Arizona immigration law

[cassiesmom]

The new law in Arizona that authorizes police officers to stop suspected illegal immigrants for proof of citizenship is creating quite the buzz in Chicago. There was a demonstration for immigrant rights at the immigration and customs detention center.

I think that if the police are stopping a person for another valid reason, and they have a legitimate suspicion that the person might be in the country illegally, then (and only then) they have a right to ask for proof of citizenship. But for them to be able to ask anyone, at any time, arbitrarily, to show proof - I think that's going too far. Chicago has a lot of Eastern European immigrants as well as lots of Spanish speakers - if stopped by police, would the Eastern European people be handled differently because they "look American"? I'm thinking this will become a Pandora's box on immigration.

[momoffuzzyfaces]

Well, if the US government had kept it's promise to do something about illegal immigration, Arizona wouldn't be doing this. Since the gov built part of the promised fence but not all of it, illegals are coming in through Arizona. A rancher was recently killed on his own property by some of them. Legal citizens should not be killed and terrorized on their own property by folks who shouldn't be here.

The US gov doesn't even enforce the laws it has passed.

I don't blame Arizona, I blame our federgal Government.

The only time they can ask for papers is if they have a legitimate reason to ask. They aren't going to round them up like cattle and drive them back across the border. Sad fact, is something does need to be done.

Why should people who don't belong here have ANY rights of our country?
If they want to apply for citizenship, that's wonderful. I'm all for it. As long as they come legally!

If I stole someone's car and resold it, should I get off a jail sentence just because I contributed to the ecconomy by paying taxes with the money I earned from the sell of the car?

I still think we should just have invaded Mexico and made them part of the US instead of messing around overseas.

[lizbud]

The blame should be placed with the companies that hire illegals.
The companies can keep more money by paying them less & paying
no payroll taxes. It's win-win for the companies.

It's hard to blame people who want to work & make a living for their
famiies.

[momoffuzzyfaces]

I don't blame them but wouldn't it be better to work legally and not have to live in fear all the time? I sure think it would. Is it that hard to get a green card to work here? I don't know. I'm just asking.

[Lady's Human]

So, exactly what does an illegal immigrant look or sound like?

The 14th amendment to the Constitution give the power to enforce immigration law to the federal government, not the states.

If you want to impeach you congressional delegation for failing to uphold their oaths of office (refusing to enforce the law of the land in relation to immigration) then do so.

Passing a patently unconstitutional law to try to fix something doesn't make it right.

[momoffuzzyfaces]

The 14th amendment to the Constitution give the power to enforce immigration law to the federal government, not the states.

If you want to impeach you congressional delegation for failing to uphold their oaths of office (refusing to enforce the law of the land in relation to immigration) then do so.

Passing a patently unconstitutional law to try to fix something doesn't make it right.

So, how does one go about impeaching the federal government? They are the ones not enforcing their own law to make it illegal for people to hire undocumented workers.

[Karen]

It is difficult for an person from Mexico to get papers to work here legally, it costs money and takes time, often years. For unskilled workers, it is more difficult. Even skilled workers have to apply for a work visa and include information for an employer who has already hired them in the US. The employer has to do its part as well, and fill out certain forms.

[Lady's Human]

So, how does one go about impeaching the federal government? They are the ones not enforcing their own law to make it illegal for people to hire undocumented workers.

It's already illegal for employers to hire illegal immigrants.

You can't impeach the entire federal government, but a congressman or two would be a good start.

Barring that, start a recall petition drive.

[Marigold2]

They are all over the place like flies, even here in upper Ohio they work in the nursery not far from where I live.
It's a disgrace to every hard working legal immigrent who came here and had to do all the paperwork and follow all the rules.
What is the problem with shooting them at the boarder with a tazer and then sending their illegal rear ends back to wench they came from?
Or sending them to jail? After all they did break the law!
And while we are at it lets revoke the anker baby crap already. If the baby is born here fine, it can stay but mom and dad, grandma and 15 cousins who don't speak English go home already. Baby can be adopted out.

[Lady's Human]

Again, what does an illegal immigrant look or sound like?

Have you checked with the nursery workers to see if they're illegal? Just because someone doesn't look "right" doesn't mean they're illegal.

If you're so certain they ARE illegals, why not call INS yourself?

[Marigold2]

I know because they come up every summer to work in the nursery which is one of the biggest in the state if not the country. They don't speak English and they leave right after that and this year I will be calling you can bet your sweet bippy. As to what they look like, they all look alike, dirty, covered in soil.

[Lady's Human]

As to what they look like, they all look alike, dirty, covered in soil.

That means damned near every farmer in upstate NY is an illegal immigrant?

[cassiesmom]

what does an illegal immigrant look or sound like?

This is what worries me about immigrants (whether legal or not) to Chicago. Employers are not supposed to hire illegals, but they do. I'm concerned that it is going to turn into an issue of Hispanic = illegal and white = legal around here, which is not necessarily true. Hispanic people can be here legally and many are. But I agree with MoFF that the federal government's inaction isn't helping.

[Lady's Human]

I've seen Irish illegals, Chinese illegals, legal hispanic immigrants of multiple extractions, etc.......

Again, what does an illegal immigrant look like?

The Federal government's inaction does not justify extra-constitutional measures, especially when there are Constitutional solutions.

[DJFyrewolf36]

I have a friend who is about the whitest person you could meet and he is technically here illigally. He was born in England and his grandfather kidnapped him and brought him to the US. By the time anything was done England didn't want to take him and the US didn't want to let him work. He is over 21 and has been dealing with paperwork processing since he turned 18.
The process isnt easy. Hes been in this country since the age of 4 and is finding things difficult even with family resources in both places. I can't immagine how hard it would be for a non-english speaking person with no family to help them and no money. I don't think rounding up illigals is the answer and I don't think making the process harder is the answer either. If they can prove their willingness to adopt our language, pass some tests in that regard and find a job then they should be allowed at least part time residency.
There is no way to visually spot an "illigal". They tried that in the late 1800s and it caused a lot of bloodshed and heartache. Id like to think civilization has advanced a bit since then.