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Arizona Governor Jan Brewer has signed the controversial, xenophobic “papers” bill this hour, claiming that she was acting because the Federal government had not.
“Respect for the rule of law means respect for every law,” said Brewer, a Republican. “People across America are watching Arizona.
“We in Arizona have been more than patient waiting for Washington to act,” Brewer added. “But decades of inaction and misguided policy have created a dangerous and unacceptable situation.”
The law, which takes effect in 90 days, will make it a crime to be in the US without proper documentation. Anyone in Arizona can be asked by authorities to produce proof of their immigration status or citizenship—their “papers,” as it were—if they are suspected of being in the US illegally. What justifies that suspicion is, by most accounts, absurdly broad.
If Brewer truly meant to stimulate action in Washington with this signing, she might have gotten her wish. Earlier today, the imminent signing of the Arizona legislation prompted harsh words from the White House. As Dave Dayen remarks, “If in fact, the Congress starts to move the immigration reform bill faster than expected, I would imagine that the Arizona bill. . . would take up the space that the Anthem Blue Cross rate hikes did in the health care debate, or the SEC civil suit against Goldman Sachs is taking up in the Wall Street reform debate.”
UPDATE: Dave now has a bit more on the signing and reaction.
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Don’t fool yourselves (yet again) that Obama doesn’t secretly love this.
Even the Thomas Supreme Court will throw this out, probably unanimously.
Please explain…
Save all the money you’re not spending in Arizona during the boycott to donate to the class action suit that’s going to the Supreme Court — or will go to the Supreme Court — after someone files it.
Oh please! Look, I’m no Orahma fan but that statement is ridiculous and you say nothing to substantiate it. If all you’re here to do is bash him not matter what happens in the wide world, you’re wasting your time and bandwidth.
Aside from this ;), what is the Gov. like? What else has she stood for?
it’s simple… divide and stir, divide and stir, divide and stir…
Obama is doing a superb job of building the coalitions of power he needs while keeping the rest of the know-nothings more in a tizzy about what their usual enemy is doing rather than about what he is up to.
Bash him? Are kidding me? I am more behind the Progressive Obama administration than anyone else here. You don’t have to be the biggest fan, but if you’re not, I do suggest you stay well out of the way.
So Arizonians and Americans visiting Arizona now have to walk around with their passports? Because I don’t know of any proof of citizenship that is easily and quickly verifiable by police, and that can’t be easily forged.
Look it, I know you are all going to think I’m horrible…..but…..I’m glad the bill passed. First of all, it doesn’t go into effect for 90 days. Secondly, I think this may finally get the Congress/WH off their asses about this situation. There are some rascists out there to be sure. But I think alot of people are like me. We live in a border state, we are overrun with illegals. They use precious social resources like the ER’s, educational funds, and such. If it were a couple thousand a yr….then it would be no biggee. But the latino illegals arrive at the rate of a million a yr. It’s overwhelming, and they have babies that are then citizens which makes them and mama eligible for medical care, welfare, etc. It’s just not a viable situation for a country that is essentially bankrupt and can’t employ the people who already live here. The bill is so atrocious that it’s actually gotten the attention of the Pres, so lets hope he does something effective…like enact comprehensive immigration legislation. The folks that are here, are here. They should be made legal, urged to integrate, learn the language, follow the rules, etc. Employers that continue to hire illegals should face a minimum of 6 months in jail…lets face it, nothing else will stop them. Then border needs to be clamped SHUT once and for all. Putting the military down there is disgusting, but if that’s what it takes, so be it. It’s the only fair thing to American citizens, and legal immigrants. Instad of having 10′s of thousands of H1B Visas, how about educating our own kids so they are smart enough to fill technical, engineering type jobs??????????
Margaret, who go for only half the loaf? I’m waiting for the ‘Barack Obama helped Saddam hide the WMD in Syria‘ scandal to erupt.
Well, she’s like, you know, a Republican. One that got her seat when Obama plucked the Democratic incumbent for his cabinet. And, she is, like, up for election in her own right this year, and, like the rest of her GOP brethren, she is pandering to the pitchforks.
