Arizona

I’m sure you’ve heard by now the new immigration law that Arizona has passed. It’s stirred up a hornet’s nest of controversy that has been mainly full of lies and mis-information. Let’s dig into this, shall we?

Argument number one: “It’s unconstitutional”

Actually, it isn’t. Here is a section from the actual bill that addresses this issue:

A. NO OFFICIAL OR AGENCY OF THIS STATE OR A COUNTY, CITY, TOWN OR
OTHER POLITICAL SUBDIVISION OF THIS STATE MAY ADOPT A POLICY THAT LIMITS OR RESTRICTS THE ENFORCEMENT OF FEDERAL IMMIGRATION LAWS TO LESS THAN THE FULL EXTENT PERMITTED BY FEDERAL LAW.

That basically means that Arizona can’t do anything that violates federal law.

Argument number two: “It’s a federal issue”

This is not the case. Back in 1996, President Clinton signed a bill that allows states to deal with immigration issues.

Argument number three: “It’s racial profiling”

Actually, it isn’t. There is nothing in the law that says to target any person of any specific nationality or race. In fact, here is the part of the bill that says how they will determine immigration status.

B. FOR ANY LAWFUL CONTACT MADE BY A LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICIAL OR AGENCY
OF THIS STATE OR A COUNTY, CITY, TOWN OR OTHER POLITICAL SUBDIVISION OF THIS STATE WHERE REASONABLE SUSPICION EXISTS THAT THE PERSON IS AN ALIEN WHO IS UNLAWFULLY PRESENT IN THE UNITED STATES, A REASONABLE ATTEMPT SHALL BE MADE, WHEN PRACTICABLE, TO DETERMINE THE IMMIGRATION STATUS OF THE PERSON. THE PERSON'S IMMIGRATION STATUS SHALL BE VERIFIED WITH THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT PURSUANT TO 8 UNITED STATES CODE SECTION 1373(c).



What this basically means is that if you come into contact with the cops for whatever reason; getting pulled over for some moving violation in your car, being arrested for theft, or any other reason the cops deal with you; they can check your immigration status if they have reasonable suspicion that you are an illegal alien. Reasonable suspicion isn’t skin color. Reasonable suspicion is the lack of a driver’s license, car registration, or any other proof of identity. If you have any of the normal stuff you carry on you all the time, you’ll be fine. The idea here is that illegal immigrants typically don’t have these items.


It’s clear to me that the President, Jesse Jackson, Al Sharpton, and all the other political hacks who are criticizing this bill haven’t actually read it based on the words coming out of their mouths. I’m sure this is going to be challenged, and there will be lawsuits, and all that jazz. That ought to be interesting, and here is why…

The main reason Arizona passed this bill is because the federal government wasn’t doing anything to deal with all the problems that illegal immigration has brought to the state. It’s not just people coming here to work. I’m talking about violence, kidnappings, and other crime. The people of Arizona have been waiting for the federal government for years to do something, and they decided they didn’t want to wait anymore. They are essentially asserting their 10th amendment right here, and if the feds start jerking them around, then the feds will be in violation of the constitution. If that happens, there could be a shitstorm on the horizon, and it’s somewhat possible that Arizona could secede. Yeah, I know, that sounds crazy, but it could happen. It’s not likely, but the way things are going, you never know what could happen.

In terms of my own personal feelings on this bill….I’m conflicted. The libertarian in me says that all people are free no matter what geo-political land mass they hail from. Free people should be able to travel freely from one place to another. Just because they cross an imaginary line on the ground doesn’t make them illegal, in my book. However, if Arizona wants to make a law like this one, they are well within their right to do so. I can’t see anything in the bill that is illegal or unconstitutional. I may not agree with it, but it is what it is.

What is really grinding me is how politicians are calling for boycotts against Arizona . Really? What’s the logic in that? Boycotting Arizona will result in lost business and tax income, won’t it? Won’t that lead to a loss of jobs? Won’t that hurt the people they are so concerned about? Makes no sense, but then again, I shouldn’t be surprised at that.

The real solution to this immigration mess is something that you won’t here in mainstream media or from politicians. One big thing the government could do is decriminalize drugs. Mexico is literally involved in a civil war between the government and the drug cartels. The drug cartels exist because there is a demand for those drugs here in the states. Whenever there is a demand for a product or service, someone will fill that demand, legal or not. Since drugs are illegal, it’s a high risk game that these cartels play getting the drugs into the U.S. If drugs were legal, the demand could be met locally with local growers, or hell, even foreign growers and be done in a legal matter. This would save lives, money, and time.

If Mexicans want to come work here, they should be allowed to, and be paid fairly for their work. Since many of them are “illegal”, they fly under the radar. They get paid under the table and don’t complain about work conditions or low wages because they are afraid of being deported. If they could just come and work here, and be covered under the same labor laws that you and I are, then there wouldn’t be an issue here. The free market could handle this no problem.

If you want to read the actual bill, go here: http://www.azleg.gov/legtext/49leg/2r/bills/sb1070s.pdf