Illegal immigration is a major problem in the United States, especially in our home state of California. Due to such high rates of illegal immigration, lawmakers were forced to implement new laws such as Proposition 187 to scare away these immigrants. In the Asian American community, the views on this law are split. Some see this law as a way to discourage immigrants from entering the United States, but others see it as a means for racial discrimination. Some go as far to say that it raises an anti-immigrant sentiment much like what happened during World War II with Japanese internment. Considering this and other histories of racism in America, one can only wonder if it is true.
             Proposition 187 was designed to restrict the public benefits and services available to undocumented immigrants. Proposition 187 would require state and local law enforcement officers to attempt to verify the legal status of every person suspected of being in the United States in violation of the immigration laws and to notify the INS of the person's apparent illegal status. This law would also require public health and social service providers to verify that a potential recipient is a U.S. citizen or otherwise lawfully in the country. If the agency reasonably suspects that the person is unlawfully in the country, it cannot provide benefits or services to that person and must notify the Immigration and Naturalization Service. The details of the education provisions of Proposition 187 deserve careful attention as well. Under the law, no public elementary or
             secondary school shall admit, or permit the attendance of, any child who is not a citizen of the United States or in the country unlawfully.
             We must consider the impacts of Proposition 187, if it is ever implemented.
             An important aspect of Proposition 187 is that its costs might well outweigh any benefits.
             The fact that the potential savings promised by Proposition 187 were dwarfed by ...