Arizona violating anti-immigrant law by helping Katrina victims...oops

A lesson in why representative democracy may be better than every Tom, Dick and Harry with a bankroll and an agenda writing laws.

http://www.azcentral.com/news/columns/articles/0912ruelas12.html

Last week, the state of Arizona started giving out welfare money to people who
can't prove their citizenship. It was a show of goodwill to victims of Hurricane
Katrina. It's also a clear violation of a recently passed state
law.

...

Unfortunately, under the new state law, that is not good
enough. Meaning a portion of the aid being distributed is technically illegal.
The state employees could be found guilty of misdemeanors. Someone could halt
the state's "Operation Good Neighbor" by filing a civil court case.

...

The law is clear. Each state agency or local government must verify the identity and immigration status of everyone who applies for benefits. The law also states it "shall be enforced without regard to race, religion, gender, ethnicity or national origin."There is no provision for emergencies. There is no provision for compassion.