Thou Doth Protest Too Much...

The new AZ Immigration Bill has caused a political tsunami regarding potential civil rights violations by law enforcement officials in the state of Arizona. The truth is: there is NO new requirements for citizens, legal or otherwise, in this law whatsoever. This bill has been cleverly crafted to mimic federal law which already requires citizens to carry proof of citizenship, visa, green card and the like. Just like American citizens are required to carry paperwork when visiting foreign countries. It also specifically prohibits profiling by requiring law enforcement officials to already be involved in lawful contact with suspects. Look, it was unlawful to sneak into this country before this new law, and it was also unlawful to profile the public by law enforcement officials. The only thing that this new law does is make the federal law = state law as well, so that SOMEONE might finally enforce it.

So why all the fury? Stop the hate? Racists? Boycotts? Refried beans swastikas and civil disobedience and attacks on law enforcement officers? Me thinks thou doth protest too much. We have an approximate 360,000 person illegal alien problem in this state which is immediate and real. How long are we to put this issue on the back burner to protect against a POTENTIAL civil rights violation? I honestly don’t see much difference between being asked for proof of citizenship verses being asked to provide proof of mandated health care insurance. The opposition should put this issue into perspective and ramp down the rhetoric a bit. I see the level of hysteria as an indication of how effective the opposition feels that this new law will actually work.

Which brings me to my last point, the laws purpose and effectiveness. I appreciate the renewed attention that border security is receiving at this point, but I also consider this new law as a band-aid expression of frustration from Arizona lawmakers. I feel that border security and national security ultimately are a federal issue, not the states. We don’t want inconsistencies from state to state in immigration and security laws, and whatever issues are felt at our southern border are surely a concern on our northern border as well. It is a national issue that warrants the appropriate action at the federal level via the enumerated powers granted the fed by the states. The separation of powers is a two way street.

It is for this reason I find myself at odds with the recent polls that show the majority of Arizonans favoring this new law. We don’t need divisive new state laws to see this issue through, we need to force the federal government to fulfill its obligations on the border. If this new law accomplishes this, great! But hopefully someday it can be struck down as being redundant and obsolete.