When we looked at Sheriff Joe Arpaio we saw someone who would do anything to stop illegal immigration. On the other end of the spectrum we see Governor Rick Perry, a man being accused of being to "soft" on illegal immigration. Perry was born in March 4, 1950 to a rural family in western Texas, he became governor in 1999 and currently running for President of the United States. On September 22, at a presidential debate in Orlando, many of Perry's competitors called him a "magnet" for illegal immigration. One of the strongest arguments for this point is the Texas Dream Act which allows children of illegal immigrants that attend high school for three years to obtain state college tuition. Perry supports and defends the bill by saying of the 181 lawmakers in texas only 4 voted against it.
70% of illegal aliens come through Mexico, It is estimated that only 4% of illegal aliens are apprehended and prosecuted in Texas making it one of the most insecure states along the boarder. Arizona was the target for over half the illegal immigrants attempting to corss the border, however that number has sharply declined with the questionable methods of Joe Arpaio. Now immigrants are being drawn to Texas because of the low chance they will be sent back or prosecuted. While the number of illegal aliens in Texas increases every year, Perry still defends his actions. When asked about the Texas Dream Act he said “We put our Texas Ranger recon teams there now,” he said. “But if you are saying we shouldn’t educate those children, I don’t think you have a heart. We need to be educating these children because they become a drag on our society.”
Unfortunately most chilidren of illegal immigrants grow up illeterate and some never learn english because they have no motivation to go to high school or obtain an education. This act encourages them to get a high school degree so they can make college affordable and hopefully help them to lead better lives. While the parents may work in a sweatshop for the rest of their lives the hope is that their children will be able to contribute to our society with a college degree. There is no question that Perry has good intentions but these intentions will ultimately lead to more people crossing the border. It isnt Americas fault that the Mexican education system isnt very good. Illegal aliens our taking american jobs and now will be taking spot in our nations colleges from american students. In my opinion, I feel that we need to focus on OUR education for OUR children.
Thursday, September 29, 2011
Thursday, September 22, 2011
Sherrif Joe Arpiao
He has been called “Americas Toughest Sheriff” and has declared war on illegal immigration despite the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement Bureau revoking his authority to arrest people on immigration violations. His name is Sheriff Joe Arpaio. Born June 14th, 1932 in Springfield Massachusetts, Sheriff Joe Arpaio led a though life from birth. His mother died in childbirth and his father ran an Italian grocery store, at age 18 he joined the Army just before the start of the Korean War. After the war he became a police officer in D.C. and Las Vegas and later in 1993 he was elected the Sheriff of Maricopa County Arizona. Sheriff Joe has been accused of racism and police brutality by many Hispanic Americans but no charges have been brought up against him.
In 2005 he declared war on illegal immigration and has since claimed to have arrested 30,000 illegal immigrants even though he does not have the authority. When asked about why he continues to disobey the federal government he responded with ‘I’m not going to bend to the federal government, I’m going to do my job. I don’t report to the federal government, I report to the people.” On July 24th, of 2009, Arpaio did a sweep of the entire eastern part of the metro Phoenix are and arrested 74 people, mainly on traffic violations like not using their blinker or having a taillight out. Of the 74 people arrested only 25 of them were illegal immigrants. This ignited a wave of angry protest that accused Arpaio of racial profiling; Arpaio defends his actions by saying he had probable cause.
Since 2005 when Arpaio declared the so called “War on Immigration,” he has been receiving criticism and protests against him, while immigration is sharply declining in Arizona. Whether you agree with his methods, you can’t deny that Arpaio get results and he continues to be reelected as Maricopa Counties Sheriff so it’s clear a majority of the county agrees or supports him. The time will come when Arpaio steps down and a new Sheriff will be elected. Odds are very good that this Sheriff won’t be as radical or strict on illegal immigration as Arpaio so I feel that illegal immigration will rise. What we have to ask ourselves is this; is this the only way we can stop illegal immigration? I think we can all agree that if every county along the border had Sheriff Joe Arpaio immigration wouldn’t be as big of an issue as it now but would it be a worthwhile place to live if you were a legal Hispanic American?
Sunday, September 18, 2011
Arizona SB 1070
On April 23, 2010 Governor of Arizona Jan Brewer signed the Arizona Senate Bill 1070, also known as "The Arizona SB 1070." This anti-immigration bill is the strictest in recent U.S. history and is receiving publicity across the nation. The law will require all illegal aliens over the age of 14 who remain in the United States for longer than 30 days to register with the U.S. government, and to have registration documents in their possession at all times. If an illegal alien is caught without his/her documents on them it is considered a misdemeanor that will go on the persons personal record. The bill also states that an officer can make a lawful arrest on a person if there is reasonable suspicion that that person is an illegal alien.
