I recommend checking out this blog post by the Bird: Joe Arpaio's deputies placed "hold" on U.S. Citizen Israel Correa, failed to inform ICE.
It appears that Correa was attempting to exercise his rights, even though it is not a right to drive without a license and therefore since he had one, it would've made more sense to show it right away. The immigrants rights movement has been educating people about their rights, advising that the less said the better. Since we all have the right to remain silent and not incriminate ourselves, it is better to give the cops nor ICE anything to use against us. Clearly it makes sense for all of us to do this whether or not we're "legal", no matter our color. This makes it easier for the undocumented.
Perhaps Correa didn't show his ID because of this. Or perhaps he suspected he was being asked to prove his legal right to be in the country, something he shouldn't have to do as a citizen, and no one, in my opinion, should have to do at all.
But i think the point is more about whether anyone deserves the treatment Correa got for having brown skin and an accent. What if a driver forgets his/her license while driving? Is then the burden of proof on them to avoid deportation or at least lengthy detention and questioning? Well, not likely if they're white.
About a month ago, the Scottsdale police also announced they would be asking “for proof of citizenship from every suspect they arrest†as the Arizona Daily Star words it, and calling ICE on those who were suspected of being undocumented.
With the increased intentional targeting of undocumented people, we are going to see changes to all of our rights. We will no longer be innocent until proven guilty, especially folks who with brown skin and accents.
