Maybe I'm missing something or am unable to comprehend complex issues, like immigration laws in Arizona. But, I certainly can't figure out where the state went wrong with its recent new policy.
Arizona abuts Mexico and for years and years, has been dealing with the issues of illegal immigration and drug smuggling across the border. In Phoenix alone there's reportedly a drug-related kidnapping a day.
Before George W. Bush left office he tried to assuage part of the problem by offering a pathway to citizenship for Mexican workers with particular skills whom were willing to take jobs in the U.S. that U.S. citizens didn't want, and otherwise couldn't be filled. That suggestion never got any traction and was dropped.
The situation worsened in recent years due to the recession, because state citizens objected strenuously to facing competition for jobs in a shrinking market from people who were in their states illegally. The biggest influx of illegals took place in Arizona.
In 2005, Janet Napolitano was governor of Arizona. She placed herself on the front lines of the national debate over illegal immigration, declaring a state of emergency along her state’s border with Mexico, as did Bill Richardson, the governor of New Mexico. She then freed $1.5 million in disaster funds to help border counties fight illegal immigration and drug smuggling. She's since left the governorship to become head of the Department of Homeland Security in the Obama administration.
Now, along comes the new law which was set according to residents, political scientists and businesspeople in Arizona, by factors including shifting demographics, an embattled state economy and increased violence in Mexico, as well as the perception that the federal government has failed to act on their behalf at all. Arizonans find that particularly irksome, given that Ms. Napolitano now heads Homeland Security
Current Arizona governor, Jan Brewer, signed the nation's toughest bill on illegal immigration On April 23d. It requires police officers, "when practicable," and with provocation to detain people they reasonably suspect are in the country without authorization and to verify their status with federal officials, unless doing so would hinder an investigation or emergency medical treatment. It also makes it a state crime -a misdemeanor- to not carry immigration papers. In addition, it allows people to sue local government or agencies if they believe federal or state immigration law is not being enforced.
When the law passed, Mexico's Foreign Ministry said it was worried about the rights of its citizens and relations with Arizona. Cardinal Roger M. Mahony of Los Angeles said the authorities' ability to demand documents was like "Nazism." President Obama himself criticized the bill shortly before Ms. Brewer signed it, saying it threatened "to undermine basic notions of fairness that we cherish as Americans, as well as the trust between police and our communities that is so crucial to keeping us safe."
The political debate leading up to Ms. Brewer's decision, and Mr. Obama's criticism of the law -presidents very rarely weigh in on state legislation- underscored the power of the immigration debate in states along the Mexican border.
So, let's boil all this down. If I understand this clearly, a border state besieged with illegal entry from those of another country who take jobs from American citizens, sell drugs and commit crimes is disdained by the president of the U.S. because asking those illegals to simply identify themselves is unfair and un-American.
Furthermore, the individual who heads up "Homeland Security" no less, and was vehemently opposed to illegal immigration when she ran the state, no longer sees any urgency to stemming the problem now that she's safely ensconced in D.C.
Well, I think there's a simple answer to this conundrum that will evidence itself in two and-a-half years. Let's let all the illegals vote in the presidential election, no questions asked. The last count I saw said there are approximately 12 million of them in the U.S. right now. And, when that final election count is tallied I think the Democrat party will lose the White House 299,998,000 to 12,000,000.
No comments:
Post a Comment