by Miguel Guadelupe
"Show me your papers, are your papers in order?" This phrase was made famous, or rather infamous, by the Gestapo, and will soon be heard throughout the state of Arizona, should their Governor sign into law SB1070, a vague and broad law giving law enforcement the unprecedented power to stop and check the documentation of any individual where "reasonable suspicion exists that the person is an alien who is unlawfully present in the U.S.."
There are no guidelines as to what "reasonable suspicion" is, but knowing the reality on the ground, it is obvious to all that "reasonable suspicion" means those looking like, sounding like, or acting like general stereotypes of undocumented immigrants coming from Latin America. In short — this is a bill that allows police to suspect all Latinos of being undocumented, and gives them the right to question their status at any time, for any reason.
The legality of this will of course be challenged as the rest of the nation and the world reacts in horror at what many who support immigration reform have long warned would be the consequence of allowing far right politicians to control the debate around immigration, and write enforcement-only laws which drip of xenophobia and racism.
This law also uncovers the unbelievable hypocrisy of the right — those who have threatened to take up arms to "take their country back" from the brink of socialism, to defend freedom against tyranny. Where are you Tea Party, to decry this obvious encroachment on the individual liberties of the citizens of Arizona? Where are you, conservatives, decrying the use of government funds and resources to form a "police state" where the populace can be stopped for no other reason than for moving about freely in public?
While the right have been busy chasing socialist unicorns and barricading themselves against gun controlling Yeti, a real world example of everything they claim to be defending this country against has been grown like a prickly bush in their own lawn-chaired backyards.
But I forget. They support this measure, because it’s against "the other." This doesn’t effect "real Americans," but only outsiders who look different from them and who shouldn’t be here anyway.
What of fellow citizens? What of the millions of US born and naturalized persons, or those who are in the process of becoming so, who might share the physical characteristics of these "outsiders?" Shall we pin our papers to our coats when walking on the street to avoid harassment?
Perhaps we should stitch patches to our sleeves so the police can easily tell who we are and what our status is? If you can ask for papers of any one on the street, why not at their homes? Better yet, why not relocate us to a central part of town, so that the authorities can have an easier time monitoring our movements, all in the name of keeping out the undesirables.
Where are your documents? In a safe deposit box? Our bad, sorry we kept you locked up over the weekend and sent your husband on a plane to the middle of Guatemala, but we got a tip from your neighbor that aliens might be living in this apartment.
We see now where the right plans to take this country. We see that their cries of liberty are not about liberty at all, but the simple wailings of an angry mob longing to be rid of "the other."
And what of "The Maverick" that never was? What of the Senator from Arizona, the one who claimed to have the temperament to lead our country? What of the man who just years ago, supported comprehensive immigration reform? He now supports his wayward statesmen, saying this legislation is necessary because these people "were causing accidents on the freeway." My god man. Are you so desperate to continue your senatorial ride that you’d hitch your cart to any ass in front of you? And by ass, I mean mule, of course.
The farce that we are witnessing before us cannot be ignored or defended as an isolated occurrence. Already we see an unprecedented raise of violence against those suspected of being so-called aliens across the country. From "beaner hopping" in Long Island, NY to the deportation of lawful Immigrants, this wave of anti immigrant and by extension, anti-Latino hate crime is up and has very real, very tragic consequences. Families live in fear for their children, and even multi-generation Americans like myself feel the stress when a society has decided to place Sarah Palin’s crosshairs on our backs.
So show us, oh self proclaimed "defenders of liberty," that you are not just a band of angry White men still bitter from the last election, and defend us. What better example of government overreach than one that would force your fellow countrymen to walk under a cloud of suspicion, fearful that if one day we leave our wallets at home, we can be arrested, incarcerated, and shipped off to another country? You should be descending upon the Arizona legislature like you have on Congress, who merely wanted to reform healthcare for its citizens. Where is your anger, Mr. Beck?
