Posted on 07/05/2010 12:20:09 PM PDT by SandRat
SIERRA VISTA — Although Arizona is the target of people and groups who say the state’s soon-to-be-enacted immigration law is wrong, Republican Gov. Jan Brewer said, “I believe they are getting misinformation.”
And, the incorrect information is coming from all levels, including the federal government, the Mexican government and groups who say they are protecting the rights of people who fear Senate Bill 1070 will lead to racial profiling, Brewer said Sunday.
“We have a huge population that are illegal,” she said after arriving the Sierra Vista Municipal Airport. Brewer was one of the speakers at the annual Sierra Vista Fourth of July noon ceremony at Veterans’ Memorial Park.
The specter of the law, which calls upon law enforcement agencies to question a person’s status in the nation if there is some suspicion after a person is being questioned about another potential criminal incident, is seen by many as a violation of a person’s civil rights, the governor said.
But a person’s civil rights are protected by the bill, which goes into effect on July 29, she added.
A number of legal scholars, whom she did not name, have looked at the law and say there is no racial profiling or civil rights violations, Brewer said.
While there are five lawsuits against the state because of the law, she said, she wonders when, or if, the administration of Democratic President Barack Obama is going to file one against Arizona.
As for the suits, the governor said it is good they are all being consolidated by a federal judge, since the main contentions in each of them are similar when it comes to the new state law.
However, Brewer said she is disappointed the Mexican government will have standing and be allowed to file a friend of the court brief stating the law will harm its nation’s citizens in Arizona.
She said it is beyond reason for a foreign government to interfere in another country’s legal system, although the governor noted it has happened.
The Mexican federal government is not the only entity in that nation to complain, Brewer said.
Mexican border state governors have, too, and one of them is the governor of the state of Sonora, Guillermo Padrés Elias, who has personally expressed his displease to the Arizona governor. Arizona and Sonora share a border.
On the other hand, a number of American governors, all Republicans, have called her expressing support, said Brewer, who declined to name them.
And, there are many citizens in the United States who believe the state is doing the right thing and have said so, the governor added.
Also, 20 states have expressed an interest in adopting a similar law, which to Brewer means Arizona is not off the mark in trying to ensure its citizens are protected from the actions of illegal activities which cross the border into the state from Mexico.
For years, the U.S. government has been saying it will address the border security and immigration, going back most recently to 1986, when the late Republican President Ronald Reagan signed what was supposed to be a comprehensive immigration law, Brewer said.
Saying Reagan “is one of my idols,” the governor said the 1986 law had amnesty and required actions to address other immigration issues, such as a better way for people to legally come into the United States, but unfortunately the reforms were not addressed.
Now, another comprehensive immigration reform bill is seen as needed, which is not true, she said.
Without a secure border, any other changes to the U.S. immigration system will be meaningless, Brewer said.
Besides, a secure border will not only help Arizona, the other U.S. border states and the nation as a whole, but will help address the troubling turmoil happening in Mexico, where drug cartels seem to have more power than the government of that nation, the governor said.
With a secured border, the movement of money and weapons into Mexico will be constrained and the movement of illegal drugs and immigrants north will also be highly reduced, she said.
About a recent statement she made, Brewer said the majority of illegal immigrants coming into the United States also are bringing in drugs as a way to pay for their movement north.
The governor re-emphasized her statement, saying the truth is the drug cartels now control the majority of movement of illegal immigrants, and that means the human smuggling traffic also involves transporting drugs.
Border security will ensure the illegal flow north-to-south and south-to-north will be highly impeded, Brewer said.
“I believe the majority want our border secured,” she said.
Because the federal government now and in the past has been hesitant to address the problem, Arizona had to take on the issue, and as for her signing of SB 1070, Brewer said it was not only important but critical to protect the state’s citizens.
But, she is disappointed by the reaction of some, especially calls for boycotts of Arizona, saying the ire of groups should be addressed to the federal government for its continuing complacency.
To have signs on lands in Arizona warning citizens to be wary because of the potential of running into illegal activities is a symptom of a major issue.
“That’s not protection, that’s surrender,” the governor passionately exclaimed.