(AZ friends also pretty much hated her before this, btw.)
You’re a horrible person, lucy. Ironically, Obama will treat the illegals favorably compared to liberal “progressives” who exhibit dissenting opinions.
Except there is not much “progressive” about Orahma. I find your protest unbelievable. Anytime anything happens, no matter what it is, no matter who it affects, as long as it’s bad, there are a group of people who will reflexively tell us that it’s Obama’s doing or Obama has a secret hand in it or he really approves of it behind his hand while condemning it in public. Me? I’m just sick of everything always being so predictable and so reflexive. There are about 20 percent of people on the right who would have loved Bush even if he took up eating babies. There is about 20 percent of people on the left who will adore Orahma even if he started bashing in puppies brains for fun. There are also about ten percent total people, left and right who see conspiracies in everything. It’s really gotten old. Please show some reason, some depth of thought instead of just a reaction.
Then repeal NAFTA. One of the reasons the illegals came flooding over the border was they were forced out of subsistence framing by the US AG subsidies and Big Ag.
And nail the employers who hire the illegals. Big Ag and Big Construction.
I sure hope that the ACLU will be launching a campaign to document the coming demand for the brown star – I mean, papers and start building the case for overturning this.
One can only expect that fair skinned AZ’ns will not be subject to this odious “law” and the statistical evidence will be telling.
We seem to have gone well down the path to national socialism, and those teabagger militia folks are our homegrown SS.
I watched Judgement in Nuremberg last weekend and found it to be as relevant to our present times as it must have been when made.
Oh OH when oh when will erupt?? Can’t Freaking wait for the next dirty schema the right comes up with…
laker’s a self admitted nihilist.
Only in it for the troll-food. I vote “starve.”
I didn’t know that about laker Kelly, thanks. Done and done.
So, kelly, what religious brainwashing have you endured? If nothing, then you are stupidly illogical.
And Margaret, once again, I am 100% behind the administrations goals. What about this sentence do you not understand?
What a giant snnatch that old bag is!
Corporate America demands undocumented labor as it forces wages down and allows people like you to demonize them while giving corporate America a pass.
Did you know that in the immediate days following Hurricane Katrina that the Davis-Bacon prevailing wage law was suspended? Did you know that at the very same time, the border was flooded with flyers (en espanol)advertising consruction opportunites in the gulf states, and that undocument workers came, worked, were and continue to be exploited by their employers and are subject to robbery and are referred to as ATM’s because they carry their wages – having no banking opportunites? Do you care?
Undocumented workers pay taxes, although I agree that the burden is shifted to local governments. So Lucy, which native american tribe do you hail from, or are you, like so many of the rest of us, also from immigrant stock? You’ve got some learning to do. In the meantime STFU por favor.
I moved away from Arizona three weeks ago (just in the nick of time). Janet Napolitano was pretty much single-handedly keeping the crazy rednecks in the state legislature at bay by vetoing these types of bills. Jan Brewer is one of those crazy rednecks and I’m dismayed but not a bit surprised that she signed that bill. Liberals and moderates in AZ are just thrilled that Obama stole Janet and put her at Homeland Security. That has turned out to be a lose/lose for AZ (thanks Obama).
And Lucy, until you stop referring to human beings as illegals, I can’t listen to anything else you have to say.
“Your papers, please.”
“Awwwwww, man, all’s I got’s a pipe.”
No bong?
Don’t like ‘em. Pain in the ass.
Recalling there was concern that Obama’s appointment of Napolitano to cabinet would put this woman in the governor’s chair.
So what are they going to do with them if and when they catch them?
Is there a mechanism that allows a state to effect deportations? Or have the citizens of Arizona just legislated themselves the privledge of paying to keep them locked up indefinately?
And accidentally sipping the water is pretty gross.
So will they be stopping White people lots of Irish and Polish immigrants in this country? Of course not!
The only people who can possibly like this law are the teabaggers, certain “journalists” and the less scrupulous Democratic strategists who won’t be able to see past the fact that there won’t be one person with an Hispanic surname voting Republican this year.
