Immigration is a blessing and a problem. It’s a blessing because immigration from around the world has made us the wonderfully diverse country that we are. Immigrants come to America looking for a better life. Most work hard, often at tasks that we, who have been here for several generations, no longer want to do. Immigration has become more of a problem in recent years due to the spread of terrorism, an increase in crime and overcrowding in many parts of the country. However, the majority of immigrants coming to America are escaping poverty, seeking out a brighter tomorrow for themselves and for their children. I don’t want to get into a huge discussion as to who should or shouldn’t be allowed to emigrate to the U.S. I only know that I am grateful every day that my grandparents made the trip and came through Ellis Island, thus enabling all of their offspring to live in a country that allows us to achieve goals they couldn’t begin to dream of, to practice the religion of our choice, to live in a country where, with the passage of legislation such as the Civil Rights Act and the Equal Opportunity Act, I felt secure in the idea that treating people with dignity and respecting their rights as American citizens was built into our society.
The United States has evolved since the time my grandparents landed on these shores. Of course, there are people among us who, on an individual basis, are prejudice, disrespectful, even psychotic, but I was confident that the law would be there to protect us, certainly, from people who would violate our civil rights. It is with that in mind that I find myself in a state of disbelief over the recent immigration law passed in the State of Arizona. This law, which is to take effect in mid summer, directs state and local police to question people about their immigration status if there is reason to suspect they are illegal.
I have employed many legal aliens both in business and in my home. Would they all be suspect? Would a naturalized American citizen of Latin decent living in Arizona have to carry papers documenting their citizenship in their wallets just to ensure that they wouldn’t get arrested and tossed in an Immigration detention center? Is this the equivalent of Jews having to wear yellow arm bands in Germany? I wonder how my grandparents would have felt in the same situation. Under the new Arizona law, immigrants unable to produce documents showing that they are legally allowed to be in the U.S. could be arrested, jailed for up to six months and fined $2,500. that is a significant escalation of what is the customary federal punishment for being here illegally, which has been deportation. All of my grandparents loved this country. Would they have felt the same had they been singled out in this manner simply due to the fact that from their appearance they were recognizable as immigrants.
Jan Brewer, Governor of Arizona, ignoring criticism from President Obama, signed the bill into law. With hundreds of protesters outside the state Capitol shouting that the bill would lead to civil rights abuses, Brewer said , "We in Arizona have been more than patient waiting for Washington to act … But decades of inaction and misguided policy have created a dangerous and unacceptable situation."
I don’t live in Arizona. I am certain that those who do are frustrated by a problem they cannot control. However, trampling on people’s civil liberties is not the answer to any problem. Civil rights groups are preparing to fight this very controversial law. William Sanchez, president of the National Coalition of Latino Clergy and Christian Leaders Legal Defense Fund, said his group was preparing a federal lawsuit against Arizona to stop the law from being applied. The Mexican American Legal Defense and Education Fund also said it planned a legal challenge to the law. Mexico has already warned the proposal could affect cross-border relations.
There is apparently a question as to whether the law encroaches on the federal government's authority to regulate immigration and violates people's constitutional rights by giving police too much power. President Obama, warned that this law could lead to police abuses. He asked the Justice Department to complete a review of the law's implications before deciding how to proceed.
Arizona has a legitimate immigrant problem that needs a solution. However, passing a controversial law of this nature will require many millions of dollars and resources to be spent defending it. Wouldn't that money and those resources be better spent trying to find a solution to the problem?
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Sandy Tankoos
Jenine Tankoos
Michael Berlin
David Schwartz
Deanna Morton
6 Comments
June 3, 2010 - 1:03pm
Rhona S
Al,
I have read what Sandy wrote and I don't think she's suggesting what you think she is suggesting. Sandy is apparently upset, as I am, about the fact that the new law in Arizona, should it go into effect, will allow law enforcers to stop anyone they wish to, to ask for their documentation. Consequently, my daughter's nanny who was born in the U.S., and is a citizen, though her mother is not, but does have a green card and happens to be from Mexico, could be stopped, without rhyme or reason, be asked for documentation which she may or may not have with her, and find herself being escorted to an Immigration prison if she forgets to bring or chooses not to carry proof of citizenship in her purse. Incidentally, my daughter lives in Texas, which also has a serious problem with illegal Mexican immigrants.
I am not suggesting that it's ok to be illegal and I don't think that's what Sandy was suggesting either. It's not ok to be illegal; however, no matter how severe the problem is in Arizona, the answer to their problem cannot be infrigement upon the civil rights of American citizens, which given the wording of this law is going to happen. I hope this law is found to be illegal so that it cannot be put into effect.
As far as what Muriel has to say, I do suspect that if these immigrants came from Canada, there would be much less of an outcry. However, I do not want to minimize the problem that they have in Arizona. It is serious and it has to be taken care of. They simply have not found a good solution.
June 3, 2010 - 7:14am
Muriel
Al,
So what you are saying is that we looked at the enemy and they are us. And some of your best friends (or wife) is Puerto Rican. Well some of my best relatives are African Americans and are here illegally because they were brought over on slave ships illegally in another century. But that is a whole other issue; as is a state seceding from the union and deciding to build a wall.
We all probably lived during the Berlin Wall. Did it keep people out or make them want to break the law and come in. Gosh those books and movies were exciting about breaking the rules of the oppressive country and getting through the wall. Will the new one be food for more exciting books and movies? Probably not as the people are poor on one side and the job situation for illegal aliens isn't very good right now. In the days of the other wall; when someone asked for sanctuary by escaping, is was romantic and exciting and they were allowed to live here and were haled as heroes. It was across the pond in a 'film noir" environment and we were all so afraid of the ugly iron curtain.
