As punitive legislation targeting undocumented immigrants gains traction in the United States—Arizona’s Senate Bill 1070 being the poster child—and given Congress’ failure to pass comprehensive reform, local police officers are increasingly authorized to enforce federal immigration laws. Passed almost a year ago, SB1070 in its original form required officers to check on an individual’s immigration status while enforcing non-immigration related laws, provided there is “reasonable suspicion.” But a recent report by the Washington-based Police Executive Research Forum (PERF) shows that more and more cops in Arizona and other states are saying, “This is not what I signed up for.”

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Here goes Arizona again. A new bill proposed in the state, SB 1405, would require proof of citizenship for non-emergency hospital admission. If passed, which luckily appears less likely after the bill was pulled from the legislative calendar this week, the bill would turn hospital admission clerks into de facto Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents.

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