Illegal Immigration, Fairness and Apartheid
Last Friday, Arizona Governor Jan Brewer signed State Bill 1070 into law. The reformed immigration law states, “The provisions of this act are intended to work together to discourage and deter the unlawful entry and presence of aliens and economic activity by persons unlawfully present in the United States.” Its intent couldn’t be any clearer. Basing the decision on the Federal Government’s clear dereliction of duty to protect what George Will calls “the essential attribute of national sovereignty,” Arizonans decided to expand law enforcement’s reach in cracking down on illegal aliens. In the few days since its passage we have seen mass protests and arrests, groups already suing, political jockeying and emotional rabble-rousing to the third degree.
But before we all take sides on this highly volatile issue we should first attempt to understand the facts underlying the situation, as well as the arguments both sides are using to placate the others.
- As of 2007, the Federation for American Immigration Reform estimates there are over 460,000 illegal immigrants currently calling Arizona home. The entire population of Arizona is estimated at around 6.5 million. The financial drain nearly half a million illegal immigrants have on social welfare programs, schools, hospitals, prisons and the overall economy is obvious and immense. AZ residents are being forced to underwrite the costs of over 7% of their population who consume far more social services than the taxes they put in to the state.
- A Rasmussen poll found that 70% of Arizona residents support the legislation, and another poll found that over 60% of all Americans favor similar legislation. The law as written will allow local officers to question citizenship status of persons with whom they believe “Reasonable Suspicion Exists.” Though they are merely enforcing at the local level and making a state crime one that is already federal, the difference is that the old statute would only allow for citizenship questioning if they were being held or questioned for other offenses.
- One-third of Arizona residents are Hispanic. And racial profiling is still prohibited under this law. Arizona State Senator Russell Pearce one of the bill’s co-sponsors said this, “In fact, we put profiling as an illegal issue in the bill. We codified it. We made sure people can’t racially profile.”
- Federal law states that those here illegally are committing a federal crime. There have been countless murders and other violent offenses by illegal immigrants in Arizona, culminating with the murder of Rancher Robert Krentz in March. Governor Brewer stated at the signing of the bill, “Border related violence and crime due to illegal immigration are critically important issues for the people of our state.” She also issued an executive order which will require additional training for officers in regards to the bills implementation and avoidance of racial profiling.
- Down in Mexico, the crime of being an illegal immigrant is a felony, one that can get your 2 years in prison under a system that doesn’t value due process as much as the United States
- Both political sides have dragged their feet in tackling the issue of illegal immigration. Ronald Reagan famously gave a path to citizenship for some 2.7 million illegals under the guise of securing the border going forward. That never happened. Now we have easily over 12 million illegals. In 2007 Americans overwhelmingly rejected a “path –to-citizenship” plan pushed by John McCain. Democratic groups have longed pushed for greater legal immigration and opening of our borders for future voting blocks. Republican groups have long shied away from cracking down due to the desire for cheap labor and self preservation from a hot button issue.
Now let’s take a look at who the opponents of this bill are as well as the arguments being used against it.
Opponents:
- Certain civil rights groups and Hispanic Lobby groups, Immigrant Advocacy groups, The National Day-Laborer Organizing Network, La Raza, Al Sharpton, Jesse Jackson, The ACLU, Attorney General Eric Holder, and President Obama, etc.
Comments and Arguments against the bill:
- Jesse Jackson – “It is a punitive, negative, un-constitutional law, which presumes guilt and selectively punishes Latinos.” “Really it’s a form of terrorism for the innocent.”
- Mayor of Phoenix Phil Gordon – When asked by Laura Ingraham whether or not the bill was very popular with Arizona residents, he replied “Yes but so was discrimination in the south and in Nazi Germany they had 100%.
- New York Times columnist Paul Krugman – When asked whether or not failure to secure the border was a federal failure forcing states to act he replied, “We have never put in enough money is what it comes down to enforce the border. It’s not a deep issue of principle it’s a question of resources. Demanding that we set up a system which will turn us into one of those apocryphal foreign authoritarian regimes.”
- Atlanta Journal Constitution columnist Cynthia Tucker – “it harkens back to apartheid. A rancher was killed apparently by drug smugglers, but this has absolutely no bearing on that problem. All it does is open the door for harassment of citizens.”
