Everybody wants to say that immigration reform is needed. But, like any other politically charged issue, that is all wimpy politicians will say. Most politicians won't venture to say how to go about reform for fear of offending certain populations. So it is safe and appeasing to state that reform is needed. It's also wimpy. And it shows lack of leadership.
Border states have been asking the federal government to do something about out-of-control illegal immigration for years. Hordes of non-taxpayers flowing into this country is bad for the economy. Add to that the money that gets drained from local and national resources through social programs, and you have major issues. Now, complete the equation with the network involved with smuggling millions of dollars of drugs across the border and the situation becomes downright dangerous.
Like I said, everybody knows this is a problem but most politicians don't want to take the next step: acting like the elected leaders they are and doing something about it.
I won't start throwing statistics out about how much money is spent on illegal immigrants every year, mostly because those numbers are inherently impossible to track. And besides, it isn't my point here.
My point is that I wasn't so sure about Arizona Governor Jan Brewer before. Now I am. She is a leader. Her state has a major problem. She asked for help. The help she received was a slap in the face. So she, along with other Arizona politicians, have decided to do what they can to fix the problem without the help of a federal government that doesn't (well, didn't) want to get involved. In reality, this isn't going to fix all problems associated with illegal immigration. But it is something.
And it is totally legal. Did anyone notice how the federal government first took aim at this bill by stating that it could result in racial profiling? That is what we call an attempt to sway opinions your direction. Apparently it didn't work because every poll I have seen (even polls done by liberal-slanted news sources) show Americans heavily in support of Arizona's immigration bill. So they changed their approach. Now the administration, after months of figuring out how to squash this (or, looking for ANYTHING they can possibly point at to claim the bill is illegal or unconstitutional), has decided to to sue AZ on the grounds that state law cannot take precedence over federal law in matters such as illegal immigration.
The irony is that the AZ law doesn't take any precedence that the federal law hasn't established. The AZ law is calling for enforcement of these laws. Well, the federal government knows this as well, which is why their whole selling point is this: Arizona's intentions are not the same as the federal government's. From the introduction to the suit:
The nation's immigration laws reflect a careful and considered balance of national law enforcement, foreign relations, and humanitarian interests... In administering these laws, the federal agencies balance the complex--and often competing--objectives that animate federal immigration law and policy.
So the federal government is worried that Arizona's intentions are to send illegal immigrants home simply because they are illegal, and the state will not consider the "balance" established by the federal government of "concentrating enforcement on the most dangerous aliens, protecting the rights of asylum seekers, and maintaining amity with Mexico." (Wall Street Journal, July 7, 2010, James Taranto)
So Arizona might not be as sensitive as the feds. Well (forgive me for this but) I hope they aren't! Illegal immigration is a MAJOR problem. One that the elected leaders of Arizona have decided that they will do something about because the "balance" that the federal government keeps is not working.
Who knows how this will end up? I think it is pretty clear that Arizona has a legal right to do this. The Obama Administration is grasping at straws here. But his influence is great - and he has shown a few times that enforcing his idealogies is more important than the law. But no matter what happens, I am proud of my state.