After only a week of being signed protests began in over 70 cities across the U.S. claiming that the bill encourages "Racial Profiling." Others say that race is the only thing that investigators have to go on when looking for illegal immigrants. Polls have shown that a majorty of the United States support the bill but boycotts have already started in Arizona, some people are trying to boycott the state of Arizona. Mexican President Felipe Cauleron has spoken out against the bill saying that "the Mexican government condemns the approval of the law." Others like Sheriff Joe Arpaio, one of the bills supporters, believes that the bill will make immigrants scared that other states will follow suit and accept the law.
This law has clearly meet a lot of resistance from the hispanic population of America and will probably only get worse. The bill has received criticizim by President Barak Obama himself who says that it will "undermine basic notions of fairness that we cherish as Americans, as well as the trust between police and our communities that is so crucial to keeping us safe." President Obama does bring up a good point that not only will the hispanic population be discriminated but so will police officers. While this could very well be considered racial profiling is it as way to drastically reduce illegal immigration through Arizona without putting our border patrol at risk. This will also make it easier to monitor illegal immigrants in Arizona, a state with one of the largest population of illegall aliens. At first glance the bill significantly reduces illegal immigration without putting lives at risk or costing the U.S. a lot of money. However, when we read deeper into the bill and see what that it will divide the state of Arizona and if passed through the nation, could ultimately divide the country.
After only a week of being signed protests began in over 70 cities across the U.S. claiming that the bill encourages "Racial Profiling." Others say that race is the only thing that investigators have to go on when looking for illegal immigrants. Polls have shown that a majorty of the United States support the bill but boycotts have already started in Arizona, some people are trying to boycott the state of Arizona. Mexican President Felipe Cauleron has spoken out against the bill saying that "the Mexican government condemns the approval of the law." Others like Sheriff Joe Arpaio, one of the bills supporters, believes that the bill will make immigrants scared that other states will follow suit and accept the law.
This law has clearly meet a lot of resistance from the hispanic population of America and will probably only get worse. The bill has received criticizim by President Barak Obama himself who says that it will "undermine basic notions of fairness that we cherish as Americans, as well as the trust between police and our communities that is so crucial to keeping us safe." President Obama does bring up a good point that not only will the hispanic population be discriminated but so will police officers. While this could very well be considered racial profiling is it as way to drastically reduce illegal immigration through Arizona without putting our border patrol at risk. This will also make it easier to monitor illegal immigrants in Arizona, a state with one of the largest population of illegall aliens. At first glance the bill significantly reduces illegal immigration without putting lives at risk or costing the U.S. a lot of money. However, when we read deeper into the bill and see what that it will divide the state of Arizona and if passed through the nation, could ultimately divide the country.
Issues with money
The Federal American Immigration Reform (FAIR) released a study that estimated that illegal immigration causes a $113 billion dollar drain on the United States taxpayers per year. This money, that could be used to strengthen a declining U.S. education system or improve the quality of major highways, is being used to support illegal immigrants. This same study revealed that houses headed by illegal aliens cost the U.S. Government $28 billion dollars and only paid $9 billion dollars in taxes. This obnoxiously large fiscal deficite is tightening the U.S. budget and decreasing funding for other area of our nation. Immigrants take advantage of american healthcare, child support, education, and other benefits that come by being a legal citizen of our great nation.
Illegal alien are also unbalacing the local economies in the southwest by accepting lower wages. It is impossible for honest companies to compete with companies that are accepting illegal immigrants and paying them less that minimum wage. Becuase they are illegal aliens the minimum wage law does not apply to them, so they can find jobs easier and beat out american citizens. Buisiness's that hire legal citizens are forced to compete with companies that undercut their prices by hiring illegal aliens. This forces the honest buisiness to close creating a larger unemployment rating. A way the government is attacking this problem is requiring certain companies to perform backround checks on people they hire. These companies have already proved their dishonest, and rather than admit to hiring illegal aliens, would rather falsify the documents the government gives them.
