The Arizona legislature sent the Republican governor, Jan Brewer, legislation making it a crime under state law to be in the country illegally. She signed the law today. It also requires local police officers to question people about their immigration status if there is reason to suspect they are illegal immigrants; allows lawsuits against government agencies that hinder enforcement of immigration laws; and makes it illegal to hire illegal immigrants for day labor or knowingly transport them. Sanctuary cities are outlawed in the legislation.
Three problems immediately come to mind.
1. Illegal aliens living in Arizona will not call the police after a burglary or other criminal offense because they will fear being arrested. Special Order 40 in Los Angeles was issued specifically to stop police from arresting suspected illegal aliens when dealing with crime issues.
2. This law could result in everyone wearing an arm band to identify their status similar to Nazi Germany banding Jews and other “undesirables”.
3. There will be racial profiling. Anyone with a Hispanic/Latino surname, physical characteristics common to Mexicans, or an accent will be stopped and questioned.
I have to respect those Arizonans for having the courage of their convictions. Has anyone seen this data regarding crime in Arizona that was compiled by someone in Michigan? When the car washes have no employees and the care givers have all left will they still demand the imposition of this law? If the law conforms to all Federal law it will not be overturned.
Despite the down sides, forcing illegal aliens back to their home countries is a good thing. Most illegal aliens probably won’t go back to their native countries. My question is how do you identify illegal aliens from Canada, eh?
The Republican Party will pay a price for this law.
Here are two links that are worthy of considering from the Arizona Republic and from Freewheel Burning.
Coast Contact 