News Arizona Immigration Law: Examining the Debate

[Mech_Engineer]

I still don't like this law, and it will almost certainly be overturned, but your arguments are insulting and ridiculous. Your presumption of who can be American is arrogant and meaningless.

What is there to overturn? The law doesn't have anything in it that is new. In fact, I really only reinforces federal laws that already exist. This law is 100% constitutional.

 

[WhoWee]

This isn't about immigrants. This law is about illegal immigrants. Did any of the professors you mention above sneak across the border? Were they basically illiterate when they arrived here?

As far as the economic ladder the highest climbers are the drug smugglers.

Well done edward!

 

[Jack21222]

This isn't about immigrants. This law is about illegal immigrants. Did any of the professors you mention above sneak across the border? Were they basically illiterate when they arrived here?

As far as the economic ladder the highest climbers are the drug smugglers.

I was responding to a very specific claim made by russ:

You're not listening or are purposely ignoring the point: they will not be contributing to the federal income tax burden if made legal because their incomes are too small!

This was in response to a suggestion that we open up legal immigration.

Then, a few posts later:

That's silly, Kerrie. An adult immigrant is unlikely to become educated and move up - adults just don't do that. Now their kids are likely to move up because they will be educated in the US.

Those two statements have nothing to do with illegal immigrants. Russ was generalizing to all immigrants. I provided counterexamples.

Well done edward!

No, he was quoting me completely out of context. I was responding only to russ's characterization of legal immigrants.

 

[IcedEcliptic]

What is there to overturn? The law doesn't have anything in it that is new. In fact, I really only reinforces federal laws that already exist. This law is 100% constitutional.

Care to place a wager? I believe it will be decided that it violates the 4th and 14th amendments of the US constitution. I am no legal scholar, but we'll find out within a year unless boycotts and protests finish it first.

 

[WhoWee]

Care to place a wager? I believe it will be decided that it violates the 4th and 14th amendments of the US constitution. I am no legal scholar, but we'll find out within a year unless boycotts and protests finish it first.

Why do you think it violates (not one, but) two amendments?

 

[BobG]

What is there to overturn? The law doesn't have anything in it that is new. In fact, I really only reinforces federal laws that already exist. This law is 100% constitutional.

Care to place a wager? I believe it will be decided that it violates the 4th and 14th amendments of the US constitution. I am no legal scholar, but we'll find out within a year unless boycotts and protests finish it first.

I think it would be a fair wager. Perhaps 50/50.

The law looks constitutional, but it doesn't spell out what criteria is going to be used to determine reasonable suspicion.

That criteria has to be substantial enough that delaying a natural born citizen or an illegal immigrant would be a very rare event. It doesn't take much inconvenience of legal citizens to get the law struck down.

The criteria has to be effective in apprehending illegal immigrants in order to be worth even rare instances of delaying legal citizens. A bare minimum standard would be that more illegal immigrants are investigated than legal citizens - a low standard if stopping of legal citizens is a very rare event. A better standard would be to make a substantial dent in the number of illegal immigrants.

I think it's going to be a big challenge to balance both requirements. Procedures that will make apprehend enough illegal immigrants to be worth it will tend to result in more legal citizens being stopped. Procedures that prevent stopping legal citizens will take the teeth out of the law and result in almost no illegal immigrants being stopped.

I admit I'll be surprised if they find a balance that works, but a 50/50 wager is still reasonable since the law could wind up being a paper law that results in no change at all.

 

[IcedEcliptic]

Why do you think it violates (not one, but) two amendments?

I don't believe it violates the first amendment, andI don't understand the fifth (which is more than just pleading it) well enough, so I can only bet on the two. Unreasonable search and serizure which has been discussed in this thread, and equal protection. In practice, illegals may not be able to do anything, but LEGAL immigrants and naturalized citizens CAN, and already have. I don't know if this does in fact violate these amendments, but I will bet it is overturned either way.

Dispassionate analysis: http://www.ncsl.org/default.aspx?tabid=20263

Cases against:
http://www.tucsonsentinel.com/local/report/042910_ecobar_1070/
http://lawprofessors.typepad.com/conlaw/2010/04/arizona-immigration-law.html
http://lawprofessors.typepad.com/co...enges-to-arizona-immigration-law-sb-1070.html

An interesting take:
http://www.kgun9.com/global/story.asp?s=12391093

In defending the law to KGUN9 News on Tuesday, the bill's sponsor, State Senator Russell Pearce (R-Mesa) made an even stronger statement. He wrote, "This bill 'prohibits' racial profiling."