As if the immigration issue isn’t enough to handle, Brewer said the state’s economic woes required a temporary — 1 cent — increase in Arizona’s sales tax.
It was a struggle to get the issue on a special ballot with members of her own party in the Arizona Legislature, which controls both chambers, fighting her.
The voters did the right thing by passing it, the governor said.
Cuts to the state’s budget has harmed a number of areas, especially education, and Brewer, who calls herself a strong advocate for public education, said the penny increase in the sales tax will help address education and other issues.
However, there is more to be done in the next session of the Legislature, and it will mean more belt tightening. The state’s constitution and voter- approved referendums dictate the spending of funds and it actually reduces discretionary spending, the governor said.
However, there are signs, even if they’re small, the state’s economy is beginning to recover, Brewer said.
The unknown is what will happen nationwide and whether another downturn hits the states, causing recovery to be delayed even further, she said.
As for the legislators sweeping different special funds and recent court decisions, it was improper, Brewer said, adding the funds will have to be replaced and the next budget she submits will address the problem.
Taking office after the Democratic Gov. Janet Napolitano resigned to become the Secretary of Homeland Security, Brewer said as the budget problems unfolded, “It was worse than I had imagined.”
Ending her interview with the Herald/Review at the airport, Brewer said her political philosophy is: “Doing the right thing always means doing the hard things.”
AZ SB-1070 Border Ping
I worry about Gov. Brewer’s safety. The Mexican gangs are very powerful. Can’t believe I’m feeling this way in the USA.
So much for Barry and Nancy's "pathway to citizenship". The illegal aliens are here for freebies, money and jobs (including crimes). The don't want not "stinkin'" citizenship. You can take that to the bank.
From south of the border about Arizona today:
Monday 7/5/10
El Espectador (Bogota, Colombia) 7/4/10
US Ambassador to Colombia rejects Arizona law
The US Ambassador to Colombia, William Brownfield, repudiated the new Arizona law against undocumented immigrants. He said that considering the possibility of rejecting the presence of citizens of other nationalities in his country is illogical since tradition demonstrates otherwise. ”The United States is a country of immigrants,” he declared, during a July 4 celebration.
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2547267/posts
Some 20,000 Hondurans have left Arizona
Tegucigalpa, Honduras – Some 20,000 Hondurans have left Arizona due to the threat of SB 1070. The Honduran government has sent authorities to the state to lend assistance to their people. The Hondurans are seeking refuge in neighboring states like California and Texas, although they prefer California. This is due to two things. Some Texas counties are seeking to implement laws similar to Arizona’s “which violate the rights of the migrants,” while California is a state that is boycotting some of Arizona’s commercial and economic activities in protest to the law.
This liberal commie crap is really wearing thin. I'm no freaking immigrant. Never have been, never will be. I'm an American. Liberals can be hyphenated if they want but I'm an American.
• Make it illegal in the State of Arizona for an alien to not register with the government, thus being an "illegal alien" (already the case at the federal level: 8 USC 1306a; USC 1304e)
• Allow police to detain people where there is a "reasonable suspicion" that they're illegal aliens (see the recent court case Estrada v. Rhode Island for an idea of what "reasonable suspicion" might entail)
• Prohibits sanctuary cities (already prohibited at the federal level, 8 USC 1373) and allows citizens to sue any such jurisdiction.
70 percent of Arizona voters support the new law. Much of the outcry in the press has stemmed from misinformation about the law that may have originated with the local paper, The Arizona Republic.
Reality vs. Myth: SB1070
Myth No. 1: The law requires aliens to carry identification that they weren't already required to carry. Reality: It has been a federal crime (8 United States Code Section 1304(a) or 1306(e)) since 1940 for aliens to fail to carry their registration documents. The Arizona law reaffirms the federal law. Anyone who has traveled abroad knows that other nations have similar requirements. The majority requests for documentation will take place during the course of other police business such as traffic stops. Because Arizona allows only lawful residents to obtain licenses, an officer must presume that someone who produces one is legally in the country. (See News Hour clip 3:45 seconds in)
Myth No. 2: The law will encourage racial profiling. Reality: The Arizona law reduces the chances of racial profiling by requiring officers to contact the federal government when they suspect a person is an illegal alien as opposed to letting them make arrests on their own assessment as federal law currently allows. Section 2 was amended (by HB2162) to read that a law enforcement official "may not consider race, color, or national origin" in making any stops or determining an alien's immigration status (previously, they were prohibited in "solely" considering those factors). In addition, all of the normal Fourth Amendment protections against racial profiling still apply.
