Originally Posted by VGeorgie

It hinges on probable cause. The Arizona statute does not allow detention simply because someone looks like they are an illegal. They can only question the status if there is some kind of "reasonable" suspicion the individual is an illegal, but the law provides no hint at how police are to arrive at this conclusion.

Meg Whitman, a smart lady likely the next governor of CA (and a Republican) says she thinks there are better ways of handling the problem. I'm quite sure she's right.