Monday, June 28, 2010
Legislature Governor Ignores ACLU, Signs Anti-Immigration Bill
Posted by Jeff Woods on Mon, Jun 28, 2010 at 5:20 PM
"I believe there has been significant political posturing on this issue. While I do have concerns about this legislation, this bill seeks to set up a verification process similar to what exists in our state's major cities, and I have been supportive of these efforts."
This is the bill that the ACLU urged the governor to veto. ACLU director Hedy Weinberg called it un-American and warned it would lead to racial profiling. Once again, we have been witness to the awesome influence of the ACLU in this state. Who needs civil liberties anyway?
For more from Weinberg, see The City Paper interview.
Comments (74)
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I think we need to quit calling hateful intolerance un-American and call it what it has become, neo-American.
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as this neo-American (I like that) hateful intolerance spreads across the red states, we all need to step back and really think about these issues. 40% of "illegal immigrants" are those who entered the country legally and overstayed their visas. why isn't that as big a story as the Arizona border? how about the fact that violent crime rates in Arizona are at the lowest they've been since 1967?
words of wisdom from some of our (musical) partners in Arizona:
An Open Letter to All Artists Boycotting Arizona
As a political activist and 15-year independent concert promoter in Arizona, I feel a deep obligation to speak out about the real world effects of artists boycotting the state in protest of SB 1070, the recent anti-immigration bill passed by the legislature and signed into law by our (unelected) Governor. While I respect the intentions of the artists protesting what they find to be an unjust law, the practical effect of the boycott is resulting in exactly the opposite of their good-willed intentions.
By not performing in Arizona, artists are harming the very people and places that foster free speech and the open exchange of ideas that serve to counter the closed-mindedness recently displayed by the new law. The people who will feel the negative effects of the boycott the deepest are local concert venues, including non-profit art house theatres, independent promoters, motivated fans, and the hundreds of people employed in the local music business. If the boycott continues, it is all but guaranteed that some of these venues will be forced to close their doors.
Think of it this way: What if otherwise outspoken and inspirational activists like Martin Luther King, Jr. had turned their backs on the State of Alabama and its citizens because they didn’t agree with the discriminatory practices of its government during the critical years of the civil rights movement? What would have happened if they had chosen to boycott Alabama rather than speak out, organize, and effect change?
We are faced with a similar situation in Arizona today. The legislators currently in office don’t care if outspoken artists boycott the state. The people responsible for SB 1070 don't want you here. They don't want your voices heard. And as a result of the boycott, they are the only ones who benefit. In effect, the decision to boycott is playing right into their hands.
As Curtis McCrary, the general manager of the non-profit Rialto Theatre in Tucson recently stated, “The individuals and organizations behind this bill are...more than likely delighted about the prospect of politically vocal artists canceling shows – silencing themselves rather than using the platform their status as artists gives them to speak out against SB 1070.”
The truth is, a boycott is an easy gesture that doesn’t require much more than a statement and removing a date from your tour schedule. However, if you truly care about the effects of the controversial immigration law that was passed, this is an opportunity to use your unique position as an artist with the ability to reach thousands of people to inspire, educate, and motivate your fans to actively be a part of the change.
I have felt and seen the effects of what artists can do to change peoples' lives individually and as a whole. In this important midterm election year, it is imperative that the voters are organized and prepared to express their views about the recent law at the voting booths in November. Every concert venue and promoter in the state would be happy to help coordinate voter registration drives and set up information booths in connection with concerts. Many of us are already planning specific events, including rallies and benefit concerts, designed to educate and encourage local music lovers to get involved at this crucial time.
This open letter is a call out to all artists to come take a stand and perform in Arizona. We need you now more than ever.
If you are interested in exploring ways to help us, including voter outreach and organizing with local non-profits, or you just want more information, please feel free to contact me atcharlie@statesidepresents.com.
Charlie Levy
Stateside Presents
Charlie Levy - Your concert idea has merit. Representatives of national organization should explore this venture with you. I'll be looking for your announcement.
