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Despite the fact that the Justice Department has filed a suit against Arizona regarding its controversial immigration law, which allows police to stop anyone they suspect of being here illegally, at least three other states have similar laws in the works, according to the Washington Post.
Oklahoma, South Carolina and Utah all have legitimate chances at passing legislation. The law, according to critics, is unconstitutional because it will lead to increased racial profiling.
The U.S. suit against Arizona charges that the immigration law oversteps state authority and would lead to harassment on the part of those who have no proof that they are here legally. Several police organizations have also said that the Arizona law would drain their already limited resources if they tried to enforce it, as well as increase crime because those here illegally would be unwilling to cooperate with police.
But the suit has not discouraged some states. At least 17 are set to consider legislation like Arizona's, but the political climate is not set for such measures to pass. In Oklahoma, though, one lawmaker told the Washington Post that he wants an "Arizona-plus" immigration law.
"After the other border states, it is natural to look at the states that have enacted the most anti-immigrant laws" before Arizona, Vivek Malhotra, advocacy and policy counsel for the American Civil Liberties Union told the Post. Oklahoma, South Carolina and Utah will make the "most vigorous effort" at passing immigration legislation, he added.
In Utah, one lawmaker, state Rep. Stephen Sandstrom, has made regular fact-finding trips to Arizona. He said his legislation will require police to have "probable cause," a higher legal standard than Arizona's "reasonable suspicion," in order to check someone's immigration status. Both South Carolina and Utah have laws that make it illegal for businesses to hire undocumented workers.
The movement of these three states shows why it's time for the federal government to pass comprehensive immigration reform.It is the responsibility of the federal government to deal with residents' immigration statuses. Already burdened states with biases against certain groups, such as Latinos, should not be in the business of enforcing immigration status.
Republicans, who often scream the loudest about illegal immigrants, should sit down with Democrats and work out a bill to fix the nation's immigration system now. President Barack Obama has said that the measure needs bipartisan supportto pass.
If we truly want to tackle immigration reform, we need to deal with the millions of illegal immigrants already here, find a way to secure our borders so that we can control who is allowed to immigrate here and not just think of it as a problem involving illegal Latinos. Thousands of Europeans overstay their visas, making them illegal immigrants. We look the other way as businesses reap hundreds of millions of dollars in profit by hiring illegal workers and paying them substandard wages.
This country's willingness to accept immigrants is truly one of our strengths. It has allowed us to grow as a nation and to find talented individuals who adopt this country as home and contribute just as much as if they were born here.
African Americans should understand the history of using the legal system to target and oppress a group of people. Al Sharpton is right: Just because these laws will primarily target Latinos does not mean we should sit by and allow this discrimination to spread.
Comments: (19)
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By: I am an immigrant. on 7/08/2010 1:38PM
No,no, no, no, no, Without immigrants this country would be in shambles and thats the truth... and where was this stupid law 2,3 yrs ago? all of a sudden immigration reform matters...ha! The borders should have been secured a long time ago...what's the difference between securing it now and then? I'm not saying it's right for the immigrants to break the law either...but ther has to be a compromise somewhere...
I mean take a look at the states that are pushing this nonsense...Arizona,Utah,Oklahoma and South carolina...states where there're great disparities of immigrants....why aren't the big cities like Chicago,New York pushing the same law? because those places are full of immigrants and they know how essential immigrants are to the prosperity of this country...half if not all of the people living in those big states are of immigrant decent...
Look...it is clear and we all know that those that are here illegally need to do it the right way and become legalized...but it's not them that's causing the big problems here it's the terrorist ...the legalized immigrants or the U.S. citizen the real terrorists...
Immigrants don't even really want citizenships...all they really want is legal residency...the right to work here,gladly pay their taxes, and abide by the law... with no problem.
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By: rik on 7/08/2010 2:47PM
@ I am an immigrant.
