Arizona Passes Tough Anti Illegal Immigration Law

I don't find this particularly disturbing.Although I detest racism,I don't believe that it's the motive here.I also think it's a real slap in the face to the immigrants who DO go through the proper legal channels to become citizens to allow so many other people to just get away with hopping the fence.Ideally,we could all live in a peaceful world with no borders at all,but since we don't,let's do our best to maintain their integrity.

Define, "reasonable suspicion". http://tiny.cc/AZTXMX UPDATE: As pointed out by abichara, this tempest in a teapot may simply be a scam "...to distract the public away from more directly pertinent issues like financial reform." http://tinyurl.com/BorderWarAZ

I was mildly opposed to this act until the president of Mexico shows up and lectures us on the passage of this law. I can't tell you how much I resent this mope from his third world hell hole telling us what to do.We should use the Mexican law that is used against the illegal aliens. If you are an illegal in Mexico, for a second offense, you get ten years in the pokey, and of course, under that sensitivity that banana republics have towards the rights of the accused, in Mexico you are guilty until you are proved innocent.Imagine if we used that rule in the USA. Here we load the law violators in the bus and give them a free ride to the border.Isn't anyone in our leadership going to tell this dope to go f*ck himself? In Mexico the local police are required to help the federales in enforcing the immigration laws.I actually read the Arizona law. What it does is codify the federal act and give the Arizona authorities authority to act if the law is broken. This theory has been used tho... Read more

I don't think this story will fade away. . .I think it's a pretty signifcant story that will merit a place on the 2010 list. Both sides have compelling logical and legal reasoning behind their arguments. . .which make this argument so loud and ugly. The media doesn't help things. The right is absolutely correct when claiming the media calls it an 'immigration' problem instead of illegal immigration. The left is also correct that there is an element of racism in the equation - ignoring or denying this helps neither the cause or the issue. It's a strong story that will be bolstered by the upcoming mid-terms where the repubs. will gain some seats. (Opposite-parties always do well in mid-terms after the election of a popular presidents.) And both parties will use this story to fan the flames to get votes instead of having a real intellectual discussion of the problem. As for me, I think the people of Arizona have been somewhat misrepresented during the whole process..

Everyone discusses defensive measures against illegal immigration, but rarely does anyone ask the fundamental question here: why are these people crossing the border, risking life and limb, for marginal work here in the United States? Most of these people work in jobs that no one really wants to do. They work on large farms picking fruit in the blazing sun, construction, especially roofing and other physically demanding work. It doesn't pay much, but it gives them a chance to send money back to their home countries. A lot of times, these folks aren't planning on staying permanently, it is just a means to provide for a better life for those back in Mexico and other spots in Central America. Like most political issues of this nature, it all comes down to economics. There are push and pull factors bringing these people to the United States. Part of the problem is that the service sector in Mexico, along with the farm economy, has been destroyed by free trade agreements like NA... Read more

If people from a country next to yours over ran your country, taking welfare, jobs of every sort, education, social services, making trouble, etc. how would you react? You wouldn't like it either. Taxpayers have to pay for those things. It's not free. Yes, Absolutely, I approve of Arizona's passing of the tough illegal immigration law. Don"t use excuses like the "Melting Pot" or "Hitler" or anything else to justify that Mexicans or anyone from anywhere has the right to just come over and use our resources for free because of your extremely poor economic condition. Mexico has a HUGE amount of economic, political, and social problems as we all know. Mexico needs to fix it's economic, political, and social problems so that it's own people can live there instead of coming over to use our resources. Even The President of Mexico recognizes Mexico's problems. So go fix your own problems instead of running away from it. If you can't fix your problems then hand over your country to us. An... Read more

If there were tens of thousands of Americans entering Canada illegally I'd be pretty upset and would want my government to take strong action. I'm not even sure what we'd call the American illegals, Greenbacks maybe. Of course pulling people over because they look American wouldn't work. Ask any Asian person - we all look the same. So we would have to come up with other more effective means detection and maybe even deal with the root cause of the problem. Of course we are not in this situation because we cleverly engaged a double agent to bad mouth our country to Americans, distracting them from our beauty, quality of life and natural advantages as a place of residence - Ann Coulter.

If one looks at just the bit I've taken from Gris, the good ole USA begins to feel a little dirty...Nazi Germans hunting "those Jews" while other Germans watched "them" go away. I don't understand why "we" are rejecting "them" when 99% of "us" come from immigrant stock.?!? Can't say I understand how the USA can simultaneously hold a "melting pot" and lock its borders. And don't lay any shit on me about a "liberal position." As I learned history, Hitler emerged from the facsist right. I follow the constitution. Gris: I know a little girl, a friends niece, she was born in the States, but her mom is illegal. Her mom got pulled over two weeks ago at a routine traffic stop and is now in jail awaiting deportation. Most of her family is here Illegally. I suppose it is only a matter of time until they get caught too.