There are 10 to 12 million illegal immigrants in this country, the vast majority of whom would like to become citizens and eligible for welfare handouts which would total in the billions of dollars per year. The population of Mexico is around 111 million. How many of them must cross into our country before everybody realizes enough is enough? In California 50 percent of the population is minorities as is 80 percent of the prison population. 75 percent of the recent most wanted pictures posted in the Tennessean were latino.
Latinos have proven to be hard workers, but they're a strain on our school systems and bring crime and graffiti to our neighborhoods. When their children are born here they are automatically American citizens and eligible for welfare benefits which most of them will collect because of their parents low income. It's hard not to sympathize with hard working people but the reality is that when they become citizens (and they will)
they will also become a massive drain of tax dollars.
"Latinos.....are a strain on our school systems and bring crime and graffiti to our neighborhoods."
Amen brother!!!!! I would go one further though and say that it is brown people in general who do this! There is an illegal brown horde that is taking over our country and the libtards are just sitting around and letting it happen. Glenn Beck says that Hussein Obama is actually in the process of secretly making citizens out of all illegal brown people so they can vote for him next election. What he's not counting on is patriots like me and Glen Beck calling him out from the rooftops!!!!! We will not be silenced!!!!!
The Governor knows which way the wind is blowing on this issue. We need to address the illegal immigration problem in the United States. The problem with our wide open borders is not just exploited Latinos coming into the country but drug cartels committing murders all along the southwestern United States, and Islamo Fascists.
The states are doing what the federal government because of political correctness and liberal insanity is unable to do, and that is defend their citizens.
All governors by the way should ignore the ACLU.
Nashville needs to decide what their position on illegal immigrants didn't karl Dean give a speech calling for all nashvillians including hispanics to help restore nashville back after the flood. Okay I get it, Nashville wants them to clean up gaylord and downtown but then kick them out after the dirty work is done . Intolerants is the main reason nashville is dying economically, no foreign company will move here and have their worker treated like crap.The english only was embrassing enough now we are mirror ourselves after Arizona, this is not a major issue here.Politicans need to be working on the buget ,why isn't any media outlet talking about the budget cuts that will drastic hurt the average nashvillian.
All during the 80's and 90's I watched daily as tractor trailer rigs stopped on the Jackson Ave exit in Memphis . 40 to 60 illegal mexicans would jump out and scatter like cockroaches . Today the whole area looks like a Mexican welfare slum run by MS 13. I don't know what the big deal is about having a ID on yourself. The Memphis Cops have beat my ass down more than a few times for refusing to show a ID , and race ain't got a friggen thing to do with it cuz , yeah I'm a WHITE MAN . You idiots better wake up before your whole country is gone ! Thank you Mr Governor for taking the first step, Now let's go after those anchor babies next !
you want illegals out?? well, start fining businesses that hire them. illegals won't come here if they can't work. or build a huge fucking wall. but that's not going to pay for itself, and I don't want to hear any teabagging crybabies squealing like fat little pigs when we have to raise taxes to cover it.
face it, conservatives. the politicians you have backed over the last 30 years have turned a blind eye to this problem because they shill for corporatists who rely on dirt cheap illegal labor.
Unauthorized immigration is illegal. So is exceeding the posted speed limit. Illegal does NOT equal criminal. Many hard working conservatives calling for harsh measures against unauthorized residents in the U.S. wouldn't think twice about driving above the posted speed limit to get to their next meeting as part of working their way up the economic ladder. Most of these hard working people have broken our immigration laws for exactly the same reason, and in many cases they are breaking the same class of ordinance.
That said, the corporate elite in the U.S. love that we are at each other arguing these issues instead of complaining about the vast sums of wealth corporate boards and executive suites are taking out of our capitalistic system. Capitalism works for everyone when most of the monetary gain in corporations is re-invested in growing production and employing more folks. Since the early 1980's, and especially since the late 1990's advent of derivative trading, a growing percentage of corporate gain has been removed from businesses as private wealth for executives. They are laughing all the way to their overseas banks while we quibble about folks at the precise opposite end of the economy struggling to improve the lot of improverished families. Beck, Limbaugh, Hannity, et al are but the corporate shills that keep our blinders on.
and if you're still really mad 'cause "they terk ooour jeeerbs", well just sign on to take them back. http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/37906555/ns/bu…
these fat panty-waisted teatards wouldn't last two hours
WVFII,
Dang, I wish I had waited for your post. I could have saved all that typing and just said:
AMEN!