"but ther has to be a compromise somewhere"
Why does there have to be a compromise? Where was the compromise during the 80's and 90's when 100's of thousands of black males were jailed.
why aren't the big cities like Chicago,New York pushing the same law?
Can't speak for those places, but I can tell you about LA. The reason is democrats control local municipalities. And in these places illegal immigrants are overwhelming the system, and democrates answer this problem buy taxing its citizens.
it's not them that's causing the big problems here it's the terrorist.
No, id say illegal immirgation is a bigger problem, becuase of the long term affects on a community. Id agree with u, except for one important part. They tend to be financial burdens.
How can u pay ur taxes, if ur working illegally? The only way is fraud, or payement in cash.
No! most are paid of the books, and avoid paying taxes.
Second, even if ur assertion is true, these folks still take more from a community then they add. Social services , health care etc.. all of which they are not entitled too. All of which they recieve, who is paying the bill?
Immigrants don't even really want citizenships...all they really want is legal residency...
really, then do it the right way, like millions of others before them.
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By: Janis on 7/08/2010 2:38PM
I agree with these states. I have worked hard all my life, receive a penison and ss. My rent takes all of my penison leaves my ss to pay the rest of my bills. I can not get rent reduction or anything to help me along as a senior citizen.
You can not get a job unless you are bilingual. Please if you went to there country they would not provide all of these services to you.
This country was also built on the backs of blacks. If you know your history half the things you use were invented by blacks.
I am all out for these states
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By: I am an immigrant on 7/08/2010 3:23PM
@ rik....as far as inequality for blacks...that needs to be fought as well....just because immigrants leave won't make inequality any better, believe me...we'll all still be in the same mess....America doesn't see blks any different than immigrants..after the illegals blks are next...you fight for this place so much but they don't give a crap about you...
That said, I understand where you're coming from and I agree that it needs to be done right....but do you honestly think immigrants are the ones causng the American economic downfall?
Immigrants have been here for years, and I know they are the cause of some problems, but why is it now a problem for everyone else? Let see a 10yr war going nowhere is a start....More money for security from terrorists that another...
Oh I get it...the government provides the truth to all Americans and where they're money is going? so you aware of how every last dime of your taxes are spent?
please enlighten me and tell me how exactly it works...
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By: rik on 7/08/2010 4:12PM
Sir
I’ll gladly engage you.
1, @ rik....as far as inequality for blacks...that needs to be fought as well.... America doesn't see blks any different than immigrants..
I’m not one that cares how anyone views me. I’m not a child, nor I’m I in the 6th grade. And we are not talking about A/Americans; we are talking about illegals. So please don’t skew the topic. You said there “had to be compromise”, I say there doesn’t have to be compromise, there was none for A/A males, why should there be for illegal’s?
2, I understand where you're coming from and I agree that it needs to be done right....but do you honestly think immigrants are the ones causing the American economic downfall?
No, I do not think they are causing “American economic downfall”. I’m saying that with all that is going on, why should the working tax payer be burdened with supporting their own and illegal’s too. I disagree with that.
3,Immigrants have been here for years, and I know they are the cause of some problems,
Please make the distinction between immigrants and illegal immigrants, there is a huge difference. Folks that come here legally, I say welcome, those that don’t, I say do it the right way.
4,Oh I get it...the government provides the truth to all Americans and where they're money is going? so you aware of how every last dime of your taxes are spent?
No you dont get it, even a dummy knows, that when a a medical bill is do, someone is going to pay for it. When an illegal uses the emergency room and doesn’t pay, someone is paying, who do u think that is?
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By: I am an immigrant on 7/08/2010 6:17PM
@ rik,
since we're counting...
First and foremost its ma'am not sir...but it's ok I forgive you....
Secondly I'm not saying you're a child...but you continue to dodge my questions regarding the financial management of the U.S.