But we already know what the answer to all this is — those rallies about freedom aren’t about freedom at all. It’s not about liberty of the universal kind. It is hypocritical posturing to intimidate the rest of the country to allow the right back in the driver’s seat, so that they can pass legislation like Arizona’s SB1070.
I fear for an America where liberty can be so fickle and discriminate.
This article originally appeared on the Huffington Post.
And the liberals claim that the conservatives are fear mongers? Every misinformed comment from the left is nothing more than fear mongering…most have not bothered to actually read the bill. But dive headlong into the cries of foul!!!!
And by the way…Mexico has stricter laws concerning immigration status. For instance ANY Mexican citizen can physically detain an individual whom they suspect as being in Mexico illegally. All foreigners are required to carry their passports and ID at all times. If found to be in Mexico illegally…its a 2 year prison sentence…not a free ride back to your country of origin. And FYI morons…In The USA the federal government derives its authority from the individual states…so when the federal government fails to protect its citizens, uphold existing immigration laws and secure the borders; the states are well with in their rights to do it themselves. If your cries are for compassion for the illegals….why not jump on board of real border security and immigration reform…no one seems to think of the rapes, murders, or those being left to die because an injury sustained during illegal entry. If the system was fixed this wouldn\\\’t happen. Don\\\’t blame AZ for taking real steps to correct this terrible situation..blame the politicians in Washington DC for the decades of refusing to do the right thing and solve the issues of border security and making legal immigration the best option for these people.
PS…Only Jon and those that actually live in AZ have an opinion that actually matters. This is a state issue and doesn’t concern anyone from anywhere else. You can debate its constitutionality all you want (that’s healthy) and the eventual court rulings will bear that out. But anyone that is not a resident sticking their nose into this with their opinion about how people will be treated, or with opinions about how this has to do with national political policies is just plain ignorant.
You people are all Kooks. Why don’t you try READING the law before you cast judgment about what it says. The conclusions of the author of this article are outrageously far-fetched and all of you that buy into it without actually reading the law are just stupid. I know that pointing out logical thought processes and disagreeing with your uninformed point of view makes me some kind of racist to you, but I try to live my life by doing the right thing without worrying how popular that will make me.
Jon (#4) says “what is one of the 1st question an officer asks when you are pulled over or when they are questioning witnesses? I know the answer. License and registration if you are pulled over or can I see your ID if you are a witness. Only those that have something to hide are crying oh my civil liberties and right are violated. If you are here illegally you have no civil right in the US.”
This is stupid Jon. Of course if you are pulled over IN A CAR the officer asks for proof that you are able to drive the car. Don’t be dim. However, an officer can’t just stop you walking down the street and ask for your liscence, especially not just based on the fact that you “looked illegal” whatever the heck that means. Wait, scratch that, now they can in Arizona.
Everyone, should keep in mind that our Constitution guarantees civil rights not to “Citizens” but to all persons. That includes aliens of whatever stripe. The bill will not pass judicial muster and is embarrassing to our nation. Once the police can violate one person’s civil rights they can violate yours as well.
I would be willing to side with this article if he read all 19 pages of the bill. I live in arizona and have seen the crimes committed here by illegal aliens. My wife is Mexican she came to the US legally and we fight over this bill. Than I ask how do you feel that these people enter the country use our services without putting money in the system that we cannot use because they are no longer taking applications for foodstamps or medical coverage help.
My question to everyone whining about this new laws is, what is one of the 1st question an officer asks when you are pulled over or when they are questioning witnesses? I know the answer. License and registration if you are pulled over or can I see your ID if you are a witness. Only those that have something to hide are crying oh my civil liberties and right are violated. If you are here illegally you have no civil right in the US.
I have something to tell the Tea Baggers and the angry mob from the far REICHTT
“America…..Love it or leave it!!”
This is sick that anyone deported people who are doing nothing wrong I mean why do people have to be this mean.
This is a really well written article pointing out all the hypocrasy.