"We're talking about legislation that basically requires anyone who talks or looks like a foreigner to carry documentation proving they're in this country legally"
That's what has been claimed for SB1017, and it's of course not true. So rather than asking us to take your word for this, perhaps you could provide a link to the bill that the Governor signed and let us make up our own minds.
Tom Chadwell, Arizona does penalize companies who hire illegals. We started it in 2007. The Feds challenged us and Arizona won. Now with 1070, the feds are challenging that law again. We will win again. SB1070 does not write in new laws, it enforces EXISTING laws. The Feds have failed Arizona. SB1070 allows local Police officers to uphold existing laws. Most opponents have not read it thoroughly, else they would have seen that. Besides, when an American citizen is pulled over, don't they have to provide driver's license and proof of insurance? Or SSN when applying for a credit card, ID when you want to drink etc? There are many ways on a daily basis where people have to prove who they are and whether they are here illegally or not.
I agree - we got into this mess b/c we didn't want the jobs that Latinos value and are happy to have. I also agree that the Reps. turned a blind eye to illegal activity b/c of their own selfish agenda. This is sort of a replay of slavery days with a twist. Now it's the same deal in one respect: we have another wolf by the ears. I still say kudos to any governor who takes it into his/her own hands to pass legislation, b/c I don't think the feds want a secure border anyway. If they did, we would have one - just like everything else that is top priority in DC - it happens! As for the ACLU - we are way past politicallly correct encumberance - that deal is going to bury us.
Tom: actually, your thoughtful reasoned rhetoric is a nice counterpart to my crotchety pre-morning coffee bitchfest.
@ Doyle These are the AZ crime stats as of 2008 from 1960:
http://www.disastercenter.com/crime/azcrim…
Can you provide stats from 2008 - present to support your claim?
Are you satisfied with crime 'down' and how relative is your claim? Is crime 'down' by non-Hispanic, or, 'up' by Illegals?
The reality of the situation is this: Crime being 'down' or not, is still rampant in border towns, on up to Phoenix area and spreading. Much of it perpetrated by Illegals.
sb1070 is a solid and workable bill. Only those who wish to keep the chaos going in this state and our country, which, is perpetrated in a large part by violent/drug dealing Illegals, who, kill US citizens and THEIR OWN PEOPLE, would want this bill abolished.
It's not sane, or, patriotic, to endorse any invasion upon our soil.
Wow. You know, I went to China on two different occasions. The ENTIRE TIME I was there (5 weeks total) I had to keep documentation on me at all times. I had a Visa that was good for a limited time and I had to be out of the country by the time it expired. My documents were checked several times while I was there. I expected it. I wasn't offended by it. SO WHATS THE BIG DEAL.........???? The Law is the law. If you are not a citizen, you need to carry your proper documentation with you. When your visa expires... be out of the country. If not, expect to be deported. If you want to live here, follow the rules.
wvfii:
"you want illegals out?? well, start fining businesses that hire them. illegals won't come here if they can't work."
Arizona's SB1070 includes provisions for that. It's been billed as just going after people who don't speak English. But in fact a) it only permits inquiring about the immigration status of someone the cops have picked up for some non-immigration related offense, and b) there are plenty of other provisions going after employers of illegal aliens, including not just fines but actual revocation of their business licenses, which puts them out of business entirely!
"or build a huge fucking wall. but that's not going to pay for itself, and I don't want to hear any teabagging crybabies squealing like fat little pigs when we have to raise taxes to cover it."
Members of the Tea Party movement have no problems with the Federal Government spending money on it's Constitutionally-defined duties - among which is defending the border. What they have a problem with is the Feds a) doing things that it has no Constitutional mandate to do and b) raising taxes to pay for them.