If FDL has a hit list I want everyone who voted yes on this taken down!
Yup, the regressives are in control and are upping the fear level. Brewer is perfect for them.
When I first moved to Arizona Brewer was Sec. of State. I did a background check on her and discovered she was based in the religious right. I worked for Compassion and Choices and knew that if she became Governor our chances of death with dignity in Arizona was gone. She is also pro-life so trying to protect women and gays would be put in severe jeopardy. I am disappointed that she signed the bill as the responsibility for this mess belongs in the Federal Government.
I remember the old immigration laws and how they were based on the census that at the time had a balanced America. It was a quota system proven the right way. The White House has never taken responsibility to even discuss the situation. We have Mexicans living here in N.W. Phoenix who are 3rd generation just as I was 3rd generation in California, I’m waiting for the American Indians to ask me for my “papers.”
If and when a Latino is under arrest for breaking the law, they should be checked for their legal residency. They would check others for record of lawbreaking. The American people voted for NAFTA when the voted for Clinton. Instead of a lazy religious right G.W.Bush they should have set an agenda they wanted. The voters are responsible for the people they voted for. I did not vote for Jan Brewer when she ran for Sec. State. The voters in Arizona tend to be extremists. I want individual freedoms for everyone.
We do need registration for all our illegal residents. That should be the answer. We can book them my the millions, send them home and they will be back before the papers clear. We need a border and responsible voters. I won’t live long enough to see either.
If the Rethug Party comes out in support of this pos Marco Rubio can kiss the Cuban and other Hispanic vote in FL goodfuckinbye.
Let’s hope so. I think she just shot herself in the foot.
And, saying that white people should educate their children for technical jobs, leaving the maid and trash work for the browns is a really ugly thought. Really ugly.
If the Democrats had any brains, (or backbone), they’d make the all of the repugs go on record how they feel about this abomination at every opportunity.
Well, maybe someone will be interested…
http://roadblues-kitty.blogspot.com/
who knows?
There is noway Dems win without us California alone we can swing, Texas, New Mexico heck we could tank Chicago for Rahm if he really wants to run for Mayor. Trust me given Rahm’s history with immigrants well it won’t only be us the Irish and Polish wards who marched with us in the immigration rights marches will turnout.
I agree wholeheartedly. NAFTA was a horrible bill. It benefited Corp America ONLY. Big fucking surprise!! What it did to the small farmer in Mexico, and the blue collar worker in America is absolutely criminal. Clinton and all his Corp America buddies should all be put in jail for 20 yrs for what they did to individuals through NAFTA and deregulating the banks. I know Clinton did some great stuff when in office, but he fucked this country over royally in other really crucial ways. Grrrrr………
Is there any chance this site will post these great articles and the people can respond to them. These personal insult to each other and subjects not mentioned in the article. I’m tires of fighting with other posters and it is time we discuss hoe to fix the problems. Florida has no idea to copy this Arizona Project. It is a different situation in every state.
It will be interesting (but not in a good way) to see just how much farther to the right JD Hayworth pushes mavericky ole McCain, who has endorsed this bill. I also see that Obama has called AZ out on it, with Janet standing in the background. Oh, the irony.
Hear! Hear! In the twenty first century yet…
This law SUCKS! I am never going to Arizona. I am brown and I am a United States CITIZEN! At least 7th generation Texican. (That means my family has been here a lot longer than white Texans!)
What kinds of clothes and hair style am I supposed to wear to show that I am American? I carry my driver’s license when I drive and a student ID when I am at school, but I refuse to carry my birth certificate around with me!
Yep. Even secessionist teabagger Perry would wake in cold sweat just dreaming about being cornered into having to sign or veto such a piece of legislation.
Oh, it’ll come up and Rubio, and the FL Party leadership, will be asked about it. It won’t be the Dems that ask but it’ll get asked. Be really interesting if Crist condemns it.
