Washington (CNN) -- Police chiefs from about a dozen cities are scheduled to meet with U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder today to talk about concerns they have with Arizona's new immigration law. The group includes police chiefs from Phoenix (Police Chief Jack Harris) and Tucson (Police Chief Roberto Villaseñor) in Arizona; Los Angeles, California; and Houston, Texas.The chiefs will tell Holder that they worry the new law will "drive a wedge" between the community and police, and damage the trust that officers have worked to build "over many years," according to a statement by the group. Arizona's law allows officers to check the residency status of anyone who is being investigated for a crime or possible legal infraction -- if there is reasonable suspicion the person is an illegal resident.
(Extremist) Proponents say Arizona need the law to crack down on the illegal immigration problem in the state. Critics have said the law will promote racial profiling. The law has received extreme backlash since it was passed in April.
Critics of the law have conducted several protests marches. The ACLU and a coalition of civil rights groups filed a lawsuit challenging its constitutionality. Cities have contemplated boycotting Arizona because of the law to put economic pressure on the state. The group attending Wednesday's meeting also comprises of chiefs of police from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; Minneapolis, Minnesota; San Jose, California; Salt Lake City, Utah; Sahuarita, Arizona; Montgomery County, Maryland; and the president of Arizona's Association of Chiefs of Police. After the meeting Wednesday, the group will hold a news conference.
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