"Illegal does not equal criminal?" Hmmmmm..... You go on to complain about capitalism and wealthy executives. If they are doing anything illegal I'm sure they are glad you won't consider them criminals.
I can tell you as an Arizonan, an American, and a Christian, its not brown people that are under attack here. Its our economy, welfare,healthcare,security, and the entire core values that started our once great country. My family came here when the immigrants wanted to be Americans, wave a flag, speak their minds, work for a living with the real possibility of success through hard work that wasn't available in their home country. Now any lazy bum can step across the border and live comfortably without hard work because some bleeding heart limo-liberal feels sorry for them. Tell me what makes a mexican defector more important, or take the front of the immigration line over someone that travels here from maybe Africa, somalia, ethiopia, or anywhere else in the world. People dying by the hundreds have no ability to run to the US for safety because the thousands a day from our south choking the entire immigration system. Seal the border,deport the thousands working under stolen identity, and follow the same laws that opened the path to American citizenship for the rest of America. 1070 is just the start, And the majority of Americans (the intelligent majority, agree) the bleeding heart ignorant libs are more than welcome to move to Canada and Mexico since they seem to love socialism and corruption so stronly. Bye Bye. Ill be here loving my country, its frredoms, and its constitution that we will be protecting.
Woods, you nor Hedy give a rat's ass about civil liberties unless it somehow furthers your statist agendas.
flygirl,
I said illegal does not equal criminal. I didn't say they are never the same. You do know the difference between civil and criminal offenses, right? It is also possible for something in our system to be unethical, immoral, and still perfectly legal.
Well as far as crime being down it isn't in phx where people are kidnapped and tortured. Do you know how inhumanely those trying to cross for a better life are treated? Coyotes have rape trees they nail the panties of women they have raped. Families are extorted for money. If the bleeding heart liberals refuse to see how this legislature stops these ehinous acts, you are turning a ablind eye. I live in az we are broke because of the overload of illegals who get into wrecks with 25 people stuffed in a van that all get treated in our emergency rooms not to mentio those sitting in a prison waiting to be deported at our expense. We have a prison that is filled with nothing but illegals. Most of these people are muling drugs, smuggling people or escaping the law in their own country. If you had these scumbags walking through yor back yard, opening fire on your law enforcement with semi automatic machine guns you'd sing a different tune. It's ok to be liberal, I was one, I was happy in my imaginary world. Wake up people, we are being overrun by drug cartels and criminals with no sense of humanity right in our own backyard!
flygirl,
One more thing. I did NOT complain about captialism. I complained about corporate abuses that limit the benefits capitalism. That's different. Adam Smith is a hero to most of the free-market preachers in our country. What they fail to mention is that Smith thought corporations were a detriment to captialism as they represented an impediment to free, fair competition.
Tom Chadwell ... I beg to differ "Illegal does NOT equal criminal" UH yes it does! Even the speeder IS a criminal ( http://www.yourdictionary.com/crime )
committing a crime = being a criminal.
For an illegal to work in the us they have to steal an identity (identity theft is a crime) unless they are working under the table thereby NOT paying any taxes (tax evasion is a crime) not to mention the Federal immigration laws they have violated!
A "previously owned" car is no less "used", it just sounds happier!
The state in which I reside requires I show proof of citizenship (passport or certified copy of birth certificate) to renew my driver's license. Therefore, wherever I go, I do have proof of my citizenship on my person. I've traveled to a number of countries in the course of my 60 years. In each and every one, I've been asked at some point to provide proof that I am, indeed, legally entitled to be there. I've also been questioned, at a border crossing whether my then 12 year old child was, in fact, my child. She was also questioned as to whether or not I was her mother, and why we were going where we were going. I have absolutely no problem with any of the questioning or requirements.
Some say AZ's law "may" lead to racial profiling. As far as I'm concerned, "may" is the operative word. To paraphrase Nancy Pelosi (blech) "I guess we're just going to have to try it to see".
