New Arizona law requiring immigrants to carry documentation "opens the door to hatred" (+ analysis); Australia shelves its emissions trading scheme until 2013; Iran looks for uranium in Zimbabwe; US and Israel relations thaw; and more

Top of the Agenda: Calderón Condemns Arizona Immigrant Law

Mexican President Felipe Calderón criticized an aggressive new immigration law in Arizona requiring legal immigrants to carry documentation of their status. Calderón said the measure "opens the door to intolerance and hatred" (WashPost). Police will also be permitted to question anyone they "reasonably suspect" of being undocumented. The law becomes active in ninety days. Arizona Governor Jan Brewer (R) said the costs of illegal immigration and lack of federal enforcement required her to act at the state level. Mexican officials said the law could hurt trade, tourism, and bilateral ties. Calderón said the measure would top the agenda for his May visit with US President Barack Obama, who has called the measure "misguided."

Critics say the legislation will compel police to enforce both criminal and immigration law (CSMonitor), which will often not be possible to do simultaneously.

Analysis:

The Economist says immigration brings "the best ideas from around the world to American shores" and serves as a source of soft power for the United States. But an unemployment rate of 10 percent makes immigration reform difficult.

CFR's Edward Alden writes that Arizona's new immigration law is unwise, unworkable, and probably unconstitutional; and the rest of the country is to blame.

Background:

Read this CFR Task Force Report on US immigration policy.

 

PACIFIC RIM: EU Trade Commissioner on China Yuan

European Union Trade Commissioner Karel De Gucht said he expects China to gradually adjust its exchange rate (WSJ), but did not think pressuring China through trade actions would quicken the process.

South Korea: South Korea's growth accelerated more than expected (Bloomberg) last quarter, boosted by electronic sales and consumer spending.

Australia: The Australian government shelved plans (SydneyMorningHerald) to launch its flagship emissions-trading scheme until at least 2013 after the Senate repeatedly voted down the measure.

Read CFR's Asia Unbound blog, featuring timely analysis from CFR's Asia experts.

 

ELSEWHERE:

Obama Renews Middle East Peace Push

Iran and Zimbabwe Discuss Uranium Deal

Clashes Plague Ukraine's Russia Deal

 

This is an excerpt of the CFR.org Daily News Brief. The full version is available on CFR.org.