Arizona’s new immigration law is troubling on many levels. First, immigration policies are a federal governance issue. When individual states begin to enact laws that conflict and confuse our understanding of federal policies already in place, state and local law enforcers will be equally confused and thus make inappropriate enforcement decisions harming individuals and families “presumed” to be part of the new state laws.

Second, does anyone remember the time when our country interned persons of Japanese descent simply because they were Japanese and the United States was at war with Japan? History proved we harmed many innocent individuals and families over many generations with that decision. States that decide to take matters into their own hands regarding immigration should consider previous decisions made regarding immigration addressing social concerns, crime or threat to national security before launching into policies that clearly legalize racial profiling.

I hope the state of Washington will continue to rally for “comprehensive immigration reform” at the federal level and not begin to consider state level vigilante-type solutions to our immigration challenges. As a nation that values the rights of individuals we must seek solutions that do no harm to innocent individuals and families of any race.

Anne Campbell

Coupeville