FOR THE RECORD....If Canada was an impoverished 3rd world country and its citizens were entering the US illegally I would feel the exact same way! BUILD A FENCE, HAVE THE MILITARY ON THE BORDER, ETC.
And to all the liberals here...WHERE is your tolerance? "these fat panty-waisted teatards wouldn't last two hours" doesn't sound very tolerant!
We have a right to our opinion just as you do!
Dana,
If you commit a civil offense, that is a tort not a crime. Your equation doesn't balance.
Tom Chadwell..
What is the punishment for identity theft? jail
What is the punishment for Tax evasion? jail
Unless an illegal is independently wealthy he is breaking criminal law!
When was the last time you saw an independently wealthy illegal!
While you make the distinction between civil and criminal offenses, you have to recognize that civil offenses still have consequences. When you speed you may slip by, but sooner or later you get a giant ticket. If you do not pay your tickets, it can become a criminal offense. Since speeding is wrong, we all know it is, we just try to get away with it once in a while,in this logic, can you admit that Illegal immigration is wrong as well? What is the consequence for their actions? Should we issue them tickets first and then allow it to turn into a criminal offense and then start deportation? Are you saying that if a law gets broken enough it becomes ok? Just because everyone speeds does not make it ok. We all still agree it is a offense. You claim that a bigger issue is at hand, the greedy corporate elite. I can agree that they are horrible, but that does not change the fact that illegal immigration is wrong as well. Pointing out another problem in this country that you believe to be greater does not detract from the fact that undocumented immigration is still illegal, so what is so wrong about stopping a illegal act? We can move on to the injustice of the corporate elite right after we resolve this issue since we are on it. Under your logic, lets just ignore all misdemeanor offenses in society because there are much greater criminal offenses happening anyways. The there are bigger fish to fry logic can be applied in any situation because hey why spend resources on investigating robberies, we could use it on murderers and rapists instead, so lets redirect all police funds right? your logic implies that the ILLEGAL act of undocumented immigration is negligible in relation to the crime of the corporate elite, well robberies are negligible in relation to murders and rape crimes. If you can admit something is wrong, then we should fix it, if people stopped quibbling about everything, we might be able to move on to your issue of the corporate elite already.
I am first to feel the need to help anyone who needs shelter,food,clothing or medical care.This is,in my opinion,a helping hand.We are faced with millions who are recieving''hand outs''The left are providing these hand outs while passing the bill to the working puplic who cannot afford these programs or quallify for a helping hand when they need it,the money is gone,spent abroad in the form of hand outs.Our neighbors to the south should follow the same rules the rest of the world does in regards to our immigration policies.Since our pockets are emty and we are barely surviving,the left reaches into our pockets,without our permission and gives ,in the hopes of a kind nod of approval in the form of a Democratic vote.
Tom C..Dana made some good points, it's very telling how you replied to only one and ignored the rest of "the equation" because it didn't fit in with your reply.
Just because you choose to ignore parts of the equation doesn't make the equation unbalanced!
I pledge allegiance to the flags
of the Latino countries,
and to the invasion for which it stands,
one nation under fraud, divisible,
with no Liberty or Justice for Americans at all.
Anybody that doesn't want to check people who are obviously not citizens are not pro American. Their allegiance lies somewhere else. Our unemployment problem is HORRENDOUS and will never go away because our past prosperity was fraudulent and built on debt.
We're spending 100s of billions in Afghanistan when we have an abundance of enemy right here on our soil who favor illegal aliens over Americans. This has NOTHING to do with civil liberties but allegiance to the United States of America instead. Either you want Americans to be employed or you want an invasion of foreigners. Either you are a traitor to this country or you are not.
