR AGENCY OF THIS STATE OR A COUNTY, CITY, TOWN OR OTHER POLITICAL SUBDIVISION OF THIS STATE WHERE REASONABLE SUSPICION EXISTS THAT THE PERSON IS AN ALIEN WHO IS UNLAWFULLY PRESENT IN THE UNITED STATES, A REASONABLE ATTEMPT SHALL BE MADE,WHEN PRACTICABLE, TO DETERMINE THE IMMIGRATION STATUS OF THE PERSON."

In order for any of this to even be relevant, a law enforcement officer must have "lawful contact" with an individual. Then there must be "reasonable suspicion" that the individual is here illegally. Then a "reasonable attempt" is made to determine the immigration status of the person, "when practicable." Police in Arizona have no more right to stop or detain someone today than they had before this law passed. This is more scare tactic, race baiting by the left.

This law poses no threat of harassment to legal immigrants or U.S.-born citizens regardless of their race. The first thing a law enforcement officer does during any interaction with a (non-violent) citizen is ask for identification. This is nothing new.

And, just out of curiosity, why is it unconstitutional for a state to attempt to protect its own sovereignty by codifying federal law at the state level but it's not unconstitutional for places like San Fransisco to declare themselves sanctuary cities and announce to the world that they intend to violate federal law by providing shelter to illegal aliens?