Thursday, April 26, 2012
Arizona Immigration Law
Arizona is on its way to getting a new law passed SB1070, an immigration law that the state has come up with to fight illegal immigration into Arizona. Living in Texas we hear about illegal immigration all the time, we watch the shows Border Wars and others and it seems as hard as the US works to keep illegals out the influx of those coming in is constant. Immigration is of course a federal matter but I think states such as Arizona, Texas, any border states if need be should be allowed to enforce as a state as well. This new law brings stricter ways of identifying aliens and how to deal with them. But how can we determine at first glance who is a non-citizen? This question is causing those to say this will encourage racial profiling, seeing as most of these immigrants are hispanic. But I dont think this is so, Mexico is our neighbor and our country has millions of hispanic cictizens along with millions of illegal ones. I think if you come from a border state you know diversity and racial profiling is not what anyone would want because those are our friends, in my case our family, and neighbors. No one wishes to see those wrongfully accused, but there is a job to do and I think those who seem suspicious as the SB1070 law states will be questioned, and if there is nothing to hide you have your papers and its understood that this is the law there shouldnt be any hurt feelings. Living abroad in China last year I knew as a visitor on a work visa I had certain papers to carry on me at all times, its the law and I didnt feel singled out when asked for said papers, obviously Im American but I had every right to be there. And those who have rights in this country, citizens should see this as a way to make our states, our country a better place for all. Those who do illegal things like coming here illegally should be removed, because the worst people are the people who feel that the law doesnt apply to them. President Barack Obama has criticized the Arizona law, calling it a threat to “basic notions of fairness.” Pretty sure Obama is looking out for these hispanic citizens, not for fairness but for votes. I think Federal laws against immigration can and should be paired with states laws to prevent illegal immigration.
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I generally agree with your post due to your perspective on illegal immigration; however, I think allowing states to create their own immigration laws may not be constitutionally permissible.
ReplyDeleteImmigration represents one of the biggest and most controversial problems and concerns in the United States, and in Texas and Arizona these issues are magnified due to the states' proximity with the Mexican border. I completely agree with you that the illegal citizens should not be upset about having to show documentation. if someone is here legally, they should have no problem producing identification upon request. Your point that you had to show documentation while in China demonstrates an important point to the SB 1070 debate, that being that other countries require people to show their citizenship status, so why should it be so controversial in the United States? I think that all people living in the United States should be okay with having to do this since living here legally is required by law.and since U.S. citizens must do this in other countries it does not seem to make much sense that we would not have a similar law. However, many would argue that this may not be a relevant argument since those countries' Constitutions and rights differ from those of the United States, and, therefore, would not be pertinent in discussing the legal regulations on illegal immigration in the United States. Moreover, I think that this aspect of 1070 becomes most controversial due to the racial profiling implications that such laws may produce, or some argue even require. While racial profiling and discrimination may be part of the illegal immigration debate, I do not think it is the deciding factor in upholding SB 1070 since it does not relate to whether the states have the power to regulate immigration; rather, it represents a wholly separate constitutional right issue. Therefore, I think that people living in the United States, of any color, and living anywhere, should be held to show their legal right to be in the United States, and the fact that race may come into play should not bear on the constitutionality of a portion of an immigration law when the law is being analyzed as to whether it is constitutional for regulating immigration. Since being in the United States unlawfully is illegal under the United States Constitution and federal laws, law enforcement should remove those who are breaking this law (as you reference and suggest); therefore, they need to have the ability to determine whether people are in fact in this country legally or illegally in order to uphold and enforce the Constitution.
Overall, I agree with most of your argument and think your point that it "is the law" to be in the United States legally is key to this debate. Since there are federal laws to the effect that people should not be in the United States unlawfully, I agree that should be at the thrust of decisions in this area, rather than "basic notions of fairness" that Obama states, as you reference.