Native American Indians Found Out The Hard Way, What Happens When You Don't Control Immigration. Those who are not smart enough to learn from history are doomed to repeat it. This argument is silly. We have people who break the law by coming here in the first place, and you want these people to be forgave for stealing from the rightful citizens of the United States? They break the law by coming and they break it again by staying and you are short sighted enough to argue in favor of their rights as human beings... We have senior citizens starving who can't afford medication, who have to make a choice each month between electricity, food or medication. This week congress is considering cutting social security benefits in an effort to help balance the budget and yet you are saying we should continue with, food, housing and medical for people who are Breaking Our Laws, while tax paying citizens are being punished more and more each day..... Amazing, totally, unbelievably amazing.
whoa whoa guys, let's think about this. we're going to need lots of poor, uneducated brown people to fight in all our fake wars we can't afford.
I'm an immigrant, I came here in 1956. Before being naturalized we had to carry our green cards. Why is it that now carrying a green card is such an issue? your either here legally or illegally, if your the latter you are breaking the law. its as simple as that, yet there are those who say its racial. It is not racial, its the law of the land. If you don't like it you are fee to leave. There is a legal process for becoming an American, its not that hard to do if you really want it, and I feel it should be followed to the letter of the law.
There are several ways to get money,inherit it,work for it,sell something and of couse the easiest is to steal it.Criminal or civil,felony,misdemeanor.An ID theft with the intent to recieve money or services is,in my opinion,a crime requiring jail time and complete restitution.That is what would happen to me.Just like,avoiding your taxes,you can go to jail and still have to pay the tax with penalties.
"The Memphis Cops have beat my ass down more than a few times for refusing to show a ID , and race ain't got a friggen thing to do with it cuz....."
Look, "inthawoods", either you are making this up or you are incredibly stupid (or both). Why would anyone refuse to show an ID to a police officer? And you've done that more than a few times? Sounds like you've got a serious problem with authority.
WE DON'T NEED IMMIGRANTS WHATSOEVER. Congress has upped the quota to 1.1 million LEGAL immigrants a year. We CAN'T AFFORD 1.1 million more mouths to feed, shelter, educate etc.
Stop saying that they should go the legal route. If congress upped the quota to 10 million LEGAL immigrants a year, would you still be happy with that, simply because congress made it LEGAL.
That scumbag Obama is researching a means to bypass congress and write an executive order to give a mass amnesty. That's a LEGAL means to do so. Its not what Americans want but it would be LEGAL under our laws.
Again, I urge you to reconsider this notion about whether the immigrants are legal or illegal. WE DON'T NEED ANYMORE LABOR. Do you understand how many states have had to borrow money from the federal government because their unemployment funds have RUN OUT OF MONEY?!!! Put the clues together people. We are exporting jobs as fast as we can and importing people, legally and illegally, as fast as we can. Can you put 2 + 2 together. Yes, its just that simple.
Pandora,
I let Dana make her points, but since you asked...
Identity theft is a crime, so charge'em, deport'em. Nobody questions that. It's an enforcement issue that doesn't require new laws. Tax evasion is a crime, but if they are using a false identity they must be paying taxes? Did it occur to either of you that millions of dollars are being paid into social security and medicaid by folks using stolen identities who will never collect a dime? It's true. Still wrong but if you talk about what they cost us you should also talk about what they give us.
Yeah, all you out of state repliers, you tell these libtards how it is!!!!! I'm hearing from my sources that Lebron James is close to a deal with the Phoenix Suns because he is such a huge supporter of their new law! I'm trying as we speak to tweet Glenn Beck to see what he has heard and then I will let everybody know as soon as I hear. What will the libtards like Woods and the ACLU do when King James plays in Phoenix?!?!!!!!!!!!!
and FYI, here are some numbers from non-partisan Factcheck.org -- i suspect those who subscribe to the paranoid fantasies being espoused by the modern Right-wing will take little solace and accuse Factcheck.org of being "liberally biased", despite it's stellar reputation.
http://www.factcheck.org/2010/05/does-immi…
"Study after study has shown that immigrants grow the economy, expanding demand for goods and services that the foreign-born workers and their families consume, and thereby creating jobs. There is even broad agreement among economists that while immigrants may push down wages for some, the overall effect is to increase average wages for American-born workers."
Facts, as they say, are a bitch.
"despite it's stellar reputation. " -- not to mention Factcheck's countless instances of calling out Democrats for their truth-bending and outright falsehoods as well.