I’m not horrible. I just want a horrible situation handled NOW!!!!!!!!!!!!! Lets be real here, Obama and the Congress aren’t going to address this issue unless their political lives depend on it! So hopefully this is a big wake-up call to get going and get the job done. I wouldn’t want 20 million illegal Kiwis in the country either….and I’m married to one! It’s not the race or the color, it’s the quantity and the adverse effect that it has on border state economies. I know, I’m from a border state.
Seems like this same kind of law had unintended consequences in Prince William County, Virginia. They repealed it, but the damage to themselves was already done. You have much to look forward to, racist AZ.
How about that plus they have to pay the immigrants to go home with all their stuff and six months wages even if it means they have to dip into personal not business assets to do this.
Lets not attack the immigrant who is here lets get the businessman who lured him here treat the cause not the symptom.
As an airline pilot, who now flies domestically, I will demand positive ID on any passenger boarding or embarking from and Arizona landing spot.
I have filed a petition, in CA, to require, in the spirit of AZ, that any person thought to be associated with Arizona to have their background checked. That would include anyone driving with Az plates. Every person flying from PHX/whatever to another American destination will have their credentials reviewed, by me. Good luck, fuckers. and, have a good day. white boy.
Most people don’t realize that the present day southern AZ border is the last acquired piece of the Continental US, called the Gadsden Purchase in 1853. It was so they could build a southern railroad route, or present day Interstate 8/10.
What is less well known is that Interstate 25 is built on the US side over a 500 year old highway established by Spain called the Camino Real or Royal Highway.
So who is exactly illegal or non-native here? 500 years of folks moving north and south following the seasons and seasonal work, as they’ve done for generations?
It’s not the natives’ problem; it’s a completely human-made geo-political problem made terrible by NAFTA and then the failure of the maquilladoras, compounded by drug trade violence.
The laws to fix that could be easily made if rational thought trumped political rhetoric.
And Brewer sux.
Yes the Snark is in the House all Hispanics Identify!
This law is worse than I thought, after reading the text, there is actually no stipulation on what proof is allowed, it says if the police suspect your not here legally, they must ascertain from the Federal govt., ie INS. This would mean even a passport wouldn’t help you, if the police wanted to detain you for awhile. I would not recommend anyone visiting Arizona, and this would be especially true for foreign tourists.
Any bets the Cops will be detaining Hispanics on election day? Any bets even if you have ID the slightest bit of lip will get us detained until after the election?
Any Bets the Minute Men will also be at the polling booths?
Indeed. As they say, “we didn’t cross the border, the border crossed us.”
They need to do it for everyone, not just Latinos.
The Vice Mayor of Phoenix was on Maddow last night (Thursday). He said he had asked the Phoenix Chief of Police to stop EVERYBODY for their papers, so that the City will not be liable for racial profiling.
What does Jon McCain have to say about this he was pro a crappy immigration bill but with a Tea Bagger dogging him I bet McCain is pulling his tail.
Leading story on NPR….Bill + threats to boycott AZ…
ID is not enough, you need to demand positive proof of legal status in the U.S. (citizen, legal resident/green card, or visa — and not the credit card).
The Census results come out soon given expected growth in Hispanic Population the GOP has to win every state Governor and State Rep, Senate seat to control how voting districts are drawn up.
Any bets the GOP wants to divide Hispanic areas into as many different districts as they can to dilute our voting power.
Actually I have Blackfoot as well as immigrant stock, thank you very much!! I did know all that you talk about as regards to New Orleans and the exploitation of illegal immigrants. It was horrible, I was against it. I hate Corp America. The only thing I like about them is the provide jobs to people. You are directing your venom at the wrong target. I’m a huge progressive, Obama drives me nuts, I detested Bush, I hate NAFTA, I’m a HUGE proponent of Universal Healthcare, I’m married to an illegal alien, I’m pro-public education, and I can’t stand the fact that people in Mexico, America or any other country are starving, uneducated or hurting in any way. I donate money as I can to a variety or charities. I have dated Mexicans, some of my best friends are Mexicans. I DON’T want a million illegal immigrants a yr coming into the country. Doesn’t make me hate them, or a rascist. If a million of us a yr invaded Mexico and tried to put our kids in their schools, and use their scant medical resources, and take the few jobs they have….we would be HATED. I dont’ hate illegals, but I do want the Feds to do their job and make the ones here legal, and stop the flow of future illegals. I don’t see what’s so horrible about that. The feds won’t do that without a HUGE wake-up call, I think that’s pretty clear at this point. Hopefully this bill will serve to wake them up….I’ve heard Obama bitching about the bill already….he’s waking up!
