Boston Uncommon

Arizona's immigration law and the lousy economy is leading to backlashes against "illegals" even in states like Massachusetts as that state's Senate cracks down.

The measure, which passed on a 28-10 vote as an amendment to the budget, would bar the state from doing business with any company found to break federal laws barring illegal immigrant hiring. It would also toughen penalties for creating or using fake identification documents, and explicitly deny in-state college tuition for illegal immigrants.

The amendment would also require the state’s public health insurance program to verify residency through the Department of Homeland Security, and would require the state to give legal residents priority for subsidized housing.

The amendment will now be part of negotiations with the House as part of the entire state budget.

It's not law yet, but just as Republicans found their hated scapegoats in gays in the first decade of this century (and long before that, really) the reactionary crackdowns are now hitting Latinos.  It's the unintended consequences of laws like this that will be the problem:  getting sick or applying for housing while Latino in Massachusetts could soon be a nightmare.  After all, the onus is now on the person to prove they are a citizen if this law passes.

Do you think Republicans will stop demanding papers at subsidized housing and insurance?