Illegal Immigration

[Minnie]

How about they just stop anyone who looks like they may not have a driver's license or auto insurance? Does this give officers the ability to "legally" stop anyone for looking like an illegal immigrant, while really searching for drugs?

This has to be unconstitutional. Illegal immigrants come in all shapes, colors, and nationalities.

I am sure it is unconstitutional but this is certainly nothing new. People doing nothing get stopped all the time by law enforcement, for simply being in the wrong area at the wrong time and looking out of place.

I have had it happend to me in SoWal, however after I explained my situation I was free to go.

I am also sure that at certain times of the night just being out is likely to get someone stopped and questioned in case they might be a DUI.

 

[Minnie]

...and if the companies and corporations hiring the undocumented workers were fined and stopped; then, the number of people coming here through illegal means would certainly be affected.

These individuals are the ones that anger me the most, they are benefiting from the situation much more than the illegals.

 

[Geo]

I mean no disrespect but all the generalizations and assumptions about the people who live on your block (where you've lived for 28 years) don't necessarily apply to everyone/everyplace nor do they support the idea that we have an illegal immigration problem. Just sayin.

 

[LuciferSam]

Back in the 70's, Neil Young was an illegal alien.

 

[scooterbug44]

I am having trouble finding good statistical info on this - very slanted sources who tend to lump illegal and legal immigrants together.

Estimated number of Illegal Immigrants (most recent) by state

Though I find it interesting that in addition to the obvious ones of Texas, California, and New York, Florida, and Illinois have more illegal immigrants than Arizona and have not had to resort to making their own laws about it.

 

[Minnie]

I mean no disrespect but all the generalizations and assumptions about the people who live on your block (where you've lived for 28 years) don't necessarily apply to everyone/everyplace nor do they support the idea that we have an illegal immigration problem. Just sayin.

They are not generalizations nor or they assumptions, they are facts. I did not imply they applied to everyone but my point is it is very easy to set back and make comments about a situation you might not have experienced.

Experiences are very much a basis on what we form our opinions on. If one is attacked viciously by a dog there is no way from that point on, one is not going to be leary of dogs in general and more specifically that specific type of dog, it does not mean all dogs are vicious but it does change that perons's perspective of dogs.

I will be the first to state I think immigration laws need to be changed to assist honest hard working people that want to come to the US, work, contribute and be law abiding citizens without the long delays and hurdles they have to go through to become legal. But until those laws are changed, the law is what it is and being here illegaly undermines the structure of society that is supported by adherance to the law. We can't as a society pick and choose which laws we are going to observe just because we feel they are inconvenince.

We have already stretched the resources available to deal with the legal criminals; we certainly do not need to add illegals to that.

 

[Geo]

This is fact?

"The majority of Latino gang members here were in gangs in Mexico and have simply relocated. They have however recruited other illegals that were not criminals before coming here because right now the housing market which most worked in has declined and they need money. Actually in Memphis, drugs is not as much a problem with some of the illegals as stolen property, especially vehicles, unless they are in a gang. Also the gang leaders promise protection for newly arrived illegals and supply them with fake IDs, and Driver's licenses and even Social Security cards. It becomes very tempting for someone that is here illegaly with no friends or support system, no job and no credidentials to turn to these gangs as a type of family."

Or this one-

"And Yes there are always exceptions, I have met some that are here to try to work and get a better life. But many were criminals in Mexico and now are criminals here."

There are bad people of all hapes, sizes, etc but these are the exception. Not the other way around.

I grew up on the south side of Chicago- huge Latino population- many illegal. I lived in LA.

Now I live in paradise with very little diversity.

I don't dispute that there are crime problems, drugs, gangs, etc in poor areas nationwide. I dispute that we have an illegal immigration issues that warrants legislation like what we see in AZ.

And I dispute the "facts" being thrown around.

 

[Minnie]

This is fact?

"The majority of Latino gang members here were in gangs in Mexico and have simply relocated. They have however recruited other illegals that were not criminals before coming here because right now the housing market which most worked in has declined and they need money. Actually in Memphis, drugs is not as much a problem with some of the illegals as stolen property, especially vehicles, unless they are in a gang. Also the gang leaders promise protection for newly arrived illegals and supply them with fake IDs, and Driver's licenses and even Social Security cards. It becomes very tempting for someone that is here illegaly with no friends or support system, no job and no credidentials to turn to these gangs as a type of family."

Or this one-

"And Yes there are always exceptions, I have met some that are here to try to work and get a better life. But many were criminals in Mexico and now are criminals here."

There are bad people of all hapes, sizes, etc but these are the exception. Not the other way around.

I grew up on the south side of Chicago- huge Latino population- many illegal. I lived in LA.

Now I live in paradise with very little diversity.

I don't dispute that there are crime problems, drugs, gangs, etc in poor areas nationwide. I dispute that we have an illegal immigration issues that warrants legislation like what we see in AZ.

And I dispute the "facts" being thrown around.

You can dispute them all you want, but my BIL is on the Memphis Gang squad and one of my legal Latino neighbors is too, my facts come straight from them dealing with a situation you know nothing about. One of my husband's best friends is a captain on the police department and I have a good friend who is a federal marshal and one that works for the ATF, one that is an FBI agent and many others involved with the situation on a daily basis.

Just as you know more about the effects of oil on your beaches, I know more about the effects illegal immigrants have made on my neighborhood.

I am not dispusting that there are illegal immigrants here that are law abiding except for the fact they are illegal, but that in itself makes them non law abiding citizens.

Change the laws if you wish but until they are changed they are breaking the laws.

And Scooter there are some other towns reacting in a similar fashion:

http://www.mcclatchydc.com/2010/04/26/92839/texas-town-vows-fight-to-keep.html

Geo, you are definitely right, not all illegal immigrants are violent criminals. But then not all oil rigs are dangerous to the local beaches either are they. Many operate for years without any problems. But are you willing to take that risk.

When I see factual evidence presented to my community that illegal immigrants have contributed greatly to a rise in crime, I am sorry that it bothers you for me to be concerned about that.

I on the other hand, even though I don't live in your paradise, am very concerned about the negative effects on the area by off shore drilling.

 

[Desso]

Actually the law enacted by Arizona mirrors the federal law. It just will be enforced on a state level now. The hysteria created around this is just a smoke screen. Illegal immigrants and their supporters are in a indefensible position. They know this and have had to resort to emotional and irrational appeals to guilt-ridden Americans about economic fallout, possible family dissolution, civil rights issues, etc. The courts will work this out eventually and I expect other states to follow suit in adopting similar laws. Because our politicians and the many special interest groups involved have done nothing on this issue for decades, we sit here today in this situation. One nobody likes, but one which can not be ignored.

 

[Geo]

Minnie, your brother in law is a credible authority on the makeup of Latino gangs in Memphis. You are a credible authority on the happenings of your block where'd you have lived 28 years. I make no claim to no anything about either of these nor do I claim to no anything about the effects of oil drilling on our beaches.

What I do know is that oil drilling isn't worth the risk compared to the reward (I have evidence to support this) and that I have yet to see anyone present anything that supports the premise that illegal immigration problems warrant what appears to be an unconstitutional law.