Arizona Gov. Jan Brewer (R) has just signed the state’s new anti–illegal immigration bill, SB 1070, into law. Hats off to Arizona. It’s about time somebody, somewhere did something about enforcing U.S. immigration laws.
Our southern border states, more than any others, take the brunt of illegal immigration into this country. Illegals pour across the border into these states every day, and unless and until those people move further into the country, the border states are stuck with them. In no time, they blend into the local population and unless they are found, arrested, and deported, they will remain, helping themselves to education, health care, community resources, and jobs that are provided to, intended for, and financed by legal residents and citizens. Worse, many hardcore criminals — drug dealers, gang members, etc. — are coming in, taking advantage of our lax law enforcement and open society.
Anyone crossing into this country without the proper papers is in violation of U.S. immigration law and is by definition a criminal. Under law, the only rights they have here are arrest, legal counsel, and deportation. It doesn’t matter if they never commit another crime, if they came with only good intentions, or if they are trying to support a family. They knew they were breaking the law when they stepped across the border. They continue to break the law by staying here. What part of illegal does federal law enforcement not understand? What part of illegal do today’s protesters not understand?
If you’re in this country legally, you have nothing to fear. Instead of protesting about racial profiling, why not support law enforcement and help stop the massive illegal immigration that brought us to this point?
Bravo, Gov. Brewer. Bravo, Arizona.
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See text of Gov. Brewer’s statement here.
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Most people in America aren’t against immigration; they’re just against illegal immigration. For example, like most of our ancestors, my mother’s parents were immigrants. They came through Ellis Island and followed the various legal steps required in order to establish themselves as true citizens of this country. The immigrants crossing the Mexican border, however, have absolutely no interest in following these legal protocols. Once they cross the border, they change their names and/or purchase social security numbers in an effort to conceal their true identities from the law. It is not uncommon for an illegal immigrant to purchase not one, but two or more social security numbers, just in case one is flagged. I have witnessed this crime with my own eyes. (One day, a supposedly legal immigrant was asked to give their social security card to a receptionist for a job application and an interview. When the receptionist happened to ask to see the card a second time, the immigrant mistakenly handed over a different social security card with the same name on it, but with a completely different set of numbers…)
Don’t get me wrong: I’m not against Hispanics. I have many Hispanic friends, but they either have green cards to work in the United States or have become legal citizens. They decided to follow the rule of law and work within the boundaries of our legal system. Unfortunately, many immigrants do not, and it is those particular individuals that we are most concerned about.
Now it seems that those who sympathize with illegal immigrants wish to hijack the discussion of reform by attacking the law recently imposed by the State of Arizona through protests and boycotts; a state mind you, that has been besieged with crime, drugs and an ever-increasing population of illegal immigrants. Don’t allow them this option. Speak out and take action. This is your country… fight for it.
In closing, I consider myself to be a bleeding-heart liberal: a Democrat. My ancestor, Roger Williams – the founder of Rhode Island and founder of the First Baptist Church in America, was one too; regarding the acceptance of different nationalities, cultures and religions as the vitality and lifeblood of any country. Nevertheless, I think that he would agree with me; that immigrants wishing to become legal citizens have not only the obligation, but the civil and legal responsibility to follow the rules of law established by any country in which they wish to become authentic citizens, just as our ancestors – both yours and mine – struggled so arduously and righteously to achieve.
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Well said. It’s not about racism, discrimination, profiling, or invasion of privacy. Those claims are just attempts to change the subject. It’s about obeying U.S. law. Period.