The US Catholic church on Tuesday condemned Arizona's "draconian" new immigration law, saying it would alienate immigrant communities across the United States. "This new law, although limited to the State of Arizona, could have impact throughout the nation in terms of how members of our immigrant communities are both perceived and treated," Bishop John Wester said in a statement issued on behalf of the US Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB).
"It certainly would lead to the rise in fear and distrust in immigrant communities," Wester, who chairs the USCCB migration committee, said.
The law signed by Arizona's Republican Governor Jan Brewer on Friday allows police in the southwestern state that shares a border with Mexico to question and detain anyone they believe may be an illegal immigrant, even if they are not suspected of committing another crime.
It would also require anyone in the state to show a document proving their legal status, like a "green card" permanent residency document or a passport.
The law could lead to profiling, wrongful arrests and "the division of families -- parents from children and husbands from wives," the USCCB said.
"The US Catholic bishops stand in solidarity with the bishops of Arizona in opposing this draconian law," the statement said.
"We renew our call for the administration and Congress to work in a bipartisan manner to enact comprehensive immigration reform as soon as possible."
Homeland Security chief Janet Napolitano said earlier Tuesday at a hearing of the Senate Judiciary Committee that the Justice Department was reviewing the constitutionality of the new law.