Our fears are different now and it is on our soil.
I don't want to be seen as a person calling others a bigot. Good God I don't think anyone is a bigot unless I've met them and seen them in action. I was making a generalization about those wanting the wall to keep people in or out. I always assume people are normal and nice like me until proven otherwise. So sorry if I offended....and for the record; I own property in Arizona and live their part of the year. I am a hold the flag and march capitalist business owner and a patriot do or die fiscal republican and a bleeding heart liberal running a charity so I'm just a typical American with strong opinions and resent people thinking this wall represents my thoughts as an American, republican (sometimes) democrat (sometimes) independent (sometimes) but an American all the time.
Muriel
June 1, 2010 - 11:44am
Al Cinamon
And here is something else to chew on. You want reality, here it is:
If you cross the North Korean border illegally, you get 12 years hard labor.
If you cross the Iranina border illegally, you are detained indefinitely.
If you cross the Afghan border illegally, you get shot.
If you cross the Saudi Arabian border illegally, you will be jailed.
If yo cross the Chinese border illegally, you may never be heard from again.
If you cross the Cuban border illegally, you will be thtown into political prison to rot.I
But, if you cross the US border illegally you get:
1 - A JOB,
2 - A DRIVERS LICENSE,
3 - SOCIAL SECURITY CARD,
4 - WELFARE,
5 - FOOD STAMPS,
6 - CREDIT CARDS,
7 - SUBSIDIZED RENT OR A LOAN TO BUY A HOUSE,
8 - FREE EDUCATION,
9 - FREE HEALTH CARE,
10 - A LOBBYIST IN WASHINGTON
11 - BILLIONS OF DOLLARS WORTH OF PUBLIC DOCUMENTS PRINTED IN YOUR LANGUAGE
12 - AND THE RIGHT TO CARRY YOUR COUNTRY'S FLAG WHILE YOU PROTEST THAT YOU DON'T GET ENOUGH RESPECT
June 1, 2010 - 11:38am
Al Cinamon
Muriel, you call yourself a middle of the road realist. I beg to differ. You can't face the reality that there are legal immigrants and illegal immigrants. No one is suggesting to close the door to all immigration, Hispanic or otherwise. Where you came up with that reality is beyond me.
Let me say it one more time so that maybe you can get it this time. "Illegal" is not a race or an ethnic quality, so if I'm against illegal activity that does not make me a bigot.. Entering our country illegally is a crime that our federal government doesn't want to do anything about, which is why Arizona must.
You really need to be very careful when you call people bigots. My wife just happens to be of Puerto Rican descent, so which category would you like to stick me into now? And, guess what, she's against illegal immigration too. Another bigot, I guess, in your eyes. Realist, my foot. None are so blind as those who do not want to see!
May 30, 2010 - 12:41pm
Muriel
Oh, Sandy we seem to have a "typical left wing radical response" from you and, Al, we appear to have the staunch conservative response from you. We do need both sides and happy to see the two of you posting.
Now for the reality as seen by Muriel. A somewhat middle of the road conservative who tries to see all sides and make an intelligent non emotional decision based on the facts.
What we have here is a failure to come to terms with the real facts......BIGOTRY....yes, Sandy and Al.......if our grandparents didn't look nice and white and "normal" for their time....would they have had the difficulty facing the Latino community. Do all Mexicans and Puerto Ricans look alike? If we took the time to really pay attention to these wonderful threads of people wanting to make up the fabric of the USA.....would we see things differently. Do we want to take the time? Are we panicky? What will they steel from us? Will the cause more crime, and blight on our neighborhoods? Will there be anywhere for us to escape?
Yes, I'm being extreme in my analogies here but I am seeing the root cause and if we don't face it and become color blind and start caring for our fellow man.....as we wanted to do after WWII and ........failed......well I've said enough......
You know how I feel.....Sandy, your "some of my best friends are immigrants, legal or not" and Al, your "all immigrants are bad immigrants if the didn't come over during the Ellis Island days" makes me sick....both of you....really....
Our neighbors to the North, Canada, can't stand us.....but they look like us, sound like us, play the same games, and we let them walk in and out as if they were one of us....they took our Viet Nam evaders and made them a nice little nest in which to live...and several years later all had amnesty.......
O.K....I've gotten a lot of garbage out here and I will no longer stink.....
Muriel
May 29, 2010 - 9:00pm
Al Cinamon
Try going to Mexico illegally and see what happens to you. The Arizona law is similar to the Mexican law. You better carry papers with you in Mexico. Did you hear what the hypocrite (President )from Mexico had to say when asked about how his country handles illegal immigrants? "We back send them!" But, if they're caught in the country, to jail they go.
Why do Libs always make no distinction between legal immigrants and illegal immigrants? Illegals have no rights just because they cross our border. And to compare asking someone for their ID to having Jews wear armbands in Germany is way over the top.
How about a little common sense. If someone breaks into your house should you call the police or have him spend the night and make breakfast for him in the morning. According to Barry, it would be "misguided" to call the police. After all the intruder must be given his civil rights. He probably only broke into your house to get some money so that he can feed his family. And, heaven forbid, if the intruder were of Hispanic origin, then you would be called a racist for calling the police.
You know people, I don't think we have to worry about being nuked by some foreign enemy. Our country is being destroyed from within.
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