Really I’m legal and as Brown as an Oak all I got is a Drivers license. Thats all I needed to vote before will that work.
Must not be a white oak. ;-)
Lucy2009
Since I am from Arizona, I will feel the “impact”. And yet, the crazies will preaching that it’s all about “sartorial profiling” and not racial profiling.
As to the costs, perhaps, I should start from the standpoint that the overwhelming majority in white America has turned itself into a Society for the Criminally Stupid. Ooops, am I being a tad too harsh?
However, imagine the cost that’s visisted on the taxpayers of the Nations of Origian, and by that I am referring the the children born here in the USA and where the parents are Undocumented Immigrants. Yup, these children are our “littlest citizens” and thus, if the parents are from Mexico, for example, the taxpayers of Mexico are paying the bill for these “littlest citizens” for the next several or even 18 years due to the costs associated with medical care, education, and the assorts apects that taxpayers deliver to their respective citizens via their commonweal and commonwealth.
So, spare me the bitchin’. It’s unbecoming for your having cavalierly dismissed and abjectly rejected our “littlest citizens” while you go about your daily life.
Jaango
Doesn’t McCain have a brown teenage daughter? Does she have her passport? Will they stop McMeghan all the time too?
I guess when visiting AZ you must also take your US passport.
John Bush’s wife and kids better stay far away from AZ.
See #53 above. It’s even worse than I thought.
Sounds good to me!
Honey Bunny, I’m just a white chick, but I live in a nice little town that is half Hispanic, and the other half is mixed Black, White and Asian.
I travel outside the US quite a bit and know what is required. Believe me, there will be quite a few passengers stranded. I feel no pleasure doing this but feel those “lawmakers” need to experience the consequences of their actions”. As it were.
Hey Jaango,
Just to make this clear. First of all, if you go to a country illegally, and reproduce (or not), you really should be prepared to pay the consequences….whatever they may be. Sorry, that’s just the way things work in the world. If you drive to fast you get a speeding ticket. If you smuggle dope into Thailand they’ll put you away for life. If you cross the border into AZ, they may send you and your “littlest citizen” back to Mexico. Get over it. Follow the laws of the land.
With that said, all I want is for immigration policy to be enacted. This AZ bill, horrible though it is, will serve as a wake-up call. The folks here need to be legalized, the border secured, and employers penalized financially and criminally if they continue to hire illegals.
If you disagree with any of this, SORRY. I disagree with paying taxes every year, but if I don’t I get penalized financially, and if it goes on long enough they’ll take my house or send me to prison. That’s the way life works.
Here’s an article where McCain said Illegal Immigrants ‘Intentionally Causing Accidents On The Freeway’. The man’s unhinged. And that governor needs some Oil of Olay, or something. I know I shouldn’t get personal, but she’s even scary looking.
you mean “Oil of Olé” right? /s
This law is a publicity stunt some politicians have enacted to throw red meat to their base voters. The law itself will last precisely 5 seconds in front of a serious court review.
Employers penalized financially? That will never happen. Where is that in AZ’s new law?
I think Taser use is going to skyrocket and naturally Taser related deaths. Latino grandparents, latino kids, pregnant mothers, etc. will all be getting zapped if they don’t whip out their papers in less than a nanosecond. Cops are high fiving each other over this news. There’s a cop circle jerk going on right now that threatens to burst into flames from all the friction.
Even the current Supreme Court? The one that made corporations people?
Lucy2009
Ya’ still don’t get it!
If you’re a “rich foreigner” you can pledge several million dollars and buy our nation’s citizenship on the cheap. However, if you’re a “poor foreigner” is the price going to be adjusted downward accordingly? Not likely since the ‘cap’ on naturalization is not going to change one iota.
