Could Arizona Immigration Law Come to Texas?

HOUSTON - Emotions continue to boil over three days after Arizona legislators sign into law a bill that makes it a state crime to be an illegal immigrant in that state.

Like Arizona, Texas shares a border with Mexico, and like Arizona, illegal immigration is a big issue in the 'Lone Star State.'

On any given day, along any given street in the Heights district of Houston, day laborers stake out their turf, hoping someone will come along and give them some sort of work.

And in Arizona, where scenes like this are also an everyday occurrence, a new law will make it a state crime starting in the summer of 2010.

"I want you to know that racial profiling is illegal," said Arizona Governor Jan Brewer, in response to critics who have argued the law will lead to rampant racial profiling.

Since Friday, there have been nationwide protests, vandalism on the windows of Arizona's state capitol and even reaction from the White House.

"We have asked the Department of Justice to study the impact of the law on citizens' civil rights," said Robert Gibbs, White House Press Secretary

Arizona's law has no impact on Texas, but it is something that local lawmakers are talking about.

"I hope it's not contagious and I hope we don't catch it," said State Representative Carol Alvarado (D-Houston).

The controversial decision to give police the authority to question people about their immigration status also burned up talk radio in the Houston area.

"A lot of people don't want to be (perceived as anti Hispanic," said radio talk show host Michael Berry. "A lot of people don't want to beat down a poor group of people, some of whom come to this country because they're poor."

Most of Berry's callers seemed to favor the big move in Arizona, but Alvarado says that Texas cities cannot afford to mimic Arizona.

"They don't really understand what type of burden this puts on law enforcement," said Alvarado.