Is that the case?

Not precisely. The bill does not allow police to stop or detain someone based solely on race. But nor does it spell out the conditions under which police may stop someone.

A study of the plain wording of the actual law shows that it does contain the language the governor references. The law states, "A LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICIAL OR AGENCY OF THIS STATE OR A COUNTY, CITY, TOWN OR OTHER POLITICAL SUBDIVISION OF THIS STATE MAY NOT SOLELY CONSIDER RACE, COLOR OR NATIONAL ORIGIN IN IMPLEMENTING THE REQUIREMENTS OF THIS SUBSECTION EXCEPT TO THE EXTENT PERMITTED BY THE UNITED STATES OR ARIZONA CONSTITUTION."

So how will police know when to start questioning someone about their immigration status? The law only says the officer must have "reasonable suspicion." But it doesn't define it.

In signing the bill, Governor Brewer attempted to address that problem. She issued a separate executive order that requires the Arizona Peace Officer Standards and Training board to come up with standards, and to implement a training program for them. The executive order specifies, "The course of training established by the Board shall provide clear guidance to law enforcement officials regarding what constitutes reasonable suspicion, and shall make clear that an individual's race, color or national origin alone cannot be grounds for reasonable suspicion to believe that any law has been violated." The law requires the board to give her a timeline for implementation by May 21.

SB 1070's supporters also point out that the language of the bill mirrors similar federal statutes, and that racial profiling is illegal under existing law. Arizona state statutes do not directly address racial profiling issues. However, the Fourth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution prohibits unreasonable search and seizure. And the Fourteenth Amendment gives everyone the right to equal protection under the law.

But the authors of SB 1070 went to the trouble to insert language into the law specifically allowing officers to pull over anyone suspected of violating traffic laws. The clause reads,"NOTWITHSTANDING ANY OTHER LAW, A PEACE OFFICER MAY LAWFULLY STOP ANY PERSON WHO IS OPERATING A MOTOR VEHICLE IF THE OFFICER HAS REASONABLE SUSPICION TO BELIEVE THE PERSON IS IN VIOLATION OF ANY CIVIL TRAFFIC LAW AND THIS SECTION."

Will this clause allow police to question someone's immigration status and possibly detain that person on the basis of something as minor as broken tail light? Pima County Sheriff Clarence Dupnik thinks so. That debate rages on.

 

[IcedEcliptic]

I think it would be a fair wager. Perhaps 50/50.

The law looks constitutional, but it doesn't spell out what criteria is going to be used to determine reasonable suspicion.

That criteria has to be substantial enough that delaying a natural born citizen or an illegal immigrant would be a very rare event. It doesn't take much inconvenience of legal citizens to get the law struck down.

The criteria has to be effective in apprehending illegal immigrants in order to be worth even rare instances of delaying legal citizens. A bare minimum standard would be that more illegal immigrants are investigated than legal citizens - a low standard if stopping of legal citizens is a very rare event. A better standard would be to make a substantial dent in the number of illegal immigrants.

I think it's going to be a big challenge to balance both requirements. Procedures that will make apprehend enough illegal immigrants to be worth it will tend to result in more legal citizens being stopped. Procedures that prevent stopping legal citizens will take the teeth out of the law and result in almost no illegal immigrants being stopped.

I admit I'll be surprised if they find a balance that works, but a 50/50 wager is still reasonable since the law could wind up being a paper law that results in no change at all.

Very well! I bet you 50/50 odds on a piece of "Unobtanium". ;)

 

[BobG]

Very well! I bet you 50/50 odds on a piece of "Unobtanium". ;)

It only takes one community to figure out a plan that works. Just as several communities trying to implement random vehicle stops for various reasons had their plans struck down by the court, it only took one community to come up with a plan for sobriety check points that passed the USSC in order for other communities to have an example to follow.

This is still going to be a lot tougher to establish reasonable suspicion of immigration status than drunkeness.

 

[IcedEcliptic]

It only takes one community to figure out a plan that works. Just as several communities trying to implement random vehicle stops for various reasons had their plans struck down by the court, it only took one community to come up with a plan for sobriety check points that passed the USSC in order for other communities to have an example to follow.

This is still going to be a lot tougher to establish reasonable suspicion of immigration status than drunkeness.