- National Day Laborer Organizing Network Counsel Chris Newman – “This is the most racist bill that we’ve seen in a generation.”
- Arizona Congressman Raul Grijalva – “By signing the law, the governor basically codified into state law racial profiling, violation of civil rights, due process and constitutional violations.”
- Former Arizona State Senator Alfredo Gutierrez – “This bill has absolutely nothing to do with the border…it’s about racial profiling.” “This bill is about intimidation and harassment… What is the public purpose of stopping someone and asking everyone in their car for their papers when they’re on their way to synagogue or to church.”
Let the debate rage on. I’m curious to hear where popular sentiment resides. Seems that the left has finally decided to draw a line in the sand in regards to where government authority should cease.
3conservativebros
MacGregor
Johnny M
Timmy K
There is a lot wrong with this law, and its a law that shouldnt have needed to be passed. But it was needed, and Im glad to see a state take action to protect itself since the federal government has not taken it seriously for decades. National politicians use immigration for nothing more than posturing — the few that have taken it seriously such as McCain can not get comprehensive reform passed in their legislative bodies.
Also, the law allows police to be sued if the person filing the complaint says the police arent doing enough to search for illegal immigrants. Does that seem like a good plan? No wonder so many AZ police are speaking out against the law.
I dont like the idea of people having to carry with them papers identifying their citzenship. A little too communist for my liking. But, AZ has a major problem that the federal government has failed to address. At least they have finally taken action instead of allowing them to get run over by the illegal immigration problem. Unfortunately, all the practicality in this case is being buried underneath the 10,000 stories claiming racism, terrorism, etc. I find it humorous the numerous leftists that Ive seen claim they are making it illegal to be an illegal immigrant. IT’S ALWAYS BEEN ILLEGAL! Just finally one state had enough, and decided to take action.
Johnny, I haven’t heard a lot about the problems with this law. I am mostly hearing that this law mimicking the federal law.
You don’t like the idea of people carrying papers identifying their citizenship? I do. Do you know that it is already federal law that legal aliens have to carry their green card? As far as ID, the law didn’t expand upon anything only reinforce it.
Johny,
I think you touched on the most obvious issue with the AZ law. Why they decided to allow officers to be sued for not enforcing the law rigorously enough is a bit odd. I assume that’s a provision specifically added to force officers to crack down like they do here in Michigan for seat belts. But, with the left already going ape shit I’m not looking forward to the blow back from so-called civil rights groups alleging human rights violations and blah blah.
I haven’t read through the entire bill yet but i think ur looking at it incorrectly. From what i understand is that it wont force all Hispanic looking people to carry around citizenship documentation at all times, it will simply make it more important for people to carry the various forms of State Identification on them, esp when acting suspiciously or committing other crimes. It will also expand the authority under given circumstances for local enforcement to be able to ask for identification. Simple as that.
If you followed the press releases from the Mexican President, as well as the warning they issued to Mexicans about traveling to Arizona, you can see that the bill is already working. Call me cynical but i typically give the benefit of the doubt to authority figures like police officers and don’t immediately assume the worst. Esp considering the high Hispanic population already in AZ. People there I’m sure are not xenophobic racist fascist hate mongering civil rights tramplers as the left is trying to paint them.
Its standard typical tactics coming from the left when they disagree with something. The real kicker here is that they keep talking about civil rights and discriminate and apartheid and Nazi Germany and terrorism, but never mention the REAL CITIZENS, their rights, their freedom, or the RULE OF LAW that Eric Holder constantly invokes when letting the Black Panthers off scot free or investigating our CIA for alleged abuse of terrorists.. Its a joke if you ask me.
Your argument is valid to me…I think I may have got caught up a little too much in the media hysteria and not the rationality of the law. The more I listen to the detractors, the more I see their opinions are not based on the practicality of the AZ immigration problem, and not reading the bill at all. Im hearing idiots boycotting AZ companies and even Arizona Iced Tea…which is made in NY…it seems that we have a lot of lib arguments based on falsehoods and hypotheticals.
By the way – what happens to the detractors if the law works?
