Arizona governor signs immigration bill

[Kevin]

Originally Posted by KSig RC

2 - When was the last time you were actually in Maricopa County? I wouldn't categorize it as a "war zone" from my experience (we have a main office in Phoenix), although there are significant drug trafficking and other crime issues (kidnappings are primarily between illegals or the result of drug deals, from my understanding). It's bad, but not exactly on the streets in the same way as in Juarez, for example (which is drug-related anyway).

All I know is what I read in the papers... or in this case, the ABA Journal... you know.. Sheriff Joe v. The World. The bottom line is that people are getting hurt, law enforcement is out of control and people's rights are being trampled prior to this law. I'm skeptical about laying that entirely at the feet of illegal immigration. I think that the reactionary nutters in power in those parts should bear some of the blame. Things are bad, no doubt.. and as far as Juarez, Baghdad probably compares favorably with Juarez.

Here's the problem though: this bill does absolutely nothing, at least on face, to address the crime problems associated with illegals. So illegals who are pulled over will be deported? Is this actually a substantive or functional change? Is it one "worth" the potential rights violations? I would say it's a resounding "no" - I just don't see it working in a way that functionally and significantly reduces crime.

That's a judgment call. The people of Arizona clearly think it's worth it. Whether the state can even do this is up in the air. I'll tell you one thing though -- if this bill gets upheld, a lot of young lawyers are going to be sitting for the Arizona Bar and opening up civil rights practices.

So now, you're instituting an iffy law that will likely be expensive to enforce, yet does absolutely nothing to stem the tide of illegals. The only thing that will stem the tide is making it preferable to enter legally rather than illegally - this law is a major step in the wrong direction.

It really is a 2010 War on Drugs.

The federal government is the only entity which can facilitate immigration. And they need to fix that.

Agreed... and for all practical purposes, the War on Drugs was lost a long time ago.