uptownlivin90
Rebelious Youngin
I've been thinking about the current immigration law in Arizona. Personally I understand the argument on both sides and I also understand the dire situation in the state of Arizona and respect Arizona's right to respond to the current crisis the way they see fit. I'm not an expert on the bill, I'm just going off what I've heard.
From my understanding the bill allows police officers in Arizona to target those who they believe are illegal immigrants and demand that they produce some sort of documentation proving that they legally here (more or less this is what I understand to be one of the main points of the bill and the part that is the most highly contested).
I understand the argument against this on various levels.
First, it's all together concerning to ME personally to have police asking to see citizen's "papers", as if we have some sort of dog tag or national ID, and that puts this nation on a slippery slope the libertarian side of me really doesn't want to go down.
Second, yes this could give license to target Hispanics. Let's just be totally honest, blonde hair, blue eyed Becky Sue is not going to be targeted by police as an illegal. To be FAIR the bill has provisions that state that race and ethnicity alone are not criteria to suggest that someone is an illegal citizen.
My question though is, does the bill specify specifically what is?
The way I understand this bill I currently have a problem with it. What I've been hearing is that cop can look at you decide that you're an illegal, ask you for "you're papers" and if you don't have any (I certainly don't walk outside with my birth certificate and license all the time) they can arrest you. If I'm not correct please let me know.
I can however see the need for some sort of reform. I would support this if the bill would specify exact what constitutes as probable cause for demanding evidence of one's citizenship and what means by which that information should be acquired. If the bill DOESN'T here's a few suggestions I think most reasonable conservatives and liberals can agree on:
I'm not sure about Arizona but in most states you have to prove citizenship before you get a license.
If a suspect is apprehended for driving without a license this should be considered probable cause to look into his citizenship background.
If a suspect commits a crime or is accused of committing a crime and resists arrest... I think this automatically should warrant looking into his citizenship background.
If a suspect is arrested for drug laundering or dealing or drug related charges. I think this warrants looking into the individual's citizenship.
If a police officer suspects that an individual is involved in gang activity. This should warrant a look into the individual's citizenship.
Notice most of these examples apply to individuals who have already committed crimes. In other words if you commit a crime or are arrested for any reason in Arizona automatically for the most part the police should have the right to look into your citizenship and if you are not a citizen they should have the right to automatically send you to whatever agency for deportation.
Could liberals and conservatives agree on a plan like that? I personally would support it and think it's necessary.
From my understanding the bill allows police officers in Arizona to target those who they believe are illegal immigrants and demand that they produce some sort of documentation proving that they legally here (more or less this is what I understand to be one of the main points of the bill and the part that is the most highly contested).
I understand the argument against this on various levels.
First, it's all together concerning to ME personally to have police asking to see citizen's "papers", as if we have some sort of dog tag or national ID, and that puts this nation on a slippery slope the libertarian side of me really doesn't want to go down.
Second, yes this could give license to target Hispanics. Let's just be totally honest, blonde hair, blue eyed Becky Sue is not going to be targeted by police as an illegal. To be FAIR the bill has provisions that state that race and ethnicity alone are not criteria to suggest that someone is an illegal citizen.
My question though is, does the bill specify specifically what is?
The way I understand this bill I currently have a problem with it. What I've been hearing is that cop can look at you decide that you're an illegal, ask you for "you're papers" and if you don't have any (I certainly don't walk outside with my birth certificate and license all the time) they can arrest you. If I'm not correct please let me know.
I can however see the need for some sort of reform. I would support this if the bill would specify exact what constitutes as probable cause for demanding evidence of one's citizenship and what means by which that information should be acquired. If the bill DOESN'T here's a few suggestions I think most reasonable conservatives and liberals can agree on:
I'm not sure about Arizona but in most states you have to prove citizenship before you get a license.
If a suspect is apprehended for driving without a license this should be considered probable cause to look into his citizenship background.
If a suspect commits a crime or is accused of committing a crime and resists arrest... I think this automatically should warrant looking into his citizenship background.
If a suspect is arrested for drug laundering or dealing or drug related charges. I think this warrants looking into the individual's citizenship.
If a police officer suspects that an individual is involved in gang activity. This should warrant a look into the individual's citizenship.
Notice most of these examples apply to individuals who have already committed crimes. In other words if you commit a crime or are arrested for any reason in Arizona automatically for the most part the police should have the right to look into your citizenship and if you are not a citizen they should have the right to automatically send you to whatever agency for deportation.
Could liberals and conservatives agree on a plan like that? I personally would support it and think it's necessary.