Sunday, May 2, 2010

The real deal on the Arizona immigration law

Since people have been asking me what I think of the Arizona law that prohibits illegal aliens, I figured I might as well do a post on it. The media has been portraying this as an anti-immigration bill. It is not. It is an anti-illegal immigration bill. There have been comments by moronic politicians, actors, activists and protesters to the effect that anyone with brown skin can be stopped by the police and asked for their immigration papers. This is not the case. These are the same people that complain that their conservative counterparts resort to fear-mongering in order to win elections. Yet this is exactly what they are partaking in by bandying about terms like "racial profiling".

Here it is in a nutshell, paraphrased from City Journal:

The law, SB 1070, empowers local police officers to check the immigration status of individuals whom they have encountered during a “lawful stop, detention or arrest,” if an officer reasonably suspects the person stopped of being in the country illegally, and if an inquiry into the person’s status is “practicable.” The officer may not base his suspicion of illegality “on race, color or national origin.” The law also requires aliens to carry their immigration documents, mirroring an identical federal requirement.

The law gives an officer the discretion, when practicable, to determine someone’s immigration status only after the officer has otherwise made a lawful stop, detention, or arrest. It does not allow, much less require, fishing expeditions for illegal aliens. But if, say, after having stopped someone for running a red light, an officer discovers that the driver does not have a driver’s license, does not speak English, and has no other government identification on him, the officer may, if practicable, send an inquiry to his dispatcher to check the driver’s status with a federal immigration clearinghouse.

An officer must have a lawful, independent basis for a stop; he can only ask to see papers if he has “reasonable suspicion” to believe that the person is in the country illegally. “Reasonable suspicion” is a legal concept of long-standing validity, rooted in the Constitution’s prohibition of “unreasonable searches and seizures.” It meaningfully constrains police activity; officers are trained in its contours, which have evolved through common-law precedents, as a matter of course.


So do I support the Arizona bill?

HELL YES. People are dying unnecessarily at the hands of gangbangers, drug cartels and murderers who should never have been here in the U.S. to begin with. Don't we have enough home grown criminals to fill our prisons? Do we need more strain on our health care and schools? Do we really want to support people who sneak in and don't pay taxes? Once again, we already have plenty of our own to take care of.

Not to mention that in a post-9/11 world, it's national suicide to allow porous borders, lax enforcement of immigration laws and a total lack of knowledge of who the hell is in our country. But I guess in some people's minds, compromising national security is acceptable so long as the practice might reward them with more votes.

We are a nation of immigrants. Legal immigrants. Not tax evading fence jumpers. If we don't enforce our national security standards, then why enforce any law at all? This former police officer and current Arizona lawmaker (originally from Middle Village) seems to get it. Wake up, people.

41 comments:

Anonymous said...

Maspeth Mom says...

I wish NYS would enact the same law. But I am happy that Arizona has it - I think it will help our area because there will be no filtering from Arizona to other states.

I am second generation American. My parents needed a sponsor and had to wait a certain amount of time.

Immigrants need to get in line and wait their turn!

Anonymous said...

Sweet Jesus! This law enacted in Arizona is a sham.. If you really wanted to stop this illegal immigration put the people who hire, shelter them 1 year in Jail plus $250k for each illegal. Go after those who profit from their work.
Going after the alien is too costly. Going after the profiteer is hell of lot more cost effective.
AND FOR GOD SAKES GET OFF YOUR LAZY A** AND CUT YOUR OWN LAWN!!!

Anonymous said...

"put the people who hire, shelter them 1 year in Jail plus $250k for each illegal. Go after those who profit from their work."

They are doing that now in ny.. I believe the employer will go to jail along with a fine if they do that..that's why I know a few friend's friend who are restaurant owner stop hiring them, even tho they cost less.

"Going after the alien is too costly. Going after the profiteer is hell of lot more cost effective."

If the illegals are not employed, it can backfire in that they make the crime rates worst because they will all be gangs since they know they will not be hired due to their status, so they might take revenge first because they know they either way they have to go back..and do the easy free way - deportation.

Anonymous said...

In Hong Kong before 1997, they already have this system in tact to stop the illegal immigrations from Mainland, China. The police are the main active line of this system. They can profile you and if you look like you are from Mainland, they can stop you and request your license/card which will prove if you are legal or not.

All LEGAL HK citizens have this card which you have to carry with you at all times like a driver license because it will prove if you are legal or not.

I don't know how the US will do by requesting a bunch of immigration papers. So silly.

Anonymous said...

In many countries, police officers have the right to ask you for ID and if you do not produce it you may be fined and arrested. It happened to my father in Belgium.

Of course, illegal immigrants should not be able to obtain real ID cards and licenses.

Anonymous said...

Congress...CLOSE OUR BORDERS!

Critics...SHUT YOUR MOUTHS!

Anonymous said...

lawful stop can be a seatbelt infraction or not signaling on a turn.

Black cops used petty things in Alabama to do that to blacks during the 50's

Anonymous said...

Sweet Jesus! This law enacted in Arizona is a sham.. If you really wanted to stop this illegal immigration put the people who hire, shelter them 1 year in Jail plus $250k for each illegal. Go after those who profit from their work.
Going after the alien is too costly. Going after the profiteer is hell of lot more cost effective.
AND FOR GOD SAKES GET OFF YOUR LAZY A** AND CUT YOUR OWN LAWN!!!
---------------------------------

I agree, take away the jobs and benefits and they leave. But both parties fear going after businesses. Illegal hiring is the reason for illegal immigration.

georgetheatheist said...

If it ain't broke don't fix it.

It's broke, fix it.

-----------------------------------

[x] Male
[x] No, not of Latino, Hispanic, or Spanish origin.
[x] White

Angelica said...

The thing is, we're talking about cops here. You KNOW that they're going to take things too far, and it's actually going to turn into what all the critics fear it will turn into.

Anonymous said...

"Congress...CLOSE OUR BORDERS!

Critics...SHUT YOUR MOUTHS!"

I love fascism, how about you?

Anonymous said...

"These are the same people that complain that their conservative counterparts resort to fear-mongering in order to win elections. Yet this is exactly what they are partaking in by bandying about terms like "racial profiling"."

Congratulations on revealing the hypocrisy of the liberal mind.

Babs said...

"If the illegals are not employed, it can backfire in that they make the crime rates worst because they will all be gangs since they know they will not be hired due to their status, so they might take revenge first because they know they either way they have to go back..and do the easy free way - deportation."

Totally agree - illegal immigration has led to pockets of the underclass in certain parts of our country - Arizona being one of them.

I hope also that New York does something similar but I doubt the New York contractors - who are probably the biggest offenders - would allow that to happen.

It's a shame because New York is a terrorist target.

Babs said...

"The thing is, we're talking about cops here. You KNOW that they're going to take things too far, and it's actually going to turn into what all the critics fear it will turn into."

I think that's overstated and your fear unwarranted - someone is either legal or not - it's that simple.

People that fear racial profiling really fear DISCOVERY.

Anonymous said...

Who doesn't have the expectation that when you are stopped, detained, or arrested by the police you are asked to produce identification? For buying a cold remedy containing pseudoephedrine, renting a video, boarding an airplane, cashing a check, getting a library card -- All of these require having something with name and address. This isn't Nazi crap, it's Queens crap.

Queens Crapper said...

For the record, the bill DOES target and penalize employers who hire illegals. Of course no one is focusing on that.

If no one was hiring off the books, then there would be no problem with illegals. Democrats repeat that often, but they don't REALLY want people to stop hiring off the books because that would mess with their grand plan of adding millions of new Democrats to their voter base.

Anonymous said...

"lawful stop can be a seatbelt infraction or not signaling on a turn."

Then wear your seatbelt and signal your turns and you won't have a problem.

Cops are supposed to look the other way all the time?

Anonymous said...

These illegal gatherings marching in various cities if viewed sympathetically upon, will serve to motivate others to storm the fences in anticipation that Pres. Obama will legalize them (those whom are already here). So we will have much bigger problems than originally thought or pay for these deadbeats, because once here they will lose their jobs as they become legal since employer will not afford to pay minimum wages, payroll or SS taxes. Illegals will rest comfortably in projects, use food stamps and collect SS or welfare checks that you will pay for.

: If we don't enforce our national security standards, then why enforce any law at all? "

Anonymous said...

My parent came here legally and had a great deal of difficulty learning the languauge and getting ahead to earn their citizenship. We are watering down our requirements to be citizens and this is quite unfair to those who do it the right way - not jump fences from Mexico or Canada.

Anonymous said...

People think that the only illegals that cross the Mexican border are Mexican. What about all the Islamic radicals? How do you think they get here? Our borders should be sealed for 5 years and illegals should be weeded out and sent back to where they came from. We are doing the job of the Mexican Government. They are delighted that their people come here. They don't have to do anything to provide for their people. They should seal all the borders and plug up the leaks. Look what happened last night in Times Square. We are living in very dangerous time. People don't mind LEGAL immigration. Those people are screened and come here the right way. The illegals on the other hand, continually break our laws and have the nerve to complain about it and protest. They wouldn't dare do that in Mexico, or Iran, or China, or Pakistan.......

Anonymous said...

If you travel by plane, they ask for government ID. If you rent a car, they ask for government ID. If you take a cruise, you must have a passport number and produce your passport. If you travel overseas, you must produce your passport and they stamp it. What is all the fuss about? If it's okay to ask citizens and legal aliens for this info, I don't understand why the illegals feel they should be exempt. People are riled up for no reason. My mother always said if you have nothing to hide, there's nothing to worry about. Why are all these illegals worried?

Queens Crapper said...

Here's another thing...maybe this law will weed out those who became illegals by overstaying their student visas. You know, like what the 9-11 terrorists did.

Anonymous said...

Just a thought! Does anyone think that this bill is a step to orchestrate legalizing all these illegals? Funny how this bill came up so suddenly and was passed. Obama can ride in on his horse like the hero and legalize all of them and we'll get to pay for them as well as our own families us when Obamacare kicks in. Just wondering.

Babs said...

I for one do not believe that this was orchestrated.

I believe that what Arizona did will force the Federal government to finally do what they said they were going to do for years - SEAL THE BORDERS, FINE the employers who hire them and send the illegals back.

There are toooo many to grant them amnesty - that would be total madness if they did that now.

Anonymous said...

I'm a latin woman born and raised in NYC. Should we secure our borders? YES Do I feel bad for some of them? Yes b/c they are in difficult situations back in their own home land (mexico, central america, south etc...) Thta's why they want to come to America. Now the shit here is that we got our own problems to deal with. It's amazing how much drug smuggling goes on in Arizona! Arizona is the #2 largest kidnapping place in the world. Do people know that?? The govenment needs to take back control of who's in here and who's not/ What about the thousands of gangs that come from central america? How do most of them get to the US?? By Arizona. I knew a guy from Guatemala that would drive to NY from Guatemala. He had no papers and had no problems getting in this country illegally.
Now am I going to be pissed each time a cop stops me and asks for my papers? Yes but you know what? I rather feel like this than see my county go where it is heading. Is it racial profiling? unfortunately it is. I will have a problem once these cops start disrespecting "latino looking" people and not following the law-such as asking for papers w/o probable cause. Overall I want our damn borders to be secured. Look at Queens! Their are just too many people here.

panzer65 said...

Hello....Illegal!!

Anonymous said...

Hey Angelica,

Now who's PROFILING!!!!

Queens Crapper said...

"The Legal Arizona Workers Act of 2007 was intended to slow illegal immigration by punishing employers who hired undocumented workers. It would impose what some call the "business death penalty" for companies that twice violated the law. They could lose their license to operate as a business.

Employers, civil rights groups, labor unions, the American Civil Liberties Union and the Mexican American Legal Defense and Education Fund went to federal court in Phoenix to challenge the law. They argued that federal law blocks such state measures.

They lost, however, before a federal judge and in a 3-0 ruling by the U.S. 9th Circuit Court of Appeals. These judges said that Congress did not take away the power of states to enforce their own laws.

Judge Mary Schroeder of the appeals court said that "because the power to regulate the employment of unauthorized aliens remains within the state's historical police powers," Arizona can revoke the business licenses of employers who violate the law."

Read more: http://www.azcentral.com/news/articles/2010/04/30/20100430old-arizona-immigration-law-supreme-court.html#ixzz0moPu6tx4

Anonymous said...

I agree with closing the borders. My problem is with "reasonable suspicion" and the god almighty sense of entitlement some cops have. Believe me, I have been a cop for 15 years this year, and I could give you a laundry list of why that is.

Anonymous said...

OK Crapper since that law "The Legal Arizona Workers Act of 2007" came into effect how many businesses were caught and CEO was sent to jail? NONE.......
This law is for something else since they are not going after the businesses since 2007. They are after the Latino vote. They put some cracker/ jack booted rent a cop at a poll site. Question all Mexican looking people. Harrass them asking for their birth certificate. You will see come election time.

Anonymous said...

I like Arizona's immigration law.

Maybe we should bring back Ellis Island!!!!

Queens Crapper said...

"OK Crapper since that law "The Legal Arizona Workers Act of 2007" came into effect how many businesses were caught and CEO was sent to jail? NONE....... "

Right, none, because if you bothered to read the article, you would know that the law has been challenged in court since that time.

mjc_co said...

Those Misguided Arizonans

I don't know why Arizonans would want to protect their citizens from Mexican drug cartel violence, safeguard the public treasury, or prevent the strain on their already choked social services. I mean, not doing that has done wonders for LA! That movie, American Me, I want to recreate that in my city. Yes!

I have no idea why they'd want to enforce the laws that have been on the books since the USA formed or why they'd be mad at the Feds for not doing their jobs of securing our borders. Arizonans are racists, red-neck, bigoted, right-wing conspiracists for wanting to protect the quality of life of LEGAL immigrants already living here. What's up with that? They should enjoy picking up the 2 million tons of trash the illegals leave strewn across our lands as they make their way north because they always have beautiful, sunny skies.

Did you know that asking for someone's citzenship papers is the equivalent of slaughtering 7 million Jews in Nazi Germany. If you didn't, then you're not reading the main-stream, unbiased, good-intentioned media. Get with the program, Comrades! Read the NY Times, the LA Times or the Washington Post, or any newspaper that feeds off of them. It will really educate you and keep you from losing your public education indoctrination.

Why not let the entire world into this country, starting with Haiti, Bangladesh, Cambodia and Yemen -- oh, and don't forget a few "mainstream" Castro-loving Cubans. I'm sure the freedom-loving Cubans already living in Miami who hate Castro won't mind. Let's blow taxpayers' money overseas by sending travel vouchers to the Middle East so they can fly to Mexico and come across the border. Can't we all just get along? If we just sat down and negotiated with them, all war, poverty and disease would end and Obama could save us all.

After their amnesty, they'll vote Democrat in order to keep the taxpayer dollars flowing freely and keep Democrats in power. What's so wrong about that? That stuff going on in Greece -- riots, protest. Yeah, I like that. Let's get some of that. After all, we're no longer a Republic. We're a dictatorship. Just ask the folks who passed healthcare with the Slaughter House Rules, instead of abiding by the will of the people. If you can't afford health insurance, you should be jailed or fined by IRS agents, so there will be no room for locking up illegal aliens. Obama is going to help this country like Chairman Mao helped China take the Great Leap Forward, or how Stalin helped unite the Russians. CHANGE, TRANSFORM. I really love it.

All I ask is that you don't complain as your paychecks get smaller and smaller. After all, someone has to pay for all those bells and whistles, and bells and whistles, and bells and whistles, etc. Well, you get the idea. It might as well be you. We know from history that the rich ALWAYS get soaked, so none of it will effect your pocketbook. Right? I mean, look how many millionaires are now living in boxes by the river. Plus, the more money you rob from rich people and give to poor people, the more jobs that are created. Right, Nancy Pelosi? It looks like rain today -- maybe too much. I hope the government is doing something about that. Maybe a rain tax is needed.

Auntie Invasion said...

this is a very good law. please God I hope that they pass one exactly like it in NY State.

Joe said...

Steve Levy would sign al law like Arizona's AN MORE in a heartbeat.

The people need to wake up or get pissed enough to throw all the Democrats out.
To many sheeple plopped in their Lazy Boys being entertained by British produced garbage on plasma TV's on election nights.
The welfare brats & tweeds run as if election centers are giving away free lottery tickets

Anonymous said...

The Federal government must protect the borders first, before any legislation can be considered for new immigration law changes.

The Federal Government is responsible for the situation - illegals - not immigrants that Arizona is trying to address. Perhaps it's time that legal residents (immigrants) and citizens (born here or naturalized) be given bullet proof national identity cards accepted across the board as a gold standard for all forms of identity.

If the Feds cannot close the gaps in the borders, then we do not have an effective terrorism defense.

linda said...

Build a moat with crocodiles, then the wall to protect our boarders.. if the illegals can get to "America" then will give them citizenship..It's not fair to the many other immigrants that are still waiting, who came here through the proper channels.. We should all be carrying proper Work ID's and any company who hires illegals ARE breaking the law and should be fined. This is why NYS is going broke! companies have to pay into NYS,NYC, Workers Comp., Unemployment and Federal..and by hiring illegals, they are ripping off our state. Everyone complains about UNION WORKERS but they keep this city thriving and pay taxes..

Anonymous said...

RE:
Congress...close our borders!
Critics...shut your mouths!

The truth hurts doesn't it?

It's about time our lawmakers wiped their asses, got off the pot and enacted a sensible immigration bill.

If you are here ILLEGALLY then you're breaking the law...comprende senor, senoritas e senoras?

Deke DaSilva said...

To: mjc_co

Love it!

Anonymous said...

We really need a law like this to keep all of those damn CANADIANS from crossing illegally into New York.
The real problem is not the illegals taking American jobs. The problem is all of the American jobs that have been outsourced, never to return. The real criminals are the multi-national corporations with offshore bank accounts who exploit 3rd world labor and dodge US taxes.

cherokeesista said...

Auntie Invasion said...
this is a very good law. please God I hope that they pass one exactly like it in NY State.

Monday, May 03, 2010

AMEN SISTER!!!! But we the people have to stop hiding and waiting for these sorry ass polititions!!! It's time to force them to do their JOBS!!!! SECURE OUR DAMN BORDERS!!!! ENFORE OUR LAWS!!!!