After having read your posts to this thread, I am reminded that of recent vintage, Minority Leader Mitch McConnell of Kentucky said that the Republican Party is the Party of Freedom and the Democratic Party is the Party of Justice. He was certainly correct. Now, if the Era of Enlightenment was to afflict and affect the Democrats, the Democratic Party would be the Party of Equality. Thus, imagine if you can, a woman’s reproductive rights wouldn’t be anchored on Justice but on Equality?
Jaango
Si Si. (You’re just so cute.)
I heard that the police and sheriffs were split 50 / 50 on the bill.
Republics care little about police when there is a good opportunity for posturing.
That is NOT a serious court!
I don’t think it is in the new law. I said that it should be part of comprehensive immigration policy, which is what is really needed. Legalize everyone here, STOP the border flow of new people, and criminal prosecution and financial penalties of employers that continue to hire illegals.
Well, Governor Brewer’s decision certainly hit me in the gut! Image: I was born in AZ with the same last name, though her claim to my birthright is through marriage. Nevertheless, she’s removed my ability to return to my birth state in good conscience. I was drafted into the Marine Corps during Nam and served my country honorably while representing my home state, and AZ just effectively left the union. Needless to say, this is a dark, dark day for me. I recommend a total, national boycott against the State of AZ until this heinous bill is repealed or declared unconstitutional!
The flow would stop if the employers were stopped. The illegals aren’t coming here on vacation. Of course, employers are never the first step, if ever they are a step.
Huh???? All I want is for comprehensive immigration policy to be enacted NOW. Legalize everyone here, STOP the flow at the border and criminalize hiring illegals. Most agree this would be the basis for a comprehensive solution. If you refer to poor people having a hard time getting here legally, I understand. I’m dating an illegal Kiwi. We aren’t rich and it’s going to cost several thousand dollars to get married and get him legal. Some sort of a fair quota system for various countries needs to be included in the immigration policy. Other countries are like this as well. We’ve checked into getting me legal to immigrate to Britain and NZ, and they’ve got all kinds of hoops, waiting lists, paperwork, health checks, etc. I’m sorry that you apprently find my posts offensive, that wasn’t my intent. I like people from all around the world. I find different cultures, food, language and traditions fascinating. I just simply think it’s unviable for us as a nation to take on a million people a yr from another country. (any ocuntry) The new bill stinks and it should be annihilated and replaced with comprehensive immigration policy. I hope this makes very clear how I feel. You may still disagree for whatever reason. Maybe you think the borders should be thrown wide open???
The law purports to make it a crime to be in the state of Arizona “without proper documentation”, not the United States. Its legislature’s hubris to the contrary, Arizona can’t legislate for the United States, the 49 other states, or the District of Columbia.
“We have to do something about immigration” has been said for at least the last 40 years. And the Congress has not acted because they didn’t want to lose the votes. So now we find ourselves with a very real need to “fix” immigration and frankly, I doubt that it will get done. Nothing has changed about the votes.
Hey Badwater, I agree….and that’s the ultimate sham of all of this. Corp America runs this country and they don’t want to stop the flow of illegals into the country and that’s why it continues.
IF THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT WONT ENFORCE IMMIGRATION LAWS–STATES WILL.
Legal citizens who jumped through hoops are welcome–but illegal immigrants will not get any Amnesty–leading to citizenship.
Arizona Govern Jan Brewer has more–SPINE–than the majority of our politicians, to fight the overpowering onslaught of illegal immigration. She signed the 1070 immigration bill. Arizona a border state is rampant with murders, home invasion, kidnappings, rapes, assaults and one of the highest crime rates, by illegal immigrants. Its ignorance and indifference of Washington to enforce our immigration laws. In fact they have purposely under funded them.
