Thread: Big hub-bub in Arizona right now...

driving through arizona last july i went through several border patrol stops....and one lady asked me if there was anyone else in the truck besides myself and my roommate.

Originally Posted by Desdinova

Yeah, like when they targeted the fast driver community with stiffer fines for speeding.

Whether we agree or not, it is called "illegal" immigration. It is called this because there are laws against it. Laws are enforced and have punishments attached.

The problem that's got so many folks all a-twitter isn't the concept of going after illegal immigrants; the concern is that the enforcement of the law would result in too many innocent US citizens, who are of hispanic/latino descent, being disproportionately stopped/ affected by this law.

As far as another poster's comment about how we're already required to carry proof of citizenship-type ID, and that if you're stopped without having it on you, you can be detained--I don't know about you, but there are tons of times I'm out and about sans any ID (jogging on the beach; walking my dogs; etc.) and I wouldn't want to be subject to being detained by the police in those instances.
If I'm correct-I believe the new law requires that there be probable cause first before the authorities can ask for proof of citizenship, but we've all seen too many instances of how that prophylactic restriction gets abused...

Originally Posted by billyjeff2

If I'm correct-I believe the new law requires that there be probable cause first before the authorities can ask for proof of citizenship, but we've all seen too many instances of how that prophylactic restriction gets abused...

You are correct. The new law also states that there must already be contact (they can't stop you merely for suspicion of being illegal) and the probable cause can't be based solely on race.

Still, just as you've said, that's easy enough to circumvent. The MCSO (Maricopa County Sheriff's Office) engages in profiling all the time, with the flimsiest of justification.

Arizona has a long history of not trusting ID from hither and yon...

In Arizona's defense it is very big state with a thin population and
could quickly get more overrun than it already is. I have friends in
southern Arizona that have considered abandoning their home because
of the immigrant foot traffic. They are 20 miles from their mailbox
and 20 miles from the border....

Between economic disparity and rampant drug problems there are some
law enforcement issues to ponder. This is not new -- it was obviously
a festering problem in the '60s and it has not diminished.

In Mexico City the locals commented to me about some of the
large "invasions" that have colonized what used to be parks and
open spaces in the city. These shanty towns initially get electricity via
a mesh of extension cords miles long and water via a mesh of garden
hoses miles long....

I do not think the Arizona law will survive the courts but the constitution
mandates some things that are fully the responsibility of the federal
government but fall heavy on the border states.

Time will tell.

People tend to believe what they want to believe. As I am white and live in New England, I can't imagine this Arizona issue will affect me very much (perhaps it may stop some of the potential landscapers that work around here but I do my own work). I posted only to explain what I believe is the cause of angst over the new law. Now, this discussion has run its course and I will adopt a "wait and see" attitude.