Many people feel that these immigrants should be givin legal status through an amnesty, this will force the dishonest companies to pay their workers and keep them from undercutting prices. On the other hand this will pertetuate illegal immigration and encourage people to illegally migrate because they will get legal status, people on this side of the fence believe that the U.S. should be more aggresive defending its boarders and send a message to everyone that the U.S. will not tolerate illegal migration. This statement is obviously easier said that done and immigrants will always find ways to get over, under, around, or through the fence that separates the United States from the poverty stricken world to the south. No matter what the american government does, illegal immigration will always, and forever be, a major fiscal burden on the everday american taxpayer.
Illegal alien are also unbalacing the local economies in the southwest by accepting lower wages. It is impossible for honest companies to compete with companies that are accepting illegal immigrants and paying them less that minimum wage. Becuase they are illegal aliens the minimum wage law does not apply to them, so they can find jobs easier and beat out american citizens. Buisiness's that hire legal citizens are forced to compete with companies that undercut their prices by hiring illegal aliens. This forces the honest buisiness to close creating a larger unemployment rating. A way the government is attacking this problem is requiring certain companies to perform backround checks on people they hire. These companies have already proved their dishonest, and rather than admit to hiring illegal aliens, would rather falsify the documents the government gives them.
Many people feel that these immigrants should be givin legal status through an amnesty, this will force the dishonest companies to pay their workers and keep them from undercutting prices. On the other hand this will pertetuate illegal immigration and encourage people to illegally migrate because they will get legal status, people on this side of the fence believe that the U.S. should be more aggresive defending its boarders and send a message to everyone that the U.S. will not tolerate illegal migration. This statement is obviously easier said that done and immigrants will always find ways to get over, under, around, or through the fence that separates the United States from the poverty stricken world to the south. No matter what the american government does, illegal immigration will always, and forever be, a major fiscal burden on the everday american taxpayer.
Is it a crime to want a better life?
The United States in an effort to enhance their public image has recently taken steaps to embrace illegal immigrants and attempt to help them create a better life for themselves. While this may be a touching story, is this how America should be treating these people? According to the Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS) illegal immigration is a crime, and what should be done with these criminals? Many people say it should go under their record as a misdemeanor, "Nobody is being harmed," most of the people are only searching for better lives and on most cases when caught, illegal immigrants go into custody with little resistance.
However, just becuase nobody is being physically harmed does not make this a victimless crime. Funding to better the lives of people that dont even live here and are trying to do so illegally cost money that some argue should be put into our schooldistrics and our cities. These people argue that these illegal immigrants should be charged for their crimes and not let back into the united states. While this would scare immigrants off what would happen to the ones who still attempt to cross the border? The argument against charging immigrants would be that it will enhance the violence along the border, immigrants who are caught will resist which is putting the lives of the United States Border Patrol in danger. Lets not forget that there are people crossing the border intending to harm people on the otherside, already dangerous drug cartels will become even more dangerous with the inhanced threat of incarseration.
The issue with deciding wether to charge illegal immigrants with a misdemeanor or felony boils down to the United State's willingness to risk the lives of its men and women. If we are then we should charge these illegals with felonys and reduce the number of immigrants atempting to come to the U.S. but we should be willing to pay the price for it as well. If we dont want to see a very small number of our border patrol killed in action then the U.S. should charge the immigrants with a misdemeanor but we should be prepared for little progress on stopping immigration. If the U.S. wants to help a percentage of these immigrants make better lives for themselves, then we should be prepared to devote resources, that are already in short supply, people that are commiting a crime by entering the united states illegally.
However, just becuase nobody is being physically harmed does not make this a victimless crime. Funding to better the lives of people that dont even live here and are trying to do so illegally cost money that some argue should be put into our schooldistrics and our cities. These people argue that these illegal immigrants should be charged for their crimes and not let back into the united states. While this would scare immigrants off what would happen to the ones who still attempt to cross the border? The argument against charging immigrants would be that it will enhance the violence along the border, immigrants who are caught will resist which is putting the lives of the United States Border Patrol in danger. Lets not forget that there are people crossing the border intending to harm people on the otherside, already dangerous drug cartels will become even more dangerous with the inhanced threat of incarseration.
The issue with deciding wether to charge illegal immigrants with a misdemeanor or felony boils down to the United State's willingness to risk the lives of its men and women. If we are then we should charge these illegals with felonys and reduce the number of immigrants atempting to come to the U.S. but we should be willing to pay the price for it as well. If we dont want to see a very small number of our border patrol killed in action then the U.S. should charge the immigrants with a misdemeanor but we should be prepared for little progress on stopping immigration. If the U.S. wants to help a percentage of these immigrants make better lives for themselves, then we should be prepared to devote resources, that are already in short supply, people that are commiting a crime by entering the united states illegally.
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