Video Captures Arizona Cop’s Frustration With Immigration Law

By at GigaOm

Today, a federal court is hearing challenges by the ACLU and the U.S. Department of Justice against Arizona immigration reform law SB 1070, which goes into effect July 29. The bill attracted national attention upon its passing by giving police officers the power to question an individual’s immigration status while in the process of enforcing other laws, construed by some to be a direct attack upon the Latino community. This has lead to protests and boycotts and other expressions of outrage.

There hadn’t been much public indication as to how actual police officers felt, though, until Phoenix, AZ-based Officer Paul Dobson did a Skype interview two months ago with Brave New Foundation’s Cuéntame project about how the new law made him feel. The answer? Like “a Nazi.”

“I am definitively against SB1070 and all similar legislation. The legislation is rooted in hatred and anger towards Latinos. Any police officer should be against SB1070,” Dobson says in the video, which was posted on Facebook.

Cuéntame, which translates to “Tell Me,” has been collecting interviews with noted liberals like Martin Sheen and Hector Elizondo about the bill. Dobson wasn’t just the only police officer to respond to public requests for interview subjects, but the only Arizona resident to respond.

According to the Arizona Register, Dobson will likely receive “a written reprimand or minor form of discipline for granting the online interview without supervisor approval.” Though a final decision on the matter has yet to be reached, Dobson’s punishment could be a lot worse — especially in today’s world, where a reporter can get fired for one Tweet.


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