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Federal lawmakers have treated the serious illegal immigration problems facing this country like a hot potato: dropping all responsibility and creative solution–finding in the laps of local jurisdictions.
Arizona, right or wrong, did something about the problem.
The state last week passed the toughest anti-illegal immigration law in the country, making it a crime to be in the United States illegally. It will take effect later this summer.
Now Attorney Gen. Eric Holder said the federal government may go to court to challenge Arizona's new law.
Holder raised the possibility of challenging the law, even though it hasn't been put into effect yet.
It's clear that politics, specifically the hope of capturing the growing Latino vote, is behind the federal government's threat to pull the plug on the law. The political party that can curry the favor of Latino activists to derail the law is likely to see a boost in the polls in the upcoming congressional elections -- and perhaps long after that.
No doubt that the law, which would compel police officers to stop suspected illegal immigrants and demand proof of citizenship, may open the door to racial profiling, hostile confrontations and harassment of legal residents.
But the law is the law. If you come into this country without proper documentation, shouldn't you be forced to leave if found? How is letting illegal immigrants stay in the United States fair to those legal immigrants who jumped through all the hoops and crossed all the barriers to earn legal residency in the United States?
I know that Arizona does not have the resources to question every Hispanic resident encountered by police. Therefore, images of police running the streets of Tuscon and Tempe, rounding up Hispanic citizens for mass questioning, which has been predicted by immigrant advocates, will likely not come to pass.
In other words, let's see how the law applies in real-life situations before deeming it unworkable. If it produces a stream of civil rights violations, it will be challenged and overturned by the courts.
Arizona should have a chance to see if its new law works, especially since it is the inaction of federal lawmakers that has caused them to take this step.
Watch the continued controversy surrounding Arizona's immigration law here:
Comments: (24)
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By: Enigma Sept on 4/29/2010 4:04PM
This is satire, right? o_O
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By: NiecyC on 4/29/2010 1:54PM
Sorry. I am already a legal citizen. I was born here. I should not be stopped to prove my nationality just because someone else sees fit. It is akin to "driving while black".
Natural born US Citizens would have to prove their citizenship with their birth certificates. How many people leave their home with this document everyday?
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By: Mad black man on 4/29/2010 9:35PM
NiecyC but they should stop you for driving stupid!
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By: Marcus on 4/29/2010 12:07PM
Give it a chance? I wonder what the title of this article would be if the bill was written to target Black people. I hate that as Black people we don't support other minorities with similar problems. The bill is clearly unconstitutional.
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By: James on 4/29/2010 1:02PM
This bill "mirrors" the Federal Immigration bill. If the government was doing it's job and protecting the citizens of the border states this would not have happened. the only reason that Obama et al are coming out against the bill is to procure the Latino bill. Most legal immigrants agree completely with this bill. What doesn't anyone understand about "illegal"? The have already broken the law. I have heard stories about people living in Arizona, Texas etc who come home after a weekend getaway to find their homes ransacked, food stolen, clothing and personal items stolen. This is not right, they deserve some protection and if the Federal Government won't do it then the States have every right to enforce their law. I wish every state would do the same.
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By: NiecyC on 4/29/2010 2:37PM
...and what does an illegal immigrant look like?
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By: Robin on 4/29/2010 5:45PM
ITA. This is so like the poll tax that was enacted to keep Blacks, Native Americans and poor White immigrants from voting. There is no way for the police not to use racial profiling when stopping people for their papers. It may be those from Mexico that they are targeting, but I hope that the same will apply when they stumble upon people who are here illegally from every country.
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By: don on 4/29/2010 1:01PM
It's unconstitutional to enforce the law? Perhaps if you read the bill, you would be in a better position to comment. Just saying.
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By: Marcus on 5/07/2010 12:33PM
Slavery was once law, what's your point.
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By: Don on 4/29/2010 11:57PM
Marcus - The point would be that a law is a law. When slavery was a law (right or wrong) it was enforced. What confuses you about laws? If a law is unjust, it is usually changed (see slavery and the civil war). There is a front door for these people to go through. If you choose to enter through the back door, be prepared to pay the price. ALL immigrants who enter this country through the legal process are required to carry their papers 24/7. Did you know that? So how is asking an ILLEGAL alien for thier papers somehow appaling to you? Do you think ILLEGAL immigrants have more rights than LEGAL immigrants? Or are you suggesting that ILLEGAL immigrants simply are somehow unaware that they have somehow entered another country?
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