PsySR Statement on Immigration Reform and Arizona’s SB 1070

The immigration debate in the United States has been reawakened by Arizona’s passage of SB 1070, the new state law that allows enforcement officers with “reasonable suspicion” to demand proof of legal residency. Psychologists for Social Responsibility (PsySR) strongly opposes this new law from both psychological and social justice perspectives, and we have issued the statement below.

Immigration Reform, Yes — Scapegoating and Racial Profiling, No

The immigration debate in the United States has been reawakened by Arizona’s passage of SB 1070, the new state law that allows enforcement officers with “reasonable suspicion” to demand proof of legal residency. While Psychologists for Social Responsibility (PsySR) recognizes that immigration policy is a complex arena in which multiple alternatives deserve careful consideration, we believe any law that increases the likelihood of racial profiling and sudden mass deportations jeopardizes core foundations of community life, civil liberties, and justice itself.