Proof of Citizenship

[Anonymous]

I'm not saying I agree with this (potential) policy in AZ, but in some European countries, such as France, you can be stopped anytime and asked to show "vos papiers." We're not France, and don't have its history, but this policy is not uncommon among some U.S. allies. I've heard pundits liken this policy to despostic regimes (past and present) and that's not the entire truth. It helps to put things in context, whatever your final opinion may be.

[Anonymous]

When I was living in Italy, Venezuela etc. you could be asked for your 'carta di identitad' at any time. Personally, I would appreciate a national ID for citizens and legal residents --and have no issue with being asked to show it. Why have laws about entry if we have no intention of enforcing them? President Obama calling this AZ law 'irresponsible' is a hilarious clay pigeon. The Federal govt. has been irresponsible. Where have they been as hospitals struggle to serve people etc? Whatever. Good for AZ. At least they are forcing the discussion finally.

[Anonymous]

Will the law help or hurt the state in its efforts? Will it lead to people using more violence to get away from law enforcement officers like with the Three Strikes law?

[Anonymous]

jsteele wrote:Once again I am disappointed, though at this point no longer surprised, that there is so little interest in the constitutional issues. As Americans, we have no legal requirement to even show identification under normal circumstances. If I am stopped randomly by a police officer, I can legally not even identify myself, let along prove my citizenship. Arizona strips us of this right.

Second, but more importantly, the Arizona law assumes you are guilty until proven innocent. If a police officer stops you, suspects that you are illegal, it is up to you to prove he is wrong. Otherwise, you go to jail. This stands the foundation of the American justice system on its head.

How many people do you know that do not have a passport? How many of them may not be able to locate their birth certificate? How are they going to prove their innocence?

Every day our rights are being stripped from us. But, unless those rights involves guns or taxes, very few people seem to care.

In addition to this, these types of laws have traditionally been used to harass and intimidate people.

Most of the people I know who claim to support this law are not brown.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:When I was living in Italy, Venezuela etc. you could be asked for your 'carta di identitad' at any time. Personally, I would appreciate a national ID for citizens and legal residents --and have no issue with being asked to show it. Why have laws about entry if we have no intention of enforcing them? President Obama calling this AZ law 'irresponsible' is a hilarious clay pigeon. The Federal govt. has been irresponsible. Where have they been as hospitals struggle to serve people etc? Whatever. Good for AZ. At least they are forcing the discussion finally.

Agree. The Feds have done a terrible job of dealing with the problem of illegal immigration.

[Anonymous]

Might as well be living in Nazi Germany....

We've all seen the movies... the Gestapo stops you on the street... "Your papers, please..." and that's the end of you.

[Anonymous]

Yup. Comparisons to Nazi Germany. I'm surprised it took this long. Why do people ALWAYS go there?

Fix the border and maybe people would be looking at more flexible/creative solutions to people already inland. Most people would be happy to deal with the situation as is, to set up a guest worker program, to raise quotas, but WITH a controlled border FIRST. Too bad President Obama has said we do not need to continue building a fence and has refused requests for months from AZ to deploy the national guard. Who is irresponsible?

AZ is not creating a law. They are enforcing that illegal persons have already broken a law.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Yup. Comparisons to Nazi Germany. I'm surprised it took this long. Why do people ALWAYS go there?

Fix the border and maybe people would be looking at more flexible/creative solutions to people already inland. Most people would be happy to deal with the situation as is, to set up a guest worker program, to raise quotas, but WITH a controlled border FIRST. Too bad President Obama has said we do not need to continue building a fence and has refused requests for months from AZ to deploy the national guard. Who is irresponsible?

AZ is not creating a law. They are enforcing that illegal persons have already broken a law.

Please. We all know only "brown" people will be stopped and checked.

[Anonymous]

Mostly brown but probably any color besides white will be stopped and harassed.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Mostly brown but probably any color besides white will be stopped and harassed.

If they are smart, they will be ready for the accusations. They will make sure that they stop as many whites as possible.

[Anonymous]

Why don't we just force illegal aliens to wear yellow stars? Then everyone will know who they are and can harass them and pretend it is socially acceptable and morally correct to do so.

[Anonymous]

Actually this new law reminds me most of South Africa where under apartheid black people had to carry a pass to show where they were and were not allowed to be. Black people had to have papers showing they were allowed to be in Johannesburg, for example, rather than stuck in a homeland in a remote area.

I understand that there is an immigration problem in Arizona but what I find most chilling about this is that legal immigrants are required to carry proof of citizenship. Not sure I would be happy about us all being required to carry it but that would certainly be more fair.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Yup. Comparisons to Nazi Germany. I'm surprised it took this long. Why do people ALWAYS go there?

Fix the border and maybe people would be looking at more flexible/creative solutions to people already inland. Most people would be happy to deal with the situation as is, to set up a guest worker program, to raise quotas, but WITH a controlled border FIRST. Too bad President Obama has said we do not need to continue building a fence and has refused requests for months from AZ to deploy the national guard. Who is irresponsible?

AZ is not creating a law. They are enforcing that illegal persons have already broken a law.

Which they aren't allowed to do. The Constitution gives that power to Congress and states are preempted from regulating immigration in any way.

There is so much wrong with this law constitutionally, it's mind boggling.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Maybe in the coming decades, what goes around will come around. When Latinos become the majority race, they can limit immigration from certain countries and pass similar laws about certain minorities at that time.

Mexico aleady has. Mexico has cracked down heavily on illegal immigrants from other Latin American countries. They deport them back to their homelands upon apprehending them. Ironic

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Maybe in the coming decades, what goes around will come around. When Latinos become the majority race, they can limit immigration from certain countries and pass similar laws about certain minorities at that time.

Mexico aleady has. Mexico has cracked down heavily on illegal immigrants from other Latin American countries. They deport them back to their homelands upon apprehending them. Ironic

Shhh....it's only bad for white people to enforce immigration laws. Non-white majority countries can do whatever they like, because they cannot be racist by definition. Get with the program.