It is funny you say this, I was just reading in a funny (grain of salt) book "Super Freakonomics" and they talk about 1 arrest made for every 27,000 miles driven drunk, with checkpoints. It says something about that balance you mentioned being so hard to achieve.

 

[WhoWee]

It is funny you say this, I was just reading in a funny (grain of salt) book "Super Freakonomics" and they talk about 1 arrest made for every 27,000 miles driven drunk, with checkpoints. It says something about that balance you mentioned being so hard to achieve.

I wonder how many people emerge from sobriety checkpoints with a ticket for something OTHER than DUI - tail light, seat belt, insurance card, suspensions or fines?

 

[TheStatutoryApe]

What is there to overturn? The law doesn't have anything in it that is new. In fact, I really only reinforces federal laws that already exist. This law is 100% constitutional.

It goes against established precedent on its face.

"Reasonable suspicion" has been decided by the USSC to not allow the request of anything more than a persons name, not even an ID. This law specifically states that it allows a probe into ones citizenship status based solely on reasonable suspicion. That seems to go well beyond asking one for their name or even an ID. So it violates the unreasonable search and seizure clause as defined by the court in its very wording.

The court has decided that if the practical application of a law ultimately tends to single out a particular race then it violates the equal protection clause. I can not think of any way that this law will not primarily target hispanics. Unless officers apply the law equally to all persons and check all persons citizenship status under the same conditions then it will be found to violate the equal protection clause. It may even be considered to violate equal protection if hispanics are the primary subjects of investigation regardless of whether or not the law applies the same standard to all persons.

There is also an issue of the law seeking to allow AZ itself to prosecute illegal aliens as "trespassers". I am uncertain what the precedent is involving states attempting to prosecute what is technically a federal crime, but I am fairly sure that this one is at least on thin ice. edit: This could also constitute double jeopardy.

 

[Char. Limit]

Sorry, Statutory, but I feel this need to argue one particular point...

My view has always been that equal protection of the law applies to intent, not result. If it can be proven that the AZ police really did act fairly to all races and didn't engage in racial profiling, why on Earth would we strike down the law anyway based on the idea of "if more Hispanics are deported, regardless of police fairness, this law must go"?

Also, pass the marshmallows. I smell a firestorm starting in Arizona.

 

[Ivan Seeking]

Being from Southern California, I can certainly sympathize with the intent of the Arizona law, but I see no way to justify the "suspicion of being illegal" bit. In fact, it sounds laughable to me! No way can this stand. I doubt that even the Arizona Governer believes it will stand. More likely it is a political maneuver intended to impress voters that everything possible is being done.

I think the correct approach has already been used at the municipal level. Require proof of citizenship or legal residency, if a person wishes to rent or buy a house, or get a job. Perhaps these laws have been struck down, but it has been reported in recent years that the strategy worked at the local level.

If you want to enforce the law, start arresting the people who knowing contract illegal labor from street corners every day. This is why we have a problem in the first place - the jobs! Why doesn't this happen? Could it be that this is overlooked because the offenders are white?

The fact is that big [and small] business wants illegal labor. That is the root of the problem. That is why I have never believed the Republicans really want to solve this problem.

I have an uncle in Huntington Beach, California. When he needs labor, say when he is remodeling his home, he goes to the nearest designated corner and hires some illegals. It is just a part of everyday life. Change that and you will affect real change.

 

[TheStatutoryApe]

Sorry, Statutory, but I feel this need to argue one particular point...

My view has always been that equal protection of the law applies to intent, not result. If it can be proven that the AZ police really did act fairly to all races and didn't engage in racial profiling, why on Earth would we strike down the law anyway based on the idea of "if more Hispanics are deported, regardless of police fairness, this law must go"?

Also, pass the marshmallows. I smell a firestorm starting in Arizona.

I only mention it as a possibility. If the law in itself is not discriminatory, and even if the procedural application is not discriminatory, it is still possible that the context of its application may be. Such as running these investigations on persons at DUI or DWI check points that seem to be concentrated in primarily hispanic neighbourhoods.

*passes marshmallows*

 

[Char. Limit]

If you want to enforce the law, start arresting the people who knowing contract illegal labor from street corners every day. This is why we have a problem in the first place - the jobs! Why doesn't this happen? Could it be that this is overlooked because the offenders are white?