Myth No. 3: "Reasonable suspicion" is a meaningless term that will permit police misconduct.
Reality: "Reasonable suspicion" has been defined by the courts for decades (the Fourth Amendment itself proscribes "unreasonable searches and seizures"). One of the most recent cases, Estrada v. Rhode Island, provides an example of the courts refining of "reasonable suspicion:" A 15 passenger van is pulled over for a traffic violation. The driver of the van had identification but the other passengers did not (some had IDs from a gym membership, a non-driver's license card from the state, and IDs issued from the Guatemalan Consulate). The passengers said they were on their way to work but they had no work permits. Most could not speak English but upon questioning, admitted that they were in the United States illegally. The officer notified ICE and waited three minutes for instructions.
The SB1070 provision in question reads:
"For any lawful contact made by a law enforcement official or agency of this state . . . where reasonable suspicion exists that the person is an alien who is unlawfully present in the United States, a reasonable attempt shall be made, when practicable, to determine the immigration status of the person."
Myth No. 4: The law will require Arizona police officers to stop and question people.
Reality: The law only kicks in when a police officer stopped, detained, or arrested someone (HB2162). The most likely contact is during the issuance of a speeding ticket. The law does not require the officer to begin questioning a person about his immigration status or to do anything the officer would not otherwise do.
Only after a stop is made, and subsequently the officer develops reasonable suspicion on his own that an immigration law has been violated, is any obligation imposed. At that point, the officer is required to call ICE to confirm whether the person is an illegal alien.
The Arizona law is actually more restrictive than federal law. In Muehler v. Mena (2005), the Supreme Court ruled that officers did not need reasonable suspicion to justify asking a suspect about their immigration status, stating that the court has “held repeatedly that mere police questioning does not constitute a seizure” under the Fourth Amendment).
Source = http://www.numbersusa.com/dfax?jid=475466&lid=9&rid=123&series=tp06MAY10&tid=999725
Please make copies of these myths and realities to keep with you to give out when needed. Thanks....yoe
there are many more descendants of COLONISTS here than there are ‘immigrants’ - especially legal ones.
The bogus claim of racial profiling is based on the fact that the illegals are from Mexico. So, asking a Mexican for his or her papers is construed as racial profiling. Keeping in mind that the jails have many criminals who are in the country illegally and thus are likely to be caught doing something illegal. Asking someone caught in a criminal act is "profiling" according to the disordered Democrats.
To them, to be fair, you have to go after people from Bulgaria, Canada, South Africa, China, India, and other countries besides Mexico, according to the Mexican government and Big Sis, IMO. Forget about the fact that the Federal Government is not enforcing our own immigration laws. What a country!
Here comes the bull rush of lies, the interviews of Hispanics who are "Afraid! Afraid! Fear! Fear!" they will be arrested and thrown in the concentration camp because they "look Mexican".
Race! Race! Racism! Racism!
And the obedient, compliant, Alphabet networks will play right along, without question.
Pssst....over here....read the bill...right here....read it...it's only 17 pages...you can do it. Racial profiling is still against the law.
Whip the public into a frenzy. That is, if they can. The Boy who Cried Wolf might have cried one time too many.
We do it in 17 pages and the Obama Care bill took over 2,000+ pages and it still a screwed up mess.
I guess the founders knew that the Scum of the Earth would be attracted to politics, that's why they made it hard for them to make changes. Checks and balances set up conflicts between stupid, ignorant, corrupt egos.
It's taken these idiots over 200 years to get us to this point. That's pretty good, and a tribute to the founders' understanding of human nature.
Misinformation is the Demonrat version of truth.
Ping!
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