San. Harry Reid (D-NV) is not being outed just for health care reform, but being a puppet of open border-special interests groups? LETS MAKE THAT CLEAR.One thing for absolutely sure, desperate illegal alien families will be fleeing Arizona, for more greener pastures such as California. Seeing California is a Refuge state for illegal foreigners and already has the largest illegal population in Unites States other than New York. Now starving for billions of dollars, California will have to amend there own enforcement laws to stop the massive migration or pay a heavy price in extorting more money from taxpayers. Then there is always Utah, Texas, New Mexico or even farther states such as Washington. ONE THINGS FOR SURE, THAT THEY MAY PASS SOME FORMULATION OF IMMIGRATION REFORM. BUT AMERICA WILL FIGHT TOOTH AND NAIL THAT NO “PATH–TO–CITIZENSHIP” FOR THOSE WHO CAME HERE ILLEGALLY. I am personally a tea partier a moderate Conservative and definitely not a Democrat and Republicans.-and illegal immigration is the no.1 priority to me, and must be stopped for good.
Californian’s are under financial hardship owing to the welfare programs that caters to illegal alien families, and with an outpouring of Arizona’s illegals the Sacramento budget will triple in handouts. Californian’s, specifically Angeleno’s and San Francisco There should be no excuse why FEDERAL SOLDIERS SHOULD BE NOT DEPLOYED TO THE 2000 MILE BORDER. They need to police the border, with the under-manned border patrol and even a poorly funded law enforcement agencies. Sheriffs and deputies that are in a very dangerous area are rudimentary armed, against heinous felons, drug cartels, skin traffickers, smugglers and the flow of unceasing indigent illegal immigrants. LET ME REITERATE, THAT IMMIGRATION ENFORCEMENT IS ONLY SEEN TO WORK. BUT THE TRUTH IS ITS NOT ENFORCED–THAT RIGHT NOW HOMELAND SECURITY HAS CUT BUDGETS FOR IMMIGRATION ENFORCEMENT. If you are–NOT–an open border extremist, join the organization that is fighting for our rights, your language, freedoms and liberty at NumbersUSA.
Illegal or not, speaking of any race, human persons are not aliens. They are human beings with minds, souls, hopes, dreams, and families…They may not be US Citizens, but they are human beings, not some alien breed, whatever you happen to mean.
I’m not Lucy, but I have three questions:
a) Does that mean that we should let every human being who wants to live and work here do so?
b) What euphemism for “illegal” do you prefer?
c) And if we’re not going to call illegal what is clearly illegal, can I assume that we should not accuse Obama or Bush or anybody on Wall Street of doing things that are “illegal”? I mean, when is illegal illegal but when is illegal not illegal?
AMEN… If you want Comprehensive Immigration Reform, this needs to be RETOOLED. How come with every issue in America the Elephant in the room has always has something to do with money, class or race?
Many times a mixture of all three. In this case, its all three.
No mention of the thousands of Europeans and Canadians here legally as I said before the face of crime in America is Black or Brown, the face of Immigration is Brown, not White. This is profiling straight up, there are Spaniards, Brazilians and Argentinians with Fair Skin, Green Eyes and Blond hair, how they suppose to pick them out of a crowd of people?
Immigration is a serious issue, but Congress and the WH took far too long on HCR that was neither helpful in the short term or long term. If that’s all they wanted it could have taken 6 months. This for the Dems in the Fall to sweep out morons needs to get this done along with Financial Reform.
Nope NAFTA is the basis for ALL THIS, that the non prosecution of businesses that hire illegals and businesses for not paying a living wage so they can fill those jobs with Americans firstly.
How would you like to have them referred to? Look it, I don’t know where you come from, but I live in L.A. We are loaded with folks who reside here in an illegal fashion. My neighbor has a hispanic housekeeper, whom I adore. She comes from a town in Mexico that doesn’t even supply pencils to students in elementary school. I don’t know if she’s legal or not, and don’t want to. All I know is she works her butt off to support her family. She has a beautiful, incredibly well spoken and behaved 13 yr old daughter. She’s told me how appreciative she is to have Manuela in school here. Being in LA’s public school system will open up doors for that little girl she would never have had in her mother’s hometown in Mexico. I’m glad they are both here and am very fond of them. The rest of Susanna family lives in Mexico. When my family cleans out closets it all goes to Susanna and she takes it to Mexico. I’ve given her TV’s, a refrigerator, a dining room table, etc. I admire hard working people, and I don’t care where the hell they come from. BUT……. we can’t take in everyones poor and downtrodden anymore. We are a well populated country that is a few hundred yrs old now. BTW…my neighbor pays her 20.00/hr.