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20100429/ap_on_re_us/us_immigration_day_labor_3
Great post Dan, I haven’t been able to follow this at all. I love hearing all the crazy quotes from our so called leaders. On the way to work today, I was listening to Hannity and he specifically said that police being able to stop people on the sole suspicion of citizenship is not in the bill. Are you 100% percent about that? Maybe, I just misunderstood him.
I will never argue with a state doing anything it thinks is in its best interest. I just think that is the way the founding fathers intended it to be. As always, I believe the left is grossly exaggerating this laws infringement upon civil rights. I think it is similar to the airport security situation. Whatever it takes to keep us safe is alright with me.
The other question I have is, can’t police officers stop you for just about any reason anyways? I was pulled over in my truck late one night on the suspicion of tinted windows. My windows are completely clear and there is no way they could tell anyway at 2 in the morning. I think it is the police’s job to assess situations and question anyone they feel. It seems to me the only change is now they have the right to search for proof of citizenship.
Thanks Timmy. I havent read the whole thing yet, but it give officers the authority to question those or ask for id from those they believe reasonable suspicion exists.. And yes that can be taken in many ways, but officers have to make those types of calls probably dozens of times a day on a myriad of other issues.
Think of the 4th amendment and our right from unreasonable search and seisure. Same principle, and it all comes down to how you view illegal immigration, and how you view your local policemen and women, and what lengths you believe the state can acceptibly engage in to provide safety to its law abiding citizens..
The arguments the liberals are using are so preposterous that many of them in a rational world would be laughed off the stage. Aside from my quotes, for instance, Eugene Robinson, pulizter winner and regular on Olbermann. He just couldnt understand how the tea partiers can be against big encroaching govt but yet be in favor of this law in any way.. That shows you that he doesnt undertstand the right, what they really stand for, and he doesnt view illegal immigration as a serious problem..
THen others will wail about a police state and violation of human rights and blah blah, but then turn around and tell us that Health Insurance is a right that should be provided by the state, then say how we should have a single payer health system and that our welfare state should be increased.. At least we can understand the differences. Like how we were skeptically in favor of certain measures GW did to keep us safe. When it comes to sovereignty and safety, the left and the right are just on different worlds. As i said, its a joke.
Ok, once again with clarity from Judge Napolitano. He says the law only comes into effect AFTER “legal contact” has been established. Then the “reasonable suspicion” part comes into play.
I think this point is pretty important to kill the racial profiling stuff. This is a great example of misinformation how a little misinformation from the media goes a long way.
this was a great article. however i thought you could have expanded on Mexican Illegal aliens laws and how its strange that they are talking trash about this new law. frankly our law enforcement needs an ass whoopin! for not enforcing the law prior to this.
[…] In the post by MacGregor earlier this week, he quoted the local Arizona polling right after the law passed that said 70% of citizens in Arizona support the law. Now, if you research the demographics, in 2008 – 30% of the population in Arizona reported they are at least partially Hispanic. Unless 100% of non-Hispanic residents supported the bill in the poll, the resonable assumption is that some level of legal Hispanics realize the negative effect illegal immigration is having on the state economy, health care, education, etc. […]
[…] In the post by MacGregor earlier this week, he quoted the local Arizona polling right after the law passed that said 70% of citizens in Arizona support the law. Now, if you research the demographics, in 2008 – 30% of the population in Arizona reported they are at least partially Hispanic. Unless 100% of non-Hispanic residents supported the bill in the poll, the reasonable assumption is that some level of legal Hispanics realize the negative effect illegal immigration is having on the state economy, health care, education, etc. […]
Most people in America aren’t against immigration; they’re just against illegal immigration. For example, like most of our ancestors, my mother’s parents were immigrants. They came through Ellis Island and followed the various legal steps required in order to establish themselves as true citizens of this country. The immigrants crossing the Mexican border, however, have absolutely no interest in following these legal protocols. Once they cross the border, they change their names and/or purchase social security numbers in an effort to conceal their true identities from the law. It is not uncommon for an illegal immigrant to purchase not one, but two or more social security numbers, just in case one is flagged. I have witnessed this crime with my own eyes. (One day, a supposedly legal immigrant was asked to give their social security card to a receptionist for a job application and an interview. When the receptionist happened to ask to see the card a second time, the immigrant mistakenly handed over a different social security card with the same name on it, but with a completely different set of numbers…)
Don’t get me wrong: I’m not against Hispanics. I have many Hispanic friends, but they either have green cards to work in the United States or have become legal citizens. They decided to follow the rule of law and work within the boundaries of our legal system. Unfortunately, many immigrants do not, and it is those particular individuals that we are most concerned about.
