Arizona Immigration Law

For the past week or so I have been following all of the stories regarding the recently passed Arizona immigration law. I have read the text of the bill and for the most part it looks as if what it does is give state and local law enforcement the ability to enforce federal immigration laws.

I have watched and read the stories that say that the police will be able to stop and detain suspected illegal immigrants on suspicion alone. This is not true. Any contact that an officer has with a suspected illegal immigrant has to occur as a result of a probable cause stop of the suspect. This law is actually more stringent than most laws or rules governing police contact with the public. In regards to the accusation made by the media that Arizona state law now makes it a crime for an immigrant not to be in possession of their "papers" this is also untrue. Federal law already requires that immigrants carry immigration documents. The media has once again shown that they are irresponsible and biased which is truly unfortunate.

To those protesters and boycotters who are screaming that this is a racist and unconstitutional law; When did entering the country illegally become confined to one race? When did arresting someone for doing something illegally become unconstitutional? This group should do a little research on the law and the constitution.

Then of course we have the politicians and their comments on racial profiling. Maybe you guys should concentrate on securing our borders so that we have some idea of who is entering into our country.

We have always been a country of immigrants. So tell me, is it fair to all of those who have become US citizens or are now attempting to become US citizens, through the proper and legal procedures, to allow illegal aliens to enter and reside in this country without any fear of apprehension?

Is it fair to the citizens of this country for our federal government to continue to allow our borders to remain unsecured so that we continue to have no idea who is entering our country and their purpose for being here?

If all of the protesters, boycotters and politicians speaking out against this law are so concerned with rights then answer this for me;

What about the rights of U.S. citizens who live close to the border who have their homes burglarized, vehicles stolen, livestock slaughtered and property vandalized and littered with trash?

What about the rights of Arizona rancher Rob Krentz who was murdered last month after going to assist an illegal alien on his property?

What about the rights of Pinal County Deputy Louie Puroll who was shot last week by suspected illegal aliens transporting bales of marijuana across the desert between Phoenix and Tuscon?

Everyone speaking out against this law should familarize themselves with federal immigration statutes and the U.S. constitution, then take the time to read this new law, and maybe even put themselves in the shoes of those I mentioned above before they open their mouths because until you do, you really don't know what you are talking about.