My Attempt to Clear up Immigration Misinformation

[Geo]

Many of us have engaged in debate of Arizona's immigration reform laws. Even though this issue has died down here on Sowal.com it seems to be very alive nationally in the form of calls for boycott from citizens and rhetoric from politicians.

Just this week Sarah Palin got in on it appearing with AZ's governor to tell President Obama to do his job and secure our border.

Palin to Obama: 'Do your job, secure our border' - CNN.com

Palin's antics are in response to the president's criticism of the law.

Obama Criticizes "Misguided" Arizona Immigration Bill - Political Hotsheet - CBS News

Here's my problem with this whole thing. There is misinformation out there coming from all sides. Some important facts are being ignored.

So- here is my attempt to try to set some of the record straight.

The original law contained ambiguous language that seemed to allow police officers to walk up to anybody for any or no reason and ask them for their papers because they looked a certain way. This was the law that I was personally against and that Obama called "misguided" (on or around April 23rd). After this was signed into law there were protests and calls for a boycott of AZ. At this point, things were fairly straight forward.

Then about five days later the AZ Governor signed changes to the law:

Governor signs several changes to Arizona immigration law - Phoenix Arizona news, breaking news, local news, weather radar, traffic from ABC15 News | ABC15.com

Among other things, the changes mean that police could no longer ask someone for their papers for any/no reason. They first needed to be observed breaking the law.

This is a game changer for me. I do not believe in the US that I should be asked for my ID because a police officer doesn't like the way I look. But if I'm speeding or stealing something or I get into a fight- ask away.

The problem is- I believe these changes were downplayed and there are a lot of people protesting the original verbiage of the law rather than the revised legislation.

And I think it is disingenious of Palin to be vocally denouncing Obama's crticism of the AZ law when it came 5 days before the law was changed.

I am fine with the AZ policy now and I believe a lot of folks would be if they were made to understand the changes that were quietly made to it.

 

[Yzarctoo]

I wonder if Obama has even read the 10 page law? For that matter wober if he has read the Health Bill?

 

[Geo]

I wonder if Obama has even read the 10 page law? For that matter wober if he has read the Health Bill?

I wonder the same about all of our elected officials and the pundits.

 

[flowerfriendly]

i am very proud arizona has stepped up to the plate. i believe in their law 100%. i went to the website and supported the bill. it is amazing how many names they have on the petition.

 

[gmarc]

I 100% support enforcing immigration laws of the us. Ask the 1000's of unemployed framers,sheet rock workers,carpenters,concrete and tile workers,house cleaners due to cheap illegal immigration. go to any construction site threwout walton county and tell me how many americans you see.once the illegals are here it's game over. we as americans are compassionate caring people and will never enforce real mass deportation. we will never turn away the sick or poor due to legal status. the only solution is the stop people before they enter and thats the job of the gov't for once enforcing our borders which is the law.

 

[30ashopper]

I wonder if Obama has even read the 10 page law? For that matter wober if he has read the Health Bill?

AG Eric Holder hadn't but that didn't stop his 'antics'.

 

[Gidget]

Thanks Geo, I for one was seriously wondering what was going on that made many want to boycott Arizona. It was all too "tldr" for me to delve into. Now I get it. Makes sense the way it is NOW, but I agree, the earlier version stunk.

G

 

[ASH]

We here in Sowal see a good number of folks from other countries, Mexico, being dominant, in the service industry.

We don't border Mexico at all and the numbers are obvious.

I wonder how much more we'd feel about folks coming here illegally if we were living in a state that borders someplace like Mexico? I'd bet we'd have a different perspective.

It's also important to look at the current plight of this particular country. Many already say the mexican druglords have actually won the war they rage against the mexican government. Many are fleeing to the United States for fear for their lives. They're illegal, but they're alive.

 

[Geo]

Like I said, I have no issue now that the law has been changed.

But I gotta say- it bothered me when folks defended the original verbiage of the law citing drug violence, loss of American jobs, etc as their reasons.

These are easy issues to solve. Legalize marijuana and most of the drug violence goes away. Redirect the funds wasted on the misguided and failed war on drugs to secure our borders and go after the businesses who employ illegals.

If you want to solve a problem you go to the source- not try to deal with the other problems that the real problem cause.

 

[Em]

Like I said, I have no issue now that the law has been changed.

But I gotta say- it bothered me when folks defended the original verbiage of the law citing drug violence, loss of American jobs, etc as their reasons.

These are easy issues to solve. Legalize marijuana and most of the drug violence goes away. Redirect the funds wasted on the misguided and failed war on drugs to secure our borders and go after the businesses who employ illegals.

If you want to solve a problem you go to the source- not try to deal with the other problems that the real problem cause.

Geo, maybe I'm not fully understanding your statement. It sounds like you believe that private businesses, rather than law enforcement, should be the ones who regulate illegals.