Border Enforcement: The Feds Fail So Arizona Acts
Saturday, April 24, 2010 at 11:47PM Today we bear witness to yet another example where the federal government has failed. And in the wake of that failure, Arizonans, whose state budget, quality of life and safety of citizens has been challenged as a direct result of these federal government failures.
Arizona undertook a proactive approach enacting its own Plan for Border Enforcement and Immigration enforcement measures. Governor Jan Brewer's signing of that law, has been followed by the lame stream media's relentless barrage of assault as "racist and bigoted."
President Barack Obama characterized the new law "misguided" and has instructed the Justice Department to examine it's legality, followed by swift finger pointing, where he blames the congress for its failure to act with an immigration reform bill.
A steady diet of blather, drama and diatribes continues from the likes of MSNBC, CBS, ABC and NBC. The ranting of fears, abuse and racial profiling now carry the day, barbed with name-calling, vicious attacks and vitriol from those in opposition.
“We can't walk to school any more. We can't be in the streets anymore without the "pigs" (sic) thinking we're illegal immigrants,” said Emilio Almodovar, a 13-year-old American citizen from Phoenix told a reporter.
"Pigs" Such descriptors lend themselves to the suggestion that perhaps Emilio is no stranger to contact with area Law Enforcement. context is everything, Emilio. The law Governor Brewer signed is consistent with Federal law as Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio aptly points out to Fox News,
Nothing new for the Granite State. In 2005 this very issue visited the Granite State when Chief W. Garrett Chamberlain of the New Ipswich Police Department apprehended illegal aliens. This was not the first time. Having discovered illegal aliens in town on prior numerous occasions, New Ipswich Officers found their efforts continuously thwarted by the continued apathy of Immigration Agents. We saw this unfold in Hudson not too long thereafter.
The media, courts,and Immigrations and Customs Enforcement, (ICE) and our own state lawmakers have lost touch with the larger salient issue: It is a crime to cross America's Borders without following the laws established by our nation. Former State Representative Hector Velez weighed in saying, "none of these guys were looking for anything except hard work. You ask me, some people are afraid of the unknown." Unknown? It is a crime, Hector. Persons not present lawfully are here unlawfully. Why is that so widely ignored!
Suddenly, the lame stream media has gone mute about the murder of 58 year-old Arizona Rancher Robert Krenz in Cochise County. Why do citizens have to tolerate Burglary? Why do citizens have to tolerate robbery, murder, drug dealing, excessive drain on the states' infrastructure, property destruction, kidnapping, and all the other trappings associated with illegal border incursions and the activities they sometimes bring.
One of the biggest fears for open border advocates is the likelihood that other states might follow Arizona. That is a reasonable fear when the Feds systemically drop the ball.
We are a nation of immigrants. The eclectic nature of who we are and where we came from is not in dispute. Many enter seeking opportunity and prosperity for themselves and their families. However, to come here crossing the border illegally, hence, committing an ilegal act, does not square with the "law-abiding" argument. Law-abiding illegal immigrants. Last time I checked, that fits the definition of oxymoron.
So we have all of these illegal aliens here...Do we then turn a blind eye, and tell the Indian and Pakistani people who come here LEGALLY, following all the rules, "Hey, you folks are chumps! you should have come here by way of Mexico!" We might as well! When we turn away from illegals that is essentially what we are doing.
Like so many others, my family emigrated from Europe and followed the rules. It's time for our southern neighbors wanting a place in American society to do the same.
Arizonans simply asked the Federal Government to do their job and secure the border. President Obama failed, as did the Congress. Now the finger is being pointed and still nothing is being done. Arizonans, desperately needing a solution acted, in their own self-interest. In any legal action arising, the federal government will continue to cling to the yoke of federal authority, arguing that border control is their exclusive domain. But rightfully so, Arizona can assert, not only a 10th Amendment right to enact laws to protect its citizens, but Arizona should also argue that the ambit of Federal Government ICE enforcement has been such an abysmal failure that it ceded its exclusivity by derelection.