Third...When the U.S. goes to other countries, rape them of their livlihood with under the table business strategies, with already corrupt governments in these countries...then blow the money on themselves...its not suprising they're up in arms about immigration...they've never been held responsible for anything.
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By: rik on 7/08/2010 6:28PM
Thank you, of course I mean no disrespect, madam.
1. But you continue to dodge my questions regarding the financial management of the U.S.
No I didn’t dodge ur question, Ill state it again
"I DO NOT BLAME” illegal’s for the financial wows of this nation.
By the way, I think I ask few questions that have gone on answered too.
2. Third...When the U.S. goes to other countries
Madam, what does that have to do with anything? The topic is illegal immigration.
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By: Duane on 7/08/2010 10:00PM
@ I'm am immigrant
..illegal immigrants are no way to be compared to LEGAL TAX PAYING African AMERICANS..
..illegal immigrants NEED to FIRST learn this nation's history..before you come here comparing yourshelf to the illusions that LEGAL generational TAX paying african americans are in the same BOAT as illegal immigrants.
Afri-Americans FOUGHT for OUR citizenship RIGHTS as slaves, we fought for JOBS we weren't getting paid a decent wage to do uf we got PAID at all, we fought for Education, Housing, Equality, we FOUGHT LEGALLY and DIED FOR those RIGHTS LOOONG AGO against the SAME people who hired you into amnesty(in the 1980's illegally) and NOW don't want you here in 2010.. african americans ARE here and have PROVEN this is OUR COUNTRY LEGALLY due to the contributions african americans GAVE to this nation- STILL with ALL ODDS against them and our inventions STOLEN and credit to others..and without US.. the very fabric which made this nation GREAT wouldn't be so..KNOW THIS!!! irregardless of what bigoted, racist and prejudice say.. these are the very same people who hired you and screw this nation out of taxes..now turning on you ..you need to know who your real enemy IS..and LEARN from those who's WALK IN the VERY shoes you are wearing..
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By: I am an immigrant on 7/09/2010 12:09AM
@ Gary Williams... Just to clarify...I am a very legal immigrant...and you can check my papers too...ha what a joke!
That being said, Yes I still feel an obligation to play devil's advocate on this matter because it does affect some of my friends and families in limbo because of this whole mess....As an immigrant, like our ancestors all were @ one point in history (this just happens to be the 21st century phase)....I will continue to make it my duty to speak on this matter...
For those of you still confused and @ Duane... think of modern day slavery, but in your own country, that's what being an immigrant from another country feels like...
@ Duane I agree that blks during slavery bought this country up...but what are blks doing now to make it any better...you cry for freedom...yet mentally you're still in bondage...culture wise nothing to show...people, so many people died for at least some justice for blks...but there's so much disregard for the sacrifice made in the past...we can't move foward as a people...
And please don't get me started on knowing the history of this nation...I'm African and I know more about the history of this country than my own..you could take different parts of history itself, bring it back from the past and some Americans, not just blks would still be lost...
I understand that this a very touchy subject to many Americans..and if it was the other way around, the feeling would be mutual....However, lets not put all the blame on illegal immigrants...There's plenty of faults on both sides....
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By: Cara on 7/12/2010 9:14AM
I agree that this country needs a comprehensive immigration reform, however basing it on the color of a person's skin is ridiculous. This is why this country had the amount of Russian spies here because they were of European decent...the color of their skin stopped them from being questioned. If you ask me, Russian spies are a lot more dangerous than Mexicans who simply want work for a better life. If we are going to have immigration reform we need to keep it simple stupid.
1. Recognize that illegal immigration is not a democratic nor repulican issue. It is American issue that must be dealt with in fair and orderly manner.
2. The government needs to set strict and fair guidelines that will that each state must follow to keep track of everyone who resides there.
3. The government needs to act now!!! This is a long overdue problem that cannot be put off any longer. America is still dealing with the stinch of slavery and the stains it left on our door steps. America's intergrity is at stake. We don't need another blimish on our country.
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