A total violation of civilian rights and a move towards the U.S. becoming even more 'big-brother' like. "Reasonable suspicion" of being an illegal immigrant means many legal Hispanic American people will get pulled over and harassed. Spin it any way you want to, the fact remains that this law will mean that people who have no due reason to be questioned, pulled over, and harassed; will have their civil rights violated and be subject to illegal searches etc. I am not saying I am for illegal immigration of course. What I am saying is that this law is a matter of civilian rights versus big government rights, and the side of the people loses a big one in the passing of this law. If there was a way a thing like this could work without violating legal citizen's civil rights I would be for it, but that's impossible in this version of the law.

First of all, there is nothing in this Arizona state law that was not already on the books at the federal level. Our national immigration laws stipulate that aliens in the US must have on their person proof of their legal right to be present, to work, etc., at all times. Secondly, Arizona and all other states have every right to enforce federal law within their borders. In fact, in most cases they have a mandate to do so. In this case, the feds have proven time and again that they have absolutely no desire whatsoever to enforce our nation's laws, to deport illegals, to fine employers who knowingly hire them, or to secure our borders- all of which they are legally bound to do. The fiction and the propaganda being tossed about here is astounding, even in this day and age. The city of San Francisco called for a boycott of Arizona because Arizona wants to enforce federal law; yet that same city designates itself as a “sanctuary city”, which means they are saying to the feds: keep out, you ... Read more

This law somehow reads as treating the symptoms - and with the wrong meds - rather than fighting the real cause of the problem.

I fail to understand what the uproar (I'm shocked, SHOCKED that Arizona passed this bill!) is all about. After all, this is the state that gave us Barry Goldwater. This is the state whose Republican legislature (including John McCain) pissed all over the Constitution in 1983 when they voted against the Martin Luther King, Jr. bill. This is the state that sucks every last drop out of the Colorado River so their racist and moronic populace can wash their Hummers and water their lush green lawns in the middle of a desert, and then chide the poor Mexicans who come to find work because the once-mighty Colorado is merely a trickle as it enters Mexico, leaving them without the means to irrigate their crops. What are you people thinking? Frankly, I would be amazed if Arizona passed a bill that stated something like "Give me your tired, your poor, Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free, The wretched refuse of your teeming shore. Send these, the homeless, tempest-tost to me, I lift... Read more

If people are pulled over for a legit reason, I do not have a problem with verifying their status as a U.S. citizen! People that are minding their own business should not be bothered... I am sick of people comparing illegals to those immigrants that passed through Ellis Island. Yes we all come from immigrants in some form, but those early immigrants that passed through Ellis Island did it the RIGHT way! Illegal is illegal is illegal! Immigrant and illegal immigrant are 2 different things! Ted Kennedy: "Illegal immigrants are our next civil rights movement."

Posted from BABYHEADS 2.0! (Humor Blog) Why The Arizona Immigration Bill SB1070 Should Be Passed? Saturday, May 1, 2010 Because it's called administrative leadership, man! If the federal government won't do it, then, I mean, come on, someone has to! It's not like the U.S. is supposed to be a melting pot of world citizens or anything! It's not like the entire country was built on the blood and sweat of immigrants looking for better opportunities! Seriously, people! SB1070 simply wants to make sure that everyone who looks Mexican goes back home, since they obviously don't belong here. And of course, all you hippies and liberals will ask, what about the Mexican-American citizens who have served and have significantly contributed to the welfare of the State? Why should they have to suffer indignities at the hands of hard-cocked police officers? Well, that's easy, because they have Mexican faces and really thick mustaches. They're obviously not REAL Americans (REAL Americans hate mustac... Read more

Interesting, many (not all) of the people who were screaming about how unconstitutional the health care bill was, are in full favor of this law. Funny old world, ain't it? Personally, I am with the people who say that a fence should have been built and current laws should have been enforced years ago. Many have hit the nail on the head when they said that big business and our own government are to blame for encouraging illegals during our prosperous period. Now that the powder keg has exploded they want them out. Once again the beadledom have created a mess that us huddled masses have to clean up. Meanwhile, many innocent citizens are going to have their rights violated. I can see why Arizona felt it necessary to do something. That state sees many thugs, drugrunners and various and violent criminals trampeling over their border. But many of those thugs, etc, are trafficking sundry items and people and have no intention of staying any longer than it takes to get the job done. Once again... Read more

To sum it up, when you have an often corrupt element (illegal immigrants) and another often corrupt element (police), it's a fucked up situation, regardless of what side you're on. To me, the bill is racist and will create more harm for our border states. Personally, I favor legal immigration, and I'm totally against amnesty of any kind, and a fence needed to be built years ago.

