Racial profiling provision of immigration bill scrutinized - baltimoresun.com: A coalition of civil liberties and immigrant-rights advocates led by Sen. Ben Cardin of Maryland wants to strengthen a provision in the Senate's sweeping immigration bill that would prohibit law enforcement agencies from racial profiling.
The 867-page, bipartisan immigration bill, which is expected to dominate the agenda in Congress this summer, would impose a first-ever federal prohibition on profiling. But advocates are concerned that broad exemptions contained in the proposal — including one for "national security" — would undermine its impact.
Racial profiling is one of dozens of issues expected to trigger debate as lawmakers begin digging into the specifics of the legislation, which would be the first overhaul of U.S. immigration law in nearly 30 years.
The effort to change the proposal, Cardin and advocates acknowledge, will be tough.
"It's not as strong as it needs to be," the Democrat said. "We are looking at whether we can strengthen it."
