Am I missing something?

[agriking]

I've been listening to people freaking out about Arizona's new immigration laws for three days now. The liberals seem to be missing the point regarding illegal immigrants, that being, they're ILLEGAL. I see nothing wrong with Arizona having the balls to stand up and enforce a law that the federal government enacted

Comments

[henkkuli]

Cute. Birth certificate trope.

The liberal -- and I use this word in the classical sense -- point regarding illegal immigration is that the legal/illegal distinction is irrelevant. Anti-immigration legislation is born out of nativism and isn't a new phenomenon in American history; consider attitudes toward postwar immigration (especially toward refugees from Europe), quotas on immigration from China way back when, etc. Immigration levels are a function of economy; as long as things are better here than they are there, people will come across. Policymakers should encourage the integration of immigrants into American society, not setting them apart. Vilifying people just reeks of nativist resentment, and misses the point more than the distinction between "legal" and "illegal." Just laws and all that.

The problem with Arizona's law is that it will require anyone who looks brown -- who, despite perceptions, are largely US citizens -- to carry identification with them because police will be empowered to stop them just because they look brown. That kind of thing is commonplace in police states, and is unAmerican.

[agriking]

Liberals always like to complicate a black and white issue by shading it gray. Illegal immigrants in Arizona is a real problem. They have been asking the federal government to do something about it for several administrations. While I'll admit the perception of a police state is a bit more severe than I'd like to see what are they supposed to do? The federal government has ignored the problem.

[tko_ak]

The federal government has ignored the problem, but this isn't going to solve the issue. And quite frankly, Arizona doesn't have the money to try and solve the immigration issue.

[agriking]

Actually it may solve the issue for Arizona as Mexicans say they well all leave the state. Its kind of like putting a band aid on the severed artery but its a temporary fix for Arizona itself. Plus I can't help but admire their initiative for states rights over the Obama nanny state sentiments currently prevailing.

[amurderofcows]

Per my post below, for residents of six or seven states which issue driver's licenses unrecognized by Arizona as proof of legal residency, it will require them to carry US passports (which most US citizens don't even own) to enter Arizona, the constitutional right of Americans to move freely among the states be damned.