"I believe there has been significant political posturing on this issue:
Indeed there has been - from the sanctimonious left.
If you think this is just about poor innocent people coming here to work you got another thing coming! TN WAKE UP they will over run your state attempting to turn it into a third world like atmosphere and bring down your way of life....look at LA have you been there lately? Read about Maywood, CA ….its now bankrupt and has had to let go of all city personnel >>>> http://www.humanevents.com/article.php?id=… Look at this video and when done search MECHA on YouTube and hear speeches teachers are giving to Hispanic students. THIS IS NO JOKE and you have got to wake up and realize this invasion is real, quiet and sneaky BUT REAL! Get your head out of the sand & Get educated a little bit on what they really want ...........SHOCKING VIDEO! “”Mexican Govt. OFFICIAL Says, "This has been, and will be Mexico" Finally the hostile Mexican Govt. comes clean and admits they are trying to take over America! Mexican Consulate SPOKESMAN, Alberto Lozano tells Americans why they are wasting their time protesting Mexico.”” http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bJA-n886DQo…
Absolutely amazing - someone posts a URL whereupon it says immigrants grow the economy. Would this person or the person that wrote article used common sense, then those immigrants WOULD NOT NEED TO MOVE here if they were "growing an economy". Because if they were "growing an economy" they wouldn't have to move here for jobs.
Oh the inescapable logic that follows your "facts are facts" claim. I'll bet you've passed your genes on a number of times too. Oh the horror.
For anyone wishing to make the same claim about crime being down in Arizona in recent years that CNN put out. What they didn't mention is the time period that crime started to go down was when Operation Jumpstart began and National Guard was put at the border.
For those that say illegals are simply taking the jobs Americans don't appreciate or want, that is false. It has been shown that the job market for senior citizens who are trying to seek work to supplement their income has been drastically reduced, and instead filled by illegals. The job market for youth in high school and college has also been affected. The problem is not that the jobs are not wanted by Americans, the problem is that the illegals drive down the wages so not only do they get hiring preference by employers but they make it so the average American cannot afford to take the job at such a low wage.
And as far as the law goes, it is needed. Too many illegal drivers in Arizona kill or just hurt people and drive away. One accident involving two illegals occurred in front of the camera store I frequent. It was a head on collision and within two minutes both cars were gone with neither checking to see if the other was okay. And it happens all the time. A group of about twenty people from here in Arizona that I work with were discussing the law. Someone asked if illegals really had that negative effect on Arizona. So I asked everyone who knew someone who had been a victim of identity theft to raise their hands. Everyone did. Then I asked if they themselves had been a victim to raise their hands. Half of them did.
Any time I encounter police already, they have always asked for ID. Both in Arizona and across the country, as they should so they can check for warrants and know who they are dealing with. The biggest change in all this is that it requires police to check immigration status if they have reason to believe they are here illegally. Which if a cop believed someone was a sex offender, people would demand they check up on him. But they don't want that with illegals because of their race, and that is the only racist thing about this. Most of the people I know who are against this law that I know are Hispanic and have admitted they have friends and relatives in the country illegally. That is why we have to mandate the law be enforced, since police chiefs and politicians have not wanted to upset the Latino vote by enforcing the laws.
This law needs to happen. And we need to stop thinking it is okay to let people steal their way into America. If someone breaks into your house, they don't get to stay just because they may be nice people otherwise do they? You don't say "oh well" and give them your health insurance card, and offer to help them pay for college. If it isn't something you would allow to happen against your family, why would you allow they same crime to happen against your country?
And as far as the comment comparing it to speeding. I have never seen rape, kidnapping, and identity theft traced back to someone speeding. Your analogy was not just an over simplification, but also not applicable in the least.
Why is it we are the only country to let other countries with harsher immigration policies dictate our immigration policies? Why does it seem no one wants America to be America anymore? Instead of being a nation of laws, we are ready to toss those laws to the side just because people are a certain race. We allow criminals to portray themselves as victims.