Why does it seem that every time a bill is created, this issue arises? Just hearing the bolded phrase makes me want to go against you, Ivan. And it's not even because I think it's untrue (although I do)... I just tire of hearing it. The phrase, not the meaning, shuts my mind down and tells me, "This thing I've heard 25,448,452.962 times before, I don't like hearing it. I should be against the person bringing it up."

Sorry Ivan, and remember, it's not you I'm against. It's the phrase.

Also, thanks for the marshmallows, Statutory. I was running low.

 

[Ivan Seeking]

Well, have you ever encountered an acceptable answer?

Personally, I'm sick of hearing people complain about illegals when we keep inviting them here. If immigration laws were strickly enforced against employers, we wouldn't have nearly the problem we do. It used to be just the service industries ,mainly unskilled labor and agriculture, but now illegals are displacing skilled workers, esp in construction [so much for the "ignorant illegals" conjecture!].

Illegal immigrants are union busters. Could that have anything to do with the problem?

 

[Char. Limit]

I don't think there's an acceptable answer to a "Could it be..." question except for the answer that the questioner agrees with. And for me, that differs from issue to issue.

 

[Meghan222]

I just want to state that YES you do have to be in violation of a law to be questioned. Speeding, crossing in the middle of the road (which here in Tucson is a HUGE issue). It doesn't give the police authority to harrass anyone they please. And bare in mind "Illegals" are not just from Mexico. Although of course Mexico being almost literally in my back yard it does tend to be that way. What they don't report on other station is why this is being done, and why retaliation is being shown by people, irronically of certain groups. I am not talking races, although La raza (meaning the race) is one of the groups. The people that are protesting are illegals and members of groups like SEIU. But the news (other than maybe fox) doesn't talk about that. Like that a citizen here just outside of Tucson was shot point blank, on his land by an illegal, because he not only refused to give them water, but he demanded they get off HIS land. Anyone would agree, unless you are a communist, or communist supporter, that land is ours. If I own it, it's my property to do what I wish. As long as it is according to laws. Anyway that is just one inncodent. Not to mention that Pheonix has the number 1 kidnapping rate in the country number 2 in the WORLD! And why would that be? Then there's the retaliation, Az, governor Jan Brewer was sent, just a couple of days ago a lovely package with, white powder in it. And people complain about the Tea Party goers and how dangerous they are (which they are not). Fact: vast majority of the violence that has happened politically are on the other side of the isle.

 

[Meghan222]

I know the law doesn't allow this, but hypothetically, why would it be a bad thing to randomly ask people for proof of citizenship/resident alien status? And why would that not pass constitutional muster? As I understand it, resident aliens are already required by law to carry their ID with them and show it upon request.

You are correct. If we are pulled over by police, and you don't have your id, you can be arrested in some states (not here in arizona thankfully) and/or ticketed. My observation is that why are people freaking out over this. It was always required that you carry your id. For us all. This is just the consiquences that if you disregard current laws, you will actually have some action taken instead of getting away with it. Which when you live in Tucson you see A LOT! My family's from puerto rico and they had to work really hard to get here. Legally. So why should they work hard when others get in with no hassle at all? Where's the fairness in that. :)

 

[TheStatutoryApe]

I just want to state that YES you do have to be in violation of a law to be questioned.

http://www.abc15.com/content/news/phoenixmetro/central/story/Governor-signs-several-changes-to-Arizona/qNpxW7Jonkm9shejhnkiSQ.cspx
They have already revised the law for the very reason that this was not clear in its wording.

You are correct. If we are pulled over by police, and you don't have your id, you can be arrested in some states (not here in arizona thankfully) and/or ticketed. My observation is that why are people freaking out over this. It was always required that you carry your id. For us all. This is just the consiquences that if you disregard current laws, you will actually have some action taken instead of getting away with it. Which when you live in Tucson you see A LOT! My family's from puerto rico and they had to work really hard to get here. Legally. So why should they work hard when others get in with no hassle at all? Where's the fairness in that. :)

You are not legally required to present ID to a police officer when ever asked. You are required to show a driver's license to a police officer if you are pulled over because you are operating an automobile and must show that you are licensed to do so.

 

[IcedEcliptic]

I wonder how many people emerge from sobriety checkpoints with a ticket for something OTHER than DUI - tail light, seat belt, insurance card, suspensions or fines?

That is a good point, another motivation for them to run the checks! I should see if the data exists, if I find it I will post.

 

[cronxeh]

Sorry, Statutory, but I feel this need to argue one particular point...

