Texas Governor Gary Abbott recently signed a sanctuary city ban, which would allow police to ask people whether they are legal citizens when they are pulled over.
The White House released a statement in April saying sanctuary cities block jails from turning criminal immigrants who are here illegally to Federal authorities for deportation, which according to Federal law, is illegal.
Racial profiling is using an individual’s race or ethnicity as criteria to conduct a stop, search or other law enforcement procedure, according to the the Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights website.
Theo Hitimana, an African communications disorders major from Chicago, said he and his friends from Africa have been pulled over “for no reason, just because we are black.”
He said stereotypes lead to profiling.
“Just get the facts before you profile people,” Hitimana said.
The Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights website states racial profiling in law enforcement is wrong and ineffective.
“Race-based assumptions in law enforcement perpetuate negative racial stereotypes that are harmful to our rich and diverse democracy, and materially impair our efforts to maintain a fair and just society,“ according to the Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights website.
Some BYU students said more education and understanding about other cultures can fight against racial profiling
Lea Hidalgo, a Filipino dietetics major, said her Canadian hometown wasn’t very diverse. She said her father thought people weren’t welcoming when he moved there because of his skin color.
“This wasn’t the case at all, but they just didn’t know how to approach him,” Hildalgo said.
Helaman Neyra, a Peruvian Chemical engineering student from Orem, said education helps people understand everyone is equal and has the same rights.
“Everyone should be treated equally and can help each other out,” Neyra said. “Just because I’m from another culture doesn’t mean I can’t help you.”
