Will Arizona's immigration law boost crime?
Police chiefs warn it will. Several Arizona sheriffs disagree. Who's right?

Police chiefs from several of Arizona's largest cities say the state's tough new immigration law will help criminals — echoing a criticism expressed by Attorney General Eric Holder. Illegal immigrants who are crime victims or witnesses will be less likely to go to the police, said the Arizona police chiefs, because the new law requires officers to demand papers from anyone suspected of being in the country illegally. But several Arizona sheriffs support the crackdown, saying most illegal immigrants are already afraid to cooperate with police. Will the the new law make it harder for officers to do their jobs? (Watch a Fox report about Arizona's law and crime rates)
Of course this will make police work tougher: The police chiefs have a "valid argument," says Doug Mataconis in Outside the Beltway. If Arizona's law makes illegal immigrants look at local police as "little more than agents of the Federal immigration authorities, then, obviously, someone who is the victim of a crime is going to be less likely to report that crime, or cooperate with investigating officers."
"Law enforcement officials fear Arizona-like immigration laws will deter from crime fighting"
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
The status quo isn't working: As the sheriffs say, "cooperation from illegal aliens is already low," says Heather MacDonald in National Review. But the real hole in the police chiefs' argument is the "tired" assertion that it's up to the federal government to fix things. Without a sudden burst of commitment from Washington, there's no way to solve the illegal immigration problem "without also involving local law enforcement."
"Big-city police chiefs and the Arizona law"
Expect Holder to challenge the law: Arizona can't just shrug off the police chiefs' criticism, says Peter Grier in The Christian Science Monitor. Holder has told Congress that Arizona's law could lead to racial profiling and drive a wedge between police and the public. Now that he has the people on the front lines against crime backing him up, Holder is almost certain to challenge Arizona's law in court.
"Police chiefs pan Arizona immigration law: Federal lawsuit coming?"
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
-
Gandhi arrests: Narendra Modi's 'vendetta' against India's opposition
The Explainer Another episode threatens to spark uproar in the Indian PM's long-running battle against the country's first family
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK
-
How the woke right gained power in the US
Under the radar The term has grown in prominence since Donald Trump returned to the White House
By Chas Newkey-Burden, The Week UK
-
Codeword: April 24, 2025
The Week's daily codeword puzzle
By The Week Staff
-
The JFK files: the truth at last?
In The Spotlight More than 64,000 previously classified documents relating the 1963 assassination of John F. Kennedy have been released by the Trump administration
By The Week Staff
-
'Seriously, not literally': how should the world take Donald Trump?
Today's big question White House rhetoric and reality look likely to become increasingly blurred
By Sorcha Bradley, The Week UK
-
Will Trump's 'madman' strategy pay off?
Today's Big Question Incoming US president likes to seem unpredictable but, this time round, world leaders could be wise to his playbook
By Sorcha Bradley, The Week UK
-
Democrats vs. Republicans: who are the billionaires backing?
The Explainer Younger tech titans join 'boys' club throwing money and support' behind President Trump, while older plutocrats quietly rebuke new administration
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK
-
US election: where things stand with one week to go
The Explainer Harris' lead in the polls has been narrowing in Trump's favour, but her campaign remains 'cautiously optimistic'
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK
-
Is Trump okay?
Today's Big Question Former president's mental fitness and alleged cognitive decline firmly back in the spotlight after 'bizarre' town hall event
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK
-
The life and times of Kamala Harris
The Explainer The vice-president is narrowly leading the race to become the next US president. How did she get to where she is now?
By The Week UK
-
Will 'weirdly civil' VP debate move dial in US election?
Today's Big Question 'Diametrically opposed' candidates showed 'a lot of commonality' on some issues, but offered competing visions for America's future and democracy
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK