Even before Arizona Gov. Jan Brewer lifted her pen after signing the state’s new immigration law, the debate over its value and legality started.
The law includes measures designed to stem the tide of illegal immigrants in a state plagued by that.
Law supporters — including Brewer — say the states have no choice but to take on immigration in tough ways because the federal government won’t.
Opponents retreat to longtime arguments about racial profiling, unenforceable laws, federal unconstitutionality and creating a climate for lawsuits that could cost Arizona millions.
Nevertheless, lawmakers in other states are examining closely the law and the debate in its wake to see if something like it might play to their constituents.
But that’s not new. One news report offers this data on state immigration laws by years:
- 2005—300 immigration bills were introduced in the states
- 2004—that number nearly doubled
- 2007—lawmakers filed more than 1,500 bills
- 2008—they introduced some 1,305 bills
- 2009—another 1,500 got filed
Among all these bills, approximately 15 percent became law and dealt with issues such as driver's licenses, health and education. The report stated that some 1,000 bills have been brought up in 2010.
Even the Mexican government issued a travel warning for its residents considering legal trips to Arizona.
So, if you did not believe it before, immigration now rests solidly on the list of hot-button political issues facing American voters — along with the death penalty, gun possession and abortion.
Key provisions of the Arizona law:
- Requires immigrants to carry their alien registration documents at all times.
- Requires police to question those they suspect are illegal.
- Targets people and businesses that hire illegal immigrant day laborers or that knowingly transport them.
I am trying to look beyond the politics and other issues that clearly attach themselves to immigration, including racism, to get a sense of whether laws such as this can really work.
I spend time in Arizona each year. I’ve tried to imagine myself being a police officer and making a determination of who “looks” illegal. I cannot imagine how you make that call unless someone actually is in the process of committing an illegal act.
Making residents “carry their papers” reminds me of a practice used in totalitarian countries. That’s scary. But is asking someone here legally to prove it really so bad? And I have to admit that focusing on those hiring and transporting illegals could cure a lot of ills — including abuse and deaths among those hired.
It appears U.S. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., wants to use the Arizona law to jump-start efforts in Congress to pass immigration reform.
The outcomes in Arizona and how far Reid will get should show what Americans really believe about immigration.
What do you believe?
Resources:
- www.azcentral.com/news/articles/2010/04/...
- www.abc4.com/content/news/state/...
- www.politico.com/news/stories/0410/...
- online.wsj.com/article/SB100014240527/...
- www.businessweek.com/news/2010-04-27/mexico/...
The immigration system has to be reformed, I think that's the conclusion we can draw from all these discussions about the Arizona immigration law. A law like this can't be a solution for the problem of illegal immigration, I think it won't make it even better, the illegals just have to be more cautious, that's all. I would like to provide a solution here and now but that's just complex and I think our country won't find a good way to handle the issue in years to come.
Thanks for talking the time to post. I think "complex" hits it on the bulls eye. The issue involves so many sub-issues, political axes to grind and is so polarizing that "solving" it seems impossible. But some prescribe to the theory that some kind of federal legislation would be better than none, and it might kick-start the process in the right direction. This parallels thoughts offered on health care reform: you have to start somewhere. Or as the late, great Frank Zappa once said: "You gotta get into it before you can get out of it." Best- Mac
The Arizona Immigration Law has been stirring up controversy. The newest question is the California immigration problem, which is being dreaded by many people in the state. Numerous are now scared that California is next, and the huge farms and a great deal of employees there could face the very same scrutiny it looks like Arizona is facing. I do not know that California would dare look at enacting that kind of law after watching all of the controversy in Arizona. Governor Barbara Boxer says she welcomes immigration with open arms, so it might be one tough battle to win in the Golden State.
Nice post. As I have written in the past, lawmakers in all states keep a close eye on what other legislatures do and this issue will be no different. All the border states, and even states far from the border with burgeoning Latino and Hispanic populations, have an eye on Arizona now, particularly with regard to court challenges to the Arizona law. The real test — if the law stands for a periods of time — will be its impact. How many illegals will be identified and what will happen to them, and how many businesses using illegals will be cited and punished. The Arizona lawmakers would have been wise, politically, to put a "sunset" on the law, so they could review its effectiveness.
I have grown up in Phoenix, many people do not understand what has happened here. The American concept has slowly been washed away by the illegal community, they came here un-invited took our jobs from us in many industries, bullied us into giving them rights and benefits that only American citizens should have. They have transformed our neighborhoods into trash with human waste in our yards, I have pictures ….I am not kidding about this stuff. No one would help us. I remember in high school a group of these guys at school beat my friend so bad he could not be in school for two weeks and another one came from behind and shoved me… causing a compound fracture… to this day I still have a slight limp, when laying on the stretcher going into shock, the school nurse went away for a minute to signal the ambulance, they kicked my head. I was a good kid... good grades and stayed out of trouble. I had to walk on crutches for over a year. Why would they do this, we did nothing to them. Since then I have grown to watch my back and watch over my kids. I have taught them that we are a nation of laws, these people play by no laws and no rules. You may think I am the only one that feels this way, I am not, and I have had enough. So have a lot of people. I am now 50 years old, things like this mold people to who they are, and societies as a whole. Our community as a group supports this law at 70% or better. If you do not want to come here and spend your money that is fine, that will not change our god given right as an American citizen to vote yes and have support for this law. And you see the thing is that we as American citizens can vote and by that alone… let our voices be heard, we do not have to turn to violence or walking the streets in protest. And in Arizona, if the politicians do not accept this, they will be the ones without a job. …
Thanks for your thorough post. I certainly cannot discount your personal experiences, and I understand how drastic change in someone's world — whatever the cause — can solidify feelings of frustration and fear. The problem seems to be that the law in place goes beyond "illegal" immigrants and strikes at all immigrants, especially those of Latino and Hispanic descent, regardless of whether they are illegal or not. It questions the legitimacy of native Arizonans of these descents, folks who have lived for generations in the state, some long before you arrived. So, the question becomes,"Is it OK to treat many unfairly in order to deal with the issue of illegals?" Even law enforcement — in the end the entity charged with doing the ID checking and such — has problems with this law. It's a very difficult call.
Hmmmmm. What should we boycott? The state of Arizona?
Yes boycott the state of Arizona. already Arizona has lost some conference business and there's a move to boycott major league baseball. An economic boycott may be the only way to get state officials to listen. It's peaceable protest at its best.
Well, the person to whom I applied did not answer my question, but you did. And that's great. No question, hitting someone in the checkbook is one way to get their attention. And I wholeheartedly endorse the "peaceable" signature to your suggestion. And that could eliminate the need for federal meddling with the state law, which is guaranteed to make folks angry — even those who oppose the new law. But boycotts just do not seem to change much, do they.
Now the Oakland City Council is getting into the act with a boycott. With enough support, the law will bite Arizona in the butt.
A simple "Google" search of "boycott Arizona" returns a lot of stories on proposed boycotts, calls for boycotts and petition drives. It's certainly a measure of America's interest in immigration reform. People are talking — on both sides — and getting involved. That's a good thing.
Start the boycott!
Post new comment