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Monday, Jun 25, 2012 3:45 PM UTC

Reid: Court ruling paves path to racial profiling

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Topics: From the Wires,

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Senate’s top Democrat says the Supreme Court’s decision on Arizona’s immigration law opens the way to racial profiling by police.

Nevada Sen. Harry Reid said after Monday’s decision that the high court was right to strike down most of Arizona’s immigration law, which President Barack Obama and many Democrats say is unconstitutional. But Reid said he is concerned that the high court upheld one provision that requires police to check immigration papers of people they stop for other violations. That, Reid said predicted, “will lead to a system of racial profiling.”

The decision upholds the “show me your papers” requirement for the moment. But it takes the teeth out of it by prohibiting police officers from arresting people on minor immigration charges. About 11 million immigrants reside illegally in the U.S.

More Laurie Kellman.

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