An incredible law. It means whatever you think it means and every inaccurate characterization stokes up your minions to a protesting frenzy. The eight-year-old-in-chief even mischaracterizes what's in the law. It is, essentially, the plagiarization of a federal statute by the state of Arizona, gives me lots of problems, it's a really bad idea. It's also a violation of the US Constitution. But, nazi-like cops walking up and accosting Mexicans on the street, incarcerating the innocents? Grow up, Lurch.

Love it or hate it, there's no doubt that the law is a big deal and not just because of the legal implications it has. Obama was planning on tackling immigration this year, something that made no sense given how unpopular his undoubtedly liberal approach would be among those who most care about the issue: white, male, conservatives. By dealing with immigration Obama would obviously be able to drive a wedge between the conservative base and the republican establishment but the political consequences for his own party would be even greater. Getting involved would be mean having to deal with a conservative electorate and pass unpopular legislation that forces Obama to spend political capital he just doesn't have anymore following the health care bill. The Arizona law has show Obama what a minefield the immigration issue is and he's already back peddling (wisely) from his commitment to take it on this year.

The fact that Arizona didn't anticipate this negative national reaction is ridiculous. Or did they? If our government was able to think a few steps ahead, we could use this attention to our advantage. This bill has passed but it won't be enforced for a couple years. If we come back and say that sure, we'll throw out this bill if we get some bail out money to to use for an agreed upon strategy towards illegal immigration, this could be a big power move in our part. As a caviat, I am instituting a one man boycott of San Francisco. Our state economy is #49 in the nation, and we're a state largely fueled by the tourism industry so that type of boycott will hurt a lot of hard working people who had no say in the bill. So no SF for the minkster any time soon.

You can't expect a government led by a president who's own relative(s) are in the country illegally, to really care one bit about the problem of illegal immigration and social/financial cost it creates by way of increased crime, etc. Can you? When the Federal government fails to uphold the laws and protect its own people against the murderious, drug dealing, kidnpapping thugs, what do you suggest their recourse should be? The police have always had to deal with issues of probably cause, haven't they? Why are not people of colour standing up and fighting the immigrants that are causing this by saying, "Hey, if I see you in my country illegally I'm going report you even if you do look like me?" Instead of putting the blame for these drastic measures on the culprits who are giving people of colour/Mexican heritage who are in the country legally, people are suddenly standing up with them and saying "Hey, this could affect me because I'm black, italian, hispanic..." Really? It doesn't alre... Read more

Okay, understand that they can't just walk up to you and ask for your papers. You have to be violating the law first. There is also language that specifically protects victims of crimes and witnesses to crimes from being questioned about immigration status. Now, all this boycott trash is only going to hurt Arizona's Hispanic population too, especially when you consider how many work in tourism related industries. Matter of fact, the boycott will only give people who want all the illegals out exactly what they want. So go ahead and throw down the boycott, I guess, because its not going to do squat to deter Arizonans.

A very touchy issue, I will have to admit. I can fully understand the need for watching out for illegal immigrants, but they should really be careful in the way it's handled, and judging someone who happens to "look foreign". We all know what happens when we assume -- it only makes an "ass" out of "u" and "me".

I get it. I really do. Arizona is busting at the seams with illegals, and people are fed up. But I think this law wasn't particularly well thought through. So I can be stopped on the street and asked to show my papers? And if I don't have them, I pay $500, go to jail, and have to wait for the Feds to verify my legal status to get out? It's probably unlikely that this happens to me, as I am pretty pale and my gringo accent shines through when I'm speaking Spanish. But what about my Italian cousins who speak with an accent? Or more likely, my family from Mexico? This sounds like a disaster for law enforcement, a disaster for race relations, and certainly, a disaster for brown skinned Americans. Fuck that. I will avoid AZ until some cooler heads rein this thing in.

Law enforcement has no right to stop somebody on the basis of their skin color. Now this is not to say that they won't do just that and use any old excuse, but the way I understand it is they can't just pull them over and ask for immigration papers, and if so, only if there has clearly been a law broken. Hassling people on the basis of their skin color is a rotten thing to do. This world is full of hateful people in all races. This world would be a lot nicer place to live if people would just make their minds up to get along. But I guess that's asking too much.