Now it seems that those who sympathize with illegal immigrants wish to hijack the discussion of reform by attacking the law recently imposed by the State of Arizona through protests and boycotts; a state mind you, that has been besieged with crime, drugs and an ever-increasing population of illegal immigrants. Don’t allow them this option. Speak out and take action. This is your country… fight for it.
In closing, I consider myself to be a bleeding-heart liberal: a Democrat. My ancestor, Roger Williams – the founder of Rhode Island and founder of the First Baptist Church in America, was one too; regarding the acceptance of different nationalities, cultures and religions as the vitality and lifeblood of any country. Nevertheless, I think that he would agree with me; that immigrants wishing to become legal citizens have not only the obligation, but the civil and legal responsibility to follow the rules of law established by any country in which they wish to become authentic citizens, just as our ancestors – both yours and mine – struggled so arduously and righteously to achieve.
De-
Thanks for visiting and taking the time to comment.
In regards to your stance on immigration and the AZ Law; I couldnt agree with you more and appreciate the common sense here. Luckily im a conservative so there’s no need to put forth the notion that you are not against all hispanics in any regard, i understand that most people are reasonable and prefer the security of their families and localities as opposed to some of the irrational open-bordres proponents.
This AZ debate has been driving me nuts over the past week, but i do see a silver lining in the mix of racial and emotionally absurd epithets… Its another opportunity to see where mainstream democrats and media really stand in regards to the rest of the country, and to our sovereignty, and for that matter the founding of our country. For ex when a respected news org lead with a comment of Arizona’s Anti-Immigration Law, we already know they’re playing their hand. Grouping illegals and immigrants together to vilify conservatives is reckless.
“. . . a Democrat.. . . was one too; regarding the acceptance of different nationalities, cultures and religions as the vitality and lifeblood of any country.”
Huh? Seems to me that idea is absolutely opposite to reality, history, and to the theory of american exceptionalism…
[…] you understand my issue and anger here? The groundwork has been laid over the past week and a half, and the positions clearly articulated, and now it’s time that we […]
[…] you understand my issue and anger here? The groundwork has been laid over the past week and a half, and the positions clearly articulated, and now it’s time that we […]
This to inform you of a person living and working in the United States illegally.The names that this person assumes are as follows: Gabriela Sanchez (her niece), Karla P. Durazo (her aunt), Patty Durazo (her sister),Julieta Sanchez (her aunt), Patty/Patricia Sanchez (her sister/her niece) Rocio Sanchez (her sister), Mayra Viramontes (her cousin), Karen Durazo (her cousin),Kenya Durazo (her cousin), Karina Sanchez (her cousin). All of the names assumed by her can be substantiated through her facebook account which is under the name Gabby Sanchez. Her Employer (who is married to Elona Shaw) whom she is having an affair with is: Dr. Larry Stark 3201 W. Peoria Ave # A-100 Phoenix, AZ 85029. Her assumed Social Security # is her Aunt’s Soc. Sec. # 611-32-7757 (Karla P.Durazo) who actually lives in California. The birthdates used May 17, 1968 & March 26, 1972 etc… She drives a pathfinder with AZ lic. # AHT4587. Her address is: 2220 W. Mission Ln. #1095 Phoenix, AZ 85017 SRP Acct # 919-863-000 Her Phone #602-628-3116 (All compliments of Dr. Larry Stark including Breast implants, plastic surgery, Full Medical & Dental, Gym membership etc…). This young woman makes it easier for other illegals to obtain medications including narcotics and evade citizenship tests through the Doctors office that she works in. Also supplying them with false identification and documentation.
I am very concerned about the illegal activities (Document Fraud, Identity Theft,Conducting crimes in America) that she is involved in. Please address the above issues as soon as possible.
Concerned Citizen