My view has always been that equal protection of the law applies to intent, not result. If it can be proven that the AZ police really did act fairly to all races and didn't engage in racial profiling, why on Earth would we strike down the law anyway based on the idea of "if more Hispanics are deported, regardless of police fairness, this law must go"?

Also, pass the marshmallows. I smell a firestorm starting in Arizona.

The police should engage in racial profiling. If you are a student of mathematical sciences why on Earth would you disregard the 'DUH!' obvious sign that someone has a higher likelihood of being a criminal? Statistically speaking 5% of all black males are incarcerated compared to 0.6% of white males. My taxes are not paying them to sit there looking at me - I know I'm not breaking the law. I want police to go after the criminals who are breaking the law, and we already know who these people are, what they look like, where they reside, and what kind of criminal activities they engage in.

http://www.hrw.org/legacy/backgrounder/usa/incarceration/

Until minorities stop breaking the law, there will be racial tensions in the US, and as long as the law is written by the majority, this is going to be the United States and not Somalia.

 

[mgb_phys]

If you are a student of mathematical sciences why on Earth would you disregard the 'DUH!' obvious sign that someone has a higher likelihood of being a criminal? ... My taxes are not paying them to sit there looking at me - I know I'm not breaking the law. I want police to go after the criminals who are breaking the law, and we already know who these people are, what they look like, where they reside, and what kind of criminal activities they engage in.

Exactly - mathematically why arrest people for holding up a convenience store when bankers steal billions?
Wouldn't it be more cost effective for police to be on Wall st?
It's just as easy to spot the crooks - they are the ones wearing the suits, search them for BMW keys and that's probable cause.

 

[cronxeh]

Exactly - mathematically why arrest people for holding up a convenience store when bankers steal billions?
Wouldn't it be more cost effective for police to be on Wall st?
It's just as easy to spot the crooks - they are the ones wearing the suits, search them for BMW keys and that's probable cause.

so its not racial profiling when its NBA and NFL when we reward the posive attributes by drafting more blacks than whites, but it is when we punish the negative?

Oh and another thing, has it ever occurred to you that the reason a lot of corporate crime goes unnoticed is because the regulators in the government are employed because of affirmitive action and not merit?

 

[mgb_phys]

You can arrest black bankers as well.

I just think that if you had mathematially based policing, then a helicopter and a SWAT team to nail a guy that held up a convenience store for $50 might not have the same ROI as kicking in a few doors in the Hamptons.

 

[TheStatutoryApe]

Until minorities stop breaking the law, there will be racial tensions in the US, and as long as the law is written by the majority, this is going to be the United States and not Somalia

One might also make the case that until minorities are not automatically labeled as criminals racial tensions will continue to exist in the US.

so its not racial profiling when its NBA and NFL when we reward the posive attributes by drafting more blacks than whites, but it is when we punish the negative?

The cops don't round up black kids in south central to go play ball yo.

Oh and another thing, has it ever occurred to you that the reason a lot of corporate crime goes unnoticed is because the regulators in the government are employed because of affirmitive action and not merit?

Not really, considering that corporate crime was far more prevalent and turned a blind eye on before the notion of affirmative action ever even existed.

 

[Jack21222]

It was always required that you carry your id. For us all.

Can you post a source for this? I believe you are mistaken. It is my understanding that carrying around an ID is not required by any law.

Besides, this law, the way I understand it, requires to carry around more than just an ID, it requires carrying around proof that you're in the country illegally.

I have no clue where my birth certificate is, and I damn sure don't carry it around with me.

 

[mgb_phys]

I have no clue where my birth certificate is, and I damn sure don't carry it around with me.

Better get a passport then !

Have any of the usual conspiracy enthusiasts noticed that US just conveniently created a cheap national ID card that fits in your wallet ?

 

[cronxeh]

You can arrest black bankers as well.

I just think that if you had mathematially based policing, then a helicopter and a SWAT team to nail a guy that held up a convenience store for $50 might not have the same ROI as kicking in a few doors in the Hamptons.

All crime is crime, from robbery to crossing the border illegally, and should be prosecuted with extreme prejudice. If I am being robbed by taxes for a job that is not done, then either fire the people doing the job or stop taxing me. The alternative is paying the feds for not doing anything all day because we are afraid to upset the minorities. Who are these minorities? The same people who protest, aid and abet the criminal element and raise such criminal element.

So you have mexican drug gangs importing the weed, and local blacks distributing the stuff to local users who also happen to be living on welfare. Sounds familiar yet?