When congressional members talk about comprehensive immigration reform, such talk is mere lip service to the issue and means the status quo will be maintained. While illegal immigration might seem on its face not to be much of a New Hampshire issue, let us not forget the New Ipswich or Hudson incidents.
Reader Comments (8)
It should be easy to tell the Quebecois because they all have white skin. NH caucasians will just have to carry their birth certificates with them in case the police make a mistake. Surely this is a small price to pay to make our border safe, n'est-ce pas?
The Arizona law arises out of the systemic ongoing failures of the Federal Government. Under HB 1071, police could not use race as a pretext to stopping and checking a persons residency status. Its all very clear. That argument is a shill. Historically, officers from time to time have stopped somebody, only to be later found that such stop lacked sufficient probably cause. This is the reason we have laws. To keep EVERYBODY in check.
As for your characterization of the AZ law, your interpretation of HB 1070 differ from that of many observers. The "Support Our Law Enforcement and Safe Neighborhoods Act" says in part:
FOR ANY LAWFUL CONTACT MADE BY A LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICIAL OR AGENCY OF THIS STATE OR A COUNTY, CITY, TOWN OR OTHER POLITICAL SUBDIVISION OF THIS STATE WHERE REASONABLE SUSPICION EXISTS THAT THE PERSON IS AN ALIEN WHO IS UNLAWFULLY PRESENT IN THE UNITED STATES, A REASONABLE ATTEMPT SHALL BE MADE, WHEN PRACTICABLE, TO DETERMINE THE IMMIGRATION STATUS OF THE PERSON. THE PERSON’S IMMIGRATION STATUS SHALL BE VERIFIED WITH THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT PURSUANT TO 8 UNITED STATES CODE SECTION 1373(c).
Parsing this, what is "reasonable suspicion" that an individual is an illegal, aside from skin color? Illegals do not wear "just visiting" badges, as far as I know. A policeman is required to act under this law if the suspicion is reasonable (note the "attempt shall be made... to determine the immigration status" requirement in the law. If you are policeman, how are you supposed to act in order to fulfill the specific intent of the law?
Did you know the AZ chiefs of police association opposes this bill? The reason they give is "The provisions of the bill remain problematic and will negatively affect the ability of law enforcement agencies across the state to fulfill their many responsibilities in a timely manner."
In reading the law (http://www.azleg.gov/legtext/49leg/2r/bills/sb1070s.pdf) , I was struck by how disproportinate the penalties were between the illegals (class 2,3, or 4 penalty) and the employers who hire them (must fire thw rokers or may lose business license, but no fine and no jail time).
Did you know the AZ
Word of warning ... Anuther Libral Idjit is really a troll ... you can find the same entries from them on Steve MacDonald's " http://www.nhinsider.com/steve-mac-donald/2010/4/23/arizona-maybe.html " and the answers they received there.
Just remember Illegal Immigrant to you is an Undocumented Democrat Voter to them!
Bob DeMaura
Here are two additional points our liberal friend would like to ignore...
Arizona has the highest per capita level of kidnapping out of any state in the country. They also have one of if not the highest level of out of state crimes, which is crimes committed by people who do not live in the state.
That's all well and good for our liberal friends such as the politicians down in Boston who voted to openly welcome any illegals who can make their way to Boston because for now it's not their kids being kidnapped and they aren't the ones being harmed (that they know of) by the illegals.
idjit here selectively quotes information and chooses to hear only what they want to hear. Take for instance their comment about the AZ chiefs of police association. If you look up their stance, they actually do not oppose the bill as idjit suggests. They actually had a mix stance on the bill. The two largest objections they had were 1) by arresting more illegals they will only increase the costs to the state and 2) they are concerned about the lawsuits that will be filed by the left in attempts to claim racism. But when you have police being murdered by illegals at high rates the need to do something is clearly there.