Posted on 02/03/2005 4:49:31 AM PST by Klickitat
To get a driver’s license or social security card, foreigners must present their visas. Illegal aliens need not apply. To vote, everyone must show proof of citizenship. In addition, more than 201,000 foreigners were deported last year, and another 9,000 were denied entry at airports and the border. Is this more U.S. antagonism to immigrants? Is this racist discrimination? Perhaps it’s another example of American xenophobia? Not quite. It’s how Mexico deals with illegal immigrants. But apparently what’s good for Mexico isn’t good for the United States, at least to hear Mexicans and left-leaning Americans tell it.
A substantial majority of Arizona voters approved Proposition 200 in the November 2 election, imposing requirements and restrictions similar to Mexico’s on illegal immigrants, who have flooded across the Mexican border into that state, avoiding border patrol crackdowns in Texas and California.
Incredibly, Arizona is the first U.S. state to require proof of citizenship to vote. In an effort to stem voting fraud and to restrict public benefits to legal residents, 56 percent of Arizonans endorsed Proposition 200. Last week the U.S. Justice Department gave Arizona the green light to enforce its new law, a federal approval required because of past voter discrimination practices.
The U.S. Border Patrol says 586,000 illegal aliens were caught trying to enter the United States through Arizona alone in the year ending last Sept. 30, an increase of 175,000 over the previous year. There are an estimated 22 million illegal aliens already in the United States.
Response to the new law has been predictable from the usual suspects on the left, from so-called “civil rights” groups and perhaps most ironic, from government representatives of Mexico.
“This law provokes a xenophobic attitude, a discriminatory attitude,” said Eliana Garcia Laguna, a member of Mexico’s Democratic Revolutionary Party. “It is very bad for the Mexico-U.S. relationship.”
Geronimo Gutiérrez, Mexico’s undersecretary for North American affairs, likewise complained that, “Measures such as Proposition 200 in Arizona will not help address the unresolved situation of undocumented workers who are demanded by the U.S. economy. Moreover, we are aware of concerns that its implementation could lead to acts of discrimination based on ethnic profiling.”
The temerity of Arizona to enact laws restricting voting to citizens who can prove their citizenship and limiting public benefits to legal resident has so enraged Mexican officials that they already are threatening to complain to the United Nations, or the Organization of American States, if they don’t get satisfaction in U.S. courts. So far, one U.S. federal district court judge has found nothing offensive in the law, although opponents have appealed that ruling to the notoriously left-wing 9th Circuit Court of Appeals.
Proposition 200 “went into effect in Arizona to legalize racist and xenophobic actions,” complained columnist Victor Manuel Barceló in the Mexican newspaper Tabasco Hoy. “If we are unable to bring to bear international law…to stop the aggression in Arizona, there are similar bills, in several Southern states of the empire [that’s how he refers to the U.S. – eds.] that could ‘feel the tickle’ to pass them.”
Barceló may be right. Already similar legislation has been introduced in Arkansas, and more may be on the way.
“We’ve been contacted by people in every state except for Hawaii…saying, ‘How do we do this,’” said Kathy McKee, who led Protect Arizona Now to put Proposition 200 on the ballot. “They wanted to see how the post-election challenge went. When it went according to plan and didn’t drag on forever…they said, ‘OK, let’s get busy.’”
Californians overwhelmingly endorsed a similar initiative in 1994, but Proposition 187 was ruled unconstitutional when opponents challenged it. The state did not appeal. The court’s reversal of the popular will in California seemed to dampen anti-illegal immigration campaigns for a while. But Proposition 200 supporters believe that effect has worn off, in part because of soaring illegal immigration, and its increasing burden on taxpayers, as well as its threat to election integrity.
The Federation for American Immigration Reform, a national anti-immigration group that financially supported the Proposition 200 campaign, is working with about three dozen highly mobilized grassroots organizations to spread FAIR’s three-pronged vision, which opposes illegal alien amnesty, a guest-worker program and illegal immigration. The widespread interest suggests growing public disapproval with illegal immigration.
“We have become a Third World dumping ground,” said Protect Arkansas Now’s Joe McCutchen, of Fort Smith, who hopes to replicate Arizona’s success in his state. “It’s just madness. I’m hoping that we can wake up Americans to defend our sovereignty, the Constitution and save this Republic from this massive invasion.”
As illegal immigration has increased, states that previously had low Hispanic populations, such as Arkansas, Colorado and Georgia, are feeling the effects. McCutchen, who is backing the legislative effort of Arkansas Senator Jim Holt to deny benefits for and prohibit voting by non-citizens, makes this case for state-level action: “It’s obvious the president has no intention to secure the borders, and I think this is by design.”
Protect Arkansas Now follows the lead of McKee, the self-described Quaker Sunday School teacher, who advanced Proposition 200. Arizona’s new law requires those registering to vote to prove their citizenship, then show identification when they cast their votes. It also denies some state benefits to illegal aliens. Proposition 200 backers are seeking in court a wider definition of the welfare benefits that come under the law’s provisions. A legal opinion by Arizona Attorney General Terry Goddard limited the definition, but backers of the measure hope to have included public housing, food assistance, and employment benefits, among others.
Arizona Governor Janet Napolitano, Senator John McCain, most of Arizona’s congressional delegation, many state officials, and immigrant advocacy groups opposed the ballot measure last fall, although the campaign was low-profile and played down even by the local press, perhaps hoping not to draw too much attention to a clearly popular cause. Once Proposition 200 passed, however, there was a firestorm of criticism.
Proposition 200’s success bred not only vocal opposition, but also much sympathetic interest, which is what its critics seem to fear most. Twenty-three states permit citizen initiatives like Arizona’s, but some of the campaigns to mimic the anti-voter fraud measure promise to be fought in state legislative houses, as in Arkansas.
