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First, I get it. I understand the outrage that many Arizonans feel. Our border with Mexico is the longest border in the world between a "rich" country and a "less rich" country. (Mexico is by no means "poor" in the context of the world, but the US is definitely more rich).
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This means that there will be movement by people that want a better life from Mexico to the US. And this movement falls on the border states, primarily New Mexico and Arizona now (California has a better fence all the way to the Colorado River, and Texas as the Rio Grande followed by way too much desert to make it past..
And illegal immigrants require a lot of services and provide very little taxes to pay for them. Once they are capable of paying taxes with good jobs, they are out of Arizona and onto the country.
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Second, the feds suck ass at protecting the border. Really, honestly, truly suck ass. And, as Mexico has become much more violent the situation has gotten worse.
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So I understand the driving force behind the law. Honest people want to enforce the law. And Arizona's new law to makes not having your immigration papers on you a state misdemeanor. However, the rule that you must have your immigration papers on you is a federal regulation. So Arizona can technically be said to legislating state law to follow federal regulation.
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BUT Even given all that, this law bothers me (and should bother us all) because it is picking on an easy a target. Dick Face Asshole John McCain said, "It's the people whose homes and property are being violated. It's the drive-by that -- the drivers of cars with illegals in it that are intentionally causing accidents on the freeway. " Which is, of course, bullshit. (Quote here). But for lying bitter old politicians, it is EASY to pick on illegal immigrants.
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If you REALLY WANT TO STOP MIGRATION AND NOT JUST SCORE POINTS, it is simple, possible and easy. Take this type of law, but make it illegal for anyone to hire an illegal immigrant and put them in jail for 3 months for the first offense. And it stops.
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Don't just fine the corporate owners of the slaughter house in Kansas (fines do no good). Don't round up the illegal workers for TV (the are just working for a better life). But throw the Manager, his Manager, her Manager, the HR Manager, the President of the slaughter house and the CEO of Hogs Inc into jail for 3 months. Throw the men that hired them into jail for the first offense. They WILL stop hiring illegals.
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Put every house owner who pays a illegal gardener into jail for 3 months.
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Put every home owner who has an illegal maid into jail for 3 months.
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Check restaurant busboys, cooks and dishwashers. Put the Restaurant Managers, Owners and corporate board into jail for 3 months.
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With no jobs, there is no incentive to stay.
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Instead what Arizona and the rest of commentators are doing is making grand gestures that "We are against illegal immigration", but the truth is that we are only against this when it is convenient for us. And Arizona is only doing this to score political points. (Why do I say this? Arizona is going to have to spend millions to defend this law in court. But that happens in the future and the politicans will be elected this year - it will hurt Arizona, but help the politicians.)
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This new law in Arizona isn't bad because it trys to enforce the law. The thing it, it is NOT trying to enforce the law. It is bad because it is making an easy scape goat out of people who are trying to better there lives - who are coming here for the same exact reasons our families came here.