Kudos to Big Jess!!!!! Thank you!!! You communicated exactly what I was thinking in a much more concise and pertinent manner! :)
This is not race based for me. If we have a million Brits, or Germans or Canadians, or Australians coming in illegally every year…I feel the exact same. I’ve never heard of, nor read that to be the case. However, we do have a million Mexicans/yr coming in over the border illegally. That’s the difference. Not their color. If we had a handful or stragglers from Mexico, like we do from other countries, I don’t think anyone would really care.
Re-read what I wrote, dippy!! There is nothing offensive or wrong with it. I merely related a few personal experiences in the area, and what most people consider to be the solution for a comprehensive immigration bill. I’ve also made atleast one post on this topic regarding my thoughts on NAFTA and employers role in all of this. Did you read those????
If you people want me to say that we should have our borders wide open to any person of any calibre, color, or origin whenever they bloody want, for whatever bloody reason. That they should be welcomed, treasured and taken care of cradle to fucking grave…..I AIN’T going to do it!!!! So get over it. I’m not a Repub, I’m not rascist, and I’m not rich. I just think there should be control on immigration. I think the flow needs to controlled and people need to be invited in. It’s the Feds job, and they aren’t doing it, so the states are taking matters into their own hands. Good for them. If enough of them do it, then maybe the Feds will get up off their worthless asses and do their job. I know NAFTA screwed things up royally. I think it should be repealed. Blah, Blah, Blah, Blah……. Get over it!
Agreed
Cool
Not where I used to live:)
Damm well straight!
Demi you got Cred your a friend of a Hispanic person:) and don’t ever forget it:)
Don’t call me a troll, but either the undocumented need to stop taking jobs or they need to leave.
OMG, I can’t believe this. You just don’t get it? Sorry, why don’t you just move to another country?
What a juvenile and stupid posting.
Re moving to another country: that’s the whole point isn’t it? People can’t just move to another country!!!!! There are rules, and paperwork, and, and, and….. Other countries don’t just let you move in!! You have to meet LOTS of qualifications…even if you marry one of their own!!
BTW….just saw Obama on the telly. Magically, immigration just got bumped to the front of the Congressional line. Might it be because he and the Congress are scared shitless as to what the reprecussion of this vicious bill might be????? Nothing like a catastrophe to get a little action in D.C.
Prince William County’s illegal immigration resolution was not repealed. Someone needs to get their facts straight!
Good for Arizona – and hopefully other states will pass the same bill! WE will work with our Virginia Governor to get the same bill enacted.
Of course “THE ONE” is loving every minute of this, he is a republican in democratic clothing. That being said and believed with every ounce of blood I have in me, I must stand with Arizona on this issue. I am a liberal and one very true in form, but im not a stupid one, I have now as I have always had the ability to think for myself and to a conclusion based on what I believe is this right thing. Soooo Today I Stand firmly with Arizona, They have repeatedly ask for help with this overwhelming problem from washington and totally ignored due to the vast push of their Amnesty agenda. Let’s face the facts here people WE AS A NATION CAN NOT TAKE ON 12-20 Million MORE IMMIGRANTS and not expect it to really hurt us in the long run. When history repeats its self as we all know that it will, the price we as americans having a hard enough time at finding and securing jobs as is, will pay for the misstake ten times over, and all for what other than a secured VOTE.
It is a matter of who has more power and where. Thinking about it all the “founding fathers” were all immigrants to the land of the Indian nations. Of course, none will admit to this. The only difference is who had the bigger Killing and financial power. Why don’t all white people return to their respective countries? You birth place or heritage doe snot make anyone better or worst, just different. ..And of course, I am for immigration reform,but no racism based laws. This is no longer America the great, but poor America the once great.