Posted on 05/31/2010 8:02:39 PM PDT by rhema
PHOENIX — It seems as though each day brings a new group announcing that it will boycott Arizona in response to our state's recently enacted immigration law, S.B. 1070. Many are jumping on the media-hype bandwagon rather than taking the time to read the bill and research the facts.
It is not just unfortunate that cities such as Boston, San Francisco and Seattle, which are far removed from the problems that we face here on the southern border, have announced boycotts against Arizona. Frankly, it's offensive. If such drug- and gang-related crimes were affecting public safety in Manhattan or Boston, East Coast elites would be declaring a national emergency.
But instead we have Attorney General Eric Holder, who, after criticizing S.B. 1070 and suggesting that the federal government may sue Arizona, admitted he hadn't actually read it. And then there is President Obama, who called it "misguided" even though it mirrors federal law.
Americans overwhelmingly support this law, according to polls, and at least 18 other states are considering similar immigration laws. In fact, Arizona's state government has received hundreds of unsolicited donations from across the nation. This sends an incredible message to our federal government that, until it steps up to protect citizens, states will have no choice but to act, as Arizona did, for our citizens' safety.
I hope the president, the attorney general and other concerned Americans read Arizona's legislation. If they do, they would learn that, as signed, S.B. 1070 mirrors federal law by making it a state crime to be in this country illegally, as has been the case in federal statute for decades. The trailer bill makes it crystal-clear that racial profiling is not and will not be tolerated. It also recognizes an established standard, "reasonable suspicion," for Arizona law enforcement officials to use when determining whether a person's presence is legal. This measure protects both the officer and the individual in question.
Furthermore, Arizona Gov. Jan Brewer issued an executive order requiring the state to use representatives from U.S. Immigration and Customs to train our law enforcement officials, ensuring they receive appropriate training to apply federal standards. In any event, the legislation clearly states that law enforcement officials "may not consider race, color or national origin" while enforcing immigration law.
Under the law, officers can only attempt to determine a person's immigration status during "lawful contact," which is defined as a lawful stop, detention or arrest. Any "reasonable suspicion" can be derived only through the investigation of another violation or crime. Those who are concerned that law enforcement can simply walk up to a person and say, "Can I see your papers?" should keep this in mind.
Even California, a state home to vocal detractors of S.B. 1070 and Arizona boycotters, has a similar law on its books. I suggest critics research California Penal Code Section 834b, which states, in part: "With respect to any such person who is arrested, and suspected of being present in the United States in violation of federal immigration laws, every law enforcement agency shall do the following:
"Attempt to verify the legal status of such person as a citizen of the United States, an alien lawfully admitted as a permanent resident, an alien lawfully admitted for a temporary period of time or as an alien who is present in the United States in violation of immigration laws. The verification process may include, but shall not be limited to, questioning the person regarding his or her date and place of birth, and entry into the United States, and demanding documentation to indicate his or her legal status."
Sound familiar?
Arizona has plenty to do fighting the effects of illegal immigration. It's a shame that because of our efforts to protect our citizens and uphold federal law, we now have to fight ignorance, too.
Kirk Adams, a Republican from Mesa, is speaker of the Arizona House of Representatives. He wrote this column for the Washington Post.
I’ve met Kirk several times and he is the real deal. A small business owner and true conservatice.
Sorry, that should be conservative.
Too many don’t even know how to read English, and they don’t want to learn.
It has nothing to do with the bill. These are child like nitwits that are part of the King Obama organized squad placing a smoke screen to cover the anti-constitutions bills that he will sneak up our collective butts. In a few years these same sick nitwits will bitch when they find they supported the same screwing we will all get.
Ping!
The bill basically gives the state of Arizona the authority to enforce the same laws Eric Holder and the rest of the goons in this administion who refuse to enforce in the first place. The law is based on federal statutes. The Democrats are upset because it effectively would close a loophole to the biggest voter drive in American history.
To understand the left, it must first be recognized that none of the left’s causes are real, but serve only as rallying points for the ‘enlightened’ to channel the enthusiasm and rage of the benighted. The only thing the left truly believes is that free enterprise, private property and individualism must be eradicated. RINO’s rise to the bait, thinking that this weird ‘diversity’ obcession, or the environment, or abortion will placate the left, when the left hasn’t the slightest interest in any of those alleged causes. They haven’t read SB1070 because they don’t care what it says, so long as they can gin up outrage and energize their foot soldiers. The Jihadists know how to persuade the left, and that’s with fear; nothing else registers with them. Reason is pointless.
We don’t read no stinkin’ bills no more. What do you think this is, a representative democracy?
The goal and end-game of this fabricated "controversy" is for Democrats to gain political advantage (ie., the Hispanic vote) with the help of their "mainstream" newsrooms who are only too eager to spin tales of "profiling" and "potential for civil rights abuse" on behalf of their party.
Of course they read the bill, and of course they are lying. If they didn’t lie, then they would have to admit that they didn’t find anything wrong with it, or would have to state what they found wrong, and most Americans would agree with the bill, not the “no such thing as a US border” activists.
Arizona really should initiate a program offering free bus-tickets for illegals to LA, San Francisco, New York, Chicago and Boston.
If they love the illegals so much, let them take them...by the thousands!
Arizona really should initiate a program offering free bus-tickets for illegals to LA, San Francisco, New York, Chicago and Boston.
If they love the illegals so much, let them take them...by the thousands!”
Make sure that the illegals carry papers that clearly state where they came from & how they got there!!
Bus tickets are sure cheaper than welfare & jail cells.
Of course they have read it. What? You have never heard them lie before? That document is being poured over in order to find a way to defeat it.
These people are born liars, but are dumb enough to believe others lies. They lie, then they believe the lies of others themselves. It’s sick. They can justify anything to themselves, they can excuse themselves anything.
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