Today the Governor of Arizona signed into law a bill which aims to help police deal with illegal immigration. So far so good right? Everything's good, just another day in Arizona. So why am I writing about it? Because when you actually read the bill there are some very scary things in it, and I don't mean that the bill quotes Stephen King, the scariness of this bill is a much more George Orwell type of scariness.
The bill states that "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)."
Yeah. And that's not even the best bit. That comes later in the bill when it says "A LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICER, WITHOUT A WARRANT, MAY ARREST A PERSON IF THE OFFICER HAS PROBABLE CAUSE TO BELIEVE THAT THE PERSON HAS COMMITTED ANY PUBLIC OFFENSE THAT MAKES THE PERSON REMOVABLE FROM THE UNITED STATES."
What I love is that the Governor of Arizona signed the bill and then issued an executive order saying that police officers should have training on how to enforce this law without using racial profiling. Did she miss the memo or something? "REASONABLE SUSPICION EXISTS THAT THE PERSON IS AN ALIEN WHO IS UNLAWFULLY PRESENT IN THE UNITED STATES"? How can that not be racial profiling? How do they expect to have "reasonable suspicion"? If the person has an accent?
This law is slippery slope, and I certainly don't like where the slope leads.
And that's the way it is.
(I really need my own catchphrase to say at the end of rants like this, any suggestions?)
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3 comments:
This reminds me of Nazi Germany where people could be stopped w/o reason and asked for their "papers". What documents would an American (or legal resident) have to carry in order to prove their status?
I can see why Arizona feels it must take steps as the U.S. Government has not/is not taking care of the problem. It is time for a Guest Worker program in America, perhaps grandfathering in people who are already here. At the same time it is imperative that the Federal Gvmt beef up our southern borders.
Has anyone heard of the "broken windows" theory? This theory says that the best way to stop crime is to make to area an acceptable area were people have respect for the law and authority. The theory says that a building with a broken window will soon have more vandalism. This will lead to decreased respect for the law, which inevitably leads to major crimes and offences.
The situation is the same on the border. We have graffiti on our walls and broken fence posts. this gives the impression that America is not concerned about immigration, and the illegals can get away with it. In the last few decades we have seen the violence escalate. this is because as we do nothing the criminals become more and more daring. The last 5 years have been some of the most violent years down by the border in a very long time.
We need to solve this problem before it gets to out of hand. Just locking up more illegals is not the solution. It might slow the problem down but it will not stop it. Compromising with criminals is not a good idea either. If you give them an inch they will take a mile. We as America will appear weak in the eyes of our enemies.
I can not say for certain what the answer is, but I think we can learn a little form history. Look at New York City a few decades ago. It was a cesspit filled with crime and Chaos. There was no respect for a authority. But Giuliani cleaned it up using the "Broken Windows" theory. The city is now a place to bring your kids to. Maybe it will work for the border too.
I don't think that the people are coming to American because they have no respect for us I think they're coming because where they're coming from is terrible and they think it will be better here.
Also, I don't believe that Illegal Immigration is as damaging to our society as rape is and we don't randomly stop people and demand to see their certification that they are not sex offenders.
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