Ok, there are lots of problems with the new legislation signed into law today in Arizona by Governor Jan Brewer.
The sweeping legislation makes it a crime under state law to be in the country illegally. It also requires local police officers to question people about their immigration status if there is reason to suspect they are illegal immigrants.
So basically, if you have a tan and can properly pronounce “carne asada,” then you better carry your identification with you at all times. Otherwise you might get arrested. This new law is ridiculous, and I suspect that it is more a bold proclamation to shed light onto an area of federal government that badly needs reform.
Seriously. Just take a look at this chart.
The new *law* does nothing to address the real issue. It is so flippin’ hard to come into this country legally that millions are doing it illegally. And they are living in fear of the government, to the point where they won’t report crimes in their neighborhoods for fear of being deported.
I am in no way advocating open borders, but I think it’s ridiculous not to offer visas to the hard working men and women that want to become legal citizens, but lack the money or political connections to do so.
I’m pretty sure I’m going to come off like a bleeding heart liberal by saying this, but I can’t get this Thomas More quote out of my head:
For if you suffer your people to be ill-educated, and their manners to be corrupted from their infancy, and then punish them for those crimes to which their first education disposed them, what else is to be concluded from this, but that you first make thieves and then punish them. (Utopia)
I only hope that this weird new law sheds light into an area that badly needs reforming. Please, can we let more people in that want to work hard and build a better life, and try harder to keep the panty-bombers out?
Thanks.
Southern (in)Sanity says:
This is absolutely a response to a lack of action by the federal government. However, I am not in favor of these illegal immigrants being in the country and not paying taxes, yet they and their families receive education, medical care and other services at our expense? That’s wrong.
Maybe the Arizona law is wrong, but at least Arizona is trying to address the issue.
April 23, 2010, 7:22 pmPort of Authority says:
The law states that local police officers must question people about their immigration status if there is reason to suspect they are illegal immigrants. Has nothing to do with the color of skin or the way they speak.
Yes, there may be a couple racist cops who will use this law to start harassing Jose and Maria at the local Taco Stand, but then your problem should be with the cops, not the law.
Southern (in)Sanity – First of all, great name, secondly well spoken. The illegal aliens reap the benefits or our country and cost millions. Every last one of them should be removed from our country. I’m 100% for legal immigrants coming to America, as long as they do it the legal way.
And you are right. Perhaps the law is flawed, but at least Arizona is addressing a major problem in our country with a simple solution.
Author, you seem to complain a lot about this, yet you offer no alternative plan. You seem to know what the Great State of Arizona should do better than them. What is your plan?
April 23, 2010, 9:08 pmJenny says:
Port- Sorry I couldn’t clear up this national catastrophe in a few paragraphs.
The point of my post was to say that the new law does not get to the root of the problem, which in my opinion is laws that hurt those that want to abide by them combined with loose border security.
This is a blog, not a forum for legislative proposals.
April 23, 2010, 9:13 pmHeadless Mom says:
I agree that the people ‘doing it right’ should be able to come here, get visas, work, with no problems. I’m getting increasingly angry at the buckets of money that the federal (and state) governments take from me that support people that come here illegally. By no means do I have the answer but I do applaud Arizona for at least attempting to do something.
April 23, 2010, 10:50 pm