Prominent among Proposition 200 opponents have been the leftist immigrant and so-called “civil rights” groups, including the Mexican American Legal Defense and Education Fund (MALDEF), which sued to try to stop the Arizona initiative, and has filed an appeal to block the benefits provisions.
MALDEF is an organization -- largely funded and created by the Ford Foundation -- known for promoting drivers licenses for illegals, free or reduced college tuition for illegal immigrants, lowering educational standards to accommodate Hispanics, and advocating the right of criminals to vote in U.S. elections. All such measures undermine national security. MALDEF asked the Justice Department not to approve the voter identification measures, arguing that Proposition 200 is discriminatory, since Hispanics and other minorities are less likely to have required identification. However, all that is required to prove citizenship is a birth certificate or naturalization papers, and records of both are easily obtained.
Proposition 200 opponents also are fearful that the new law’s requirement to submit photocopies of documentation with each voter registration form could retard voter registration drives, resulting in fewer minorities voting. However, nothing in the law prohibits anyone from voting, who is legally entitled to vote, a fact Proposition 200 opponents seem to ignore.
In effect Arizonans have gone Mexico one better. While Mexican law restricts voting to citizens and public benefits to persons legally entitled to them, that nation has no requirement for government officials to report undocumented migrants trying to get around the system, or to punish them when they don’t comply. Proposition 200 does. Unlike Mexico, Arizona, it seems, regards the law as something to be enforced.
Proposition 200 requires state and local employees to report undocumented migrants, and carries a penalty of up to four months in jail and a $750 fine if officials don’t comply.
That may be what irks Mexicans most, at least judging by the reaction of Mexican legislator, Garcia Laguna.
“This hunt for illegals is the most troubling part,” she said. “This law could lead to all kinds of discrimination against our countrymen. And our greatest fear is that it will be copied in other states.”
What the law is certain to lead to is discrimination against lawbreakers. And McKee, McCutchen, Holt, and Protect America Now are hoping it indeed is copied in other states.
Meanwhile, Arizona officials are working to implement the identification requirements of the law in time for the local March 3 elections. Another measure of Proposition 200’s influence may be Rep. F. James Sensenbrenner, R-WI, chairman of the House judiciary committee, calling for national legislation to bar illegal immigrants from getting driver’s licenses.
Protecting America’s elections from fraud and her borders from illegals is catching on. And the Left is getting nervous.
ping
President Bush's Immigration Policy needs funding and Action. Rhetoric will no longer make the grade!!
He talked the talk, No he MUST walk the walk. Action!!!
Time to put the hammer Down!
That played a big role in the recall.
"We have become a Third World dumping ground"
Given the power of the "immigrant rights" industry and studies that show the legal and ILLEGAL immigrants' use of public benefits there's not a better description of many of them IMO than sponge mob. google returned less than 200 hits on "sponge mob" so I guess the term is up for grabs. Here's a good use for it.
"To get a driver’s license or social security card, foreigners must present their visas. Illegal aliens need not apply. To vote, everyone must show proof of citizenship. In addition, more than 201,000 foreigners were deported last year, and another 9,000 were denied entry at airports and the border. Is this more U.S. antagonism to immigrants? Is this racist discrimination? Perhaps it’s another example of American xenophobia? Not quite. It’s how Mexico deals with illegal immigrants. But apparently what’s good for Mexico isn’t good for the United States, at least to hear Mexicans and left-leaning Americans tell it.
ANY QUESTIONS?????
When is America going to stop the xenophobic, racist, bigoted attacks of the poort Irish who are here to do the jobs Americans won't do?
: )
google, Irish illegal new york drivers licenses
" Unlike Mexico, Arizona, it seems, regards the law as something to be enforced."
Amazing concept, huh, wanting people to show proof of citizenship to vote, and we're called racist because of it.
After watching the State of the Union address one thing has become apparent. 90%plus of the people of this country are not happy about the current non enforcement of our laws and the "ya'll come" border. But we have only about 130 legislators on our side. There are many reasons why, mostly money. This congress and white house are not going to give up their push for more of the same and will comply with the 10% or less of the public that has a vested interest in maintaining this mess at the cost of the rest of us, BECAUSE THEY CAN.
What they may not yet realize is that in 2006 a bunch of those legislators are going to get voted out of office over this. That's what it took in 1996 and that's what it's going to take in 2006 to ever change this situation. They don't care how their policies damage the majority of us or this country. They simply do not care. This won't change until they are voted out. The ballot box, which they would rather stuff with votes from illegals with no proof of citizenship than us, is the only hope we have to change it.
The scariest part here is that this faction of less than 10 percent will sell the rest of us out to protect their interests and they have all but about 130 out of 435 plus legislators in their pockets. That faction is very proud this morning that they are able to undermine the laws and safety of this country for their immediate benefit. Greed, backed by power is a formadable force to defeat. Do you think they realize it can be done? It's been done before and we will have to do it again, but don't expect help from the current power structure. It only matters how much the rest of us are willing to take the heat to get the job done.
I suppose we could start with pushing Sensenbrenner's Real ID act. It won't get passed in the Senate and if it did, I would not doubt it would be the first bill vetoed by this White House.
ping
The opponents were those in our own government. And Bush, before he became president was another that spoke out against our free election that we won! Is anyone surprised now?
Fact is, the feds working in concert with the state govt hacks burned our ballots and declared our free election illegal. The ugly results of this Fed/state govt action can now be seen from Vegas to Georgia, and all points in between
Hypocrites. The plutocrats in Mexico laugh at the stupidity of Americans while dumping their poorest citizens into our country for US taxpayers to take care of.
They could get an international drivers license.
bump and thanks!
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