THis isn't a wonderful law, because it requires law enforcement to violate the rights of American citizens. Law enforcement is not allowed to stop people here unless there is a reasonabile suspicion of criminal activity.
http://www.azleg.gov/legtext/49leg/2r/bills/sb1070s.pdf
B. FOR ANY LAWFUL CONTACT MADE BY A LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICIAL OR AGENCY
21 OF THIS STATE OR A COUNTY, CITY, TOWN OR OTHER POLITICAL SUBDIVISION OF THIS
22 STATE WHERE REASONABLE SUSPICION EXISTS THAT THE PERSON IS AN ALIEN WHO IS
23 UNLAWFULLY PRESENT IN THE UNITED STATES, A REASONABLE ATTEMPT SHALL BE MADE,
24 WHEN PRACTICABLE, TO DETERMINE THE IMMIGRATION STATUS OF THE PERSON. THE
25 PERSON'S IMMIGRATION STATUS SHALL BE VERIFIED WITH THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT
26 PURSUANT TO 8 UNITED STATES CODE SECTION 1373(c).
In this case, the only basis officers will have to rely on will be physical appearance, because illegals don't act differently than anyone else. Further, American Chicanos and Mexican nationals look the same, thus, a lot of American citizens are going to be stopped and hassled for no reason.
That's why officers in Arizona have actually filed suit against this law. Not because they're evil social liberals, but because they understand that enforcement of this law will put them in a position of violating constitutional rights against unreasonable search/seizure by law enforcement.
Lawsuits target AZ law amid calls for boycotts - Yahoo! News
Someone only gets checked if they are stopped for something else. Hence the Lawful contact part of the bill. Meaning if they get stopped for a traffic violation, loitering, DUI road block checks and etc then they get checked to see if they are here legally. Oklahoma has a similar law except you have to be arrested first.
I share your concerns about illegal immigration. However, it seems to me that a better way to deal with it would be to cut off the economic benefits that drive people to immigrate here.
Illegal immigration should be tackled from illegals all the way to those who hire them. It takes two to tango.
Make it harder for illegals to work, severely penalize, including criminal penalties, for the companies that hire illegals.
I agree with that.However there are already criminal penalties for hiring illegals. The penalties need to severe.
Aiding, abetting, harboring, encouraging illegals a felony
Section 274 felonies under the federal Immigration and Nationality Act, INA 274A(a)(1)(A):
A person (including a group of persons, business, organization, or local government) commits a federal felony when she or he:
* assists an alien s/he should reasonably know is illegally in the U.S. or who lacks employment authorization, by transporting, sheltering, or assisting him or her to obtain employment, or
* encourages that alien to remain in the U.S. by referring him or her to an employer or by acting as employer or agent for an employer in any way, or
* knowingly assists illegal aliens due to personal convictions.
Penalties upon conviction include criminal fines, imprisonment, and forfeiture of vehicles and real property used to commit the crime. Anyone employing or contracting with an illegal alien without verifying his or her work authorization status is guilty of a misdemeanor. Aliens and employers violating immigration laws are subject to arrest, detention, and seizure of their vehicles or property. In addition, individuals or entities who engage in racketeering enterprises that commit (or conspire to commit) immigration-related felonies are subject to private civil suits for treble damages and injunctive relief.
Beef up our requirements for showing proof of residency/citizenship when employees are hired. If need be, create a biometric national i.d.
How would those things stop someone from hiring illegals? If you here legally you have to submit a I-9 form and possibly other documentation which an employer has to check and if you are a citizen you have to submit a SS number which an employer has to check. Someone who is hiring illegals does not check those things why would those same individuals check to see if biometric data on a ID card matches? The REAL ID act is nothing more than a fraud meant to give the government another inch of control over the people which they will try to take a mile.
But, a law that undermines central constitutional rights (against unreasonable search and seizure) isn't a good path
Contrary to what the folks at MSNBC(
Yes I do watch other media outlets, its how I know they are spreading lies), and other liberal media outlets have been spewing, the law does not do that.
