| On April 23, 2010, the Governor of Arizona, Jan | | | | proximity to Mexico. Arizona Border Control |
| Brewer signed into law one of the strictest | | | | apprehended over 200,000 persons attempting to |
| anti-illegal immigration laws the country has ever | | | | enter the country illegally in 2008 and it is |
| seen - known as Arizona SB1070. The bill | | | | estimated that for every one successful |
| effectively makes it a crime for any alien to be in | | | | apprehension, 2 more succeed in crossing. Who |
| the State of Arizona without being able to | | | | are we to say what the situation is like on a daily |
| produce legal documents proving residency. This is | | | | basis in Arizona? I don't live there, so I can't fault |
| enforced, for example, by a law enforcement | | | | them for trying to create a solution to deal with |
| officer requesting said documentation when a | | | | their growing problems. If you take a look at the |
| reasonable suspicion arises that they may not be | | | | statistics, you will notice that Arizonians have a |
| of legal standing in this country. In addition to the | | | | higher favorability rating of the bill than the rest of |
| ramifications the law imposes on illegal aliens, the | | | | America. They are the ones dealing with the |
| passage of the bill also discourages the hiring and | | | | crippling economic and drug impact on a daily basis |
| hiding of illegal immigrants by legal residents. This | | | | - and Arizonians are overwhelming in favor of it. |
| includes providing shelter, transporting, attempting | | | | Once again, the liberal media has spun this into |
| to transport by "recklessly disregarding the | | | | one big giant controversy. I guess they didn't see |
| individual's legal status." Fines and even jail time | | | | the new independently researched FoxNews poll |
| are established for non-compliance. | | | | showing that 68% of Americans want to wait |
| The bill was amended by the Arizona House 7 | | | | and see how this works before the partisan |
| days later to modify certain document text and | | | | fighting begins. |
| clarifying definitions of when immigration status | | | | Americans have asked to produce identification |
| can be questioned. The House bill also lowered the | | | | for years, for all types of reasons. In fact, I've |
| original fines from a minimum of $500 to a | | | | received a citation in the past for not having it |
| maximum of $100 and changing incarceration limits | | | | with me while driving. How does it become |
| for first time offenders. The bill is set to go into | | | | suddenly racial when an individual is asked to |
| effect on July 28, 2010. The ensuing controversy | | | | prove identification UNDER REASONABLE |
| started the day the bill was signed and the State | | | | SUSPICION of illegal status? Aside from the civil |
| of Arizona is preparing to fight off numerous civil | | | | rights and constitutionality arguments, much of |
| rights and constitutionality lawsuits. | | | | the apprehension has come from law |
| The passage of the bill is the first one of its kind | | | | enforcement on a local level - but for much |
| and has spawned national and even international | | | | different reasons. While supportive of the overall |
| controversy. Not surprisingly, President Obama | | | | idea, many law servicemen feel that with this bill, |
| lambasted the bill calling it misguided. Once again, | | | | political unrest and tensions will escalate in the |
| the President has failed to accurately gauge the | | | | Hispanic community. There have been past |
| pulse of the American electorate for fear of | | | | concerns regarding distrust with the police, and |
| alienating his strong Hispanic voting block. In a | | | | the passage will surely make their jobs |
| recent Rasmussen Poll, national results show that | | | | increasingly difficult and dangerous. This could lead |
| 60% favor the passage while only 31% oppose | | | | to a decrease in the reporting of crimes and little |
| the core legislation allowing local police to "stop and | | | | to no cooperation in governmental investigations. I |
| verify the immigration status of anyone they | | | | believe that the very accusation of proposed |
| suspect of being an illegal immigrant." The bill was | | | | racial profiling is selling our law enforcement very |
| even hailed by Joe Arpaio, Sheriff of Maricopa | | | | short. These same men and women have sworn |
| County, who sees first hand the effects of illegal | | | | to protect us and abide by the letter of the law. |
| immigration in his county. The leading reason so | | | | Do we really have that much distrust in law |
| many are opposed to illegal immigration even | | | | enforcement that we don't think that could handle |
| beyond its legality is the economic impact it has | | | | the simple test of determining reasonable |
| on all. Illegal or undocumented aliens pay no taxes | | | | suspicion? Obviously, many of the officers fears |
| other than state sales tax. The biggest impact it | | | | are justified, but hopefully the end result will |
| has is by not paying federal income taxes. The | | | | create a better America for all. |
| only way for them to work is to work "off the | | | | Was this the perfect solution to a border state's |
| books" and be paid in cash. Even those living at | | | | illegal immigration problem? Only time will tell, but I |
| poverty level qualify for an income tax of up to | | | | do know that something had to change. We have |
| 15%. It's just not right that they get to drain our | | | | to keep in mind that this is not an anti-immigration |
| social services without "paying in their fair | | | | law, but rather an anti ILLEGAL immigration law. I |
| share." We must not forget that even if the | | | | applaud Arizona for taking the initiative that |
| overwhelming majority of illegal immigrants living in | | | | protects legal US citizens first and foremost. As I |
| this country are good, God Fearing people, they | | | | have said in the past, we need immigrants - legal |
| are still breaking the law. Their very illegal | | | | ones. Many times Americans don't realize what |
| presence here affect both you and I. Illegal | | | | we have. We have become complacent, spoiled |
| immigration is a drain on our medical system and | | | | and entitled. Many immigrants are coming to |
| social services, and with the economic state of | | | | America because they are hungry - hungry for |
| our Country the way it is, it undercuts wages for | | | | work and a better life. Immigrants who go |
| all. | | | | through the proper channels show that they are |
| Illegal immigration has become a rampant problem | | | | committed to become a benefit to our economy |
| and say otherwise would be a gross distortion of | | | | and make their life easier, and I can bet you one |
| the truth. Politicians in 10 states have voiced their | | | | thing - most of the legal immigrants that came |
| approval and willingness to pass similar legislation, if | | | | here through proper channels are in support of |
| possible, in the future. Many are looking towards | | | | this bill as well. |
| Arizona as their "guinea pig" due to bordering | | | | |