The new Arizona law making it a crime to be in the state without proper documentation is already being challenged in federal court and the state promises a vigorous defense. But first, attorneys and law enforcement official are puzzling on how to enforce the new law.
Something both immigrant advocates and those favoring a more restrictive policy have agreed on is that the system is broken. But they go off in different directions to find a way to fix it. The issue is usually reduced to further restriction or a path to citizenship. But if you look at the system, it's broken in many more ways – for the undocumented and the legal immigration alike. Here are two stories:
The Law is the Law:
Arizona's innovative "show me your papers, noncitizen!" approach to immigration reform is either a first-of-its-kind call of America's conservative wild or a semi-legitimate cri de coeur of frustration as anarchy and human trafficking continue to spill over the Mexican border. Ultimately it hardly matters because of a couple of issues the new law doesn't bother to address.
Feliz Cinco de Mayo--the day that US Americans think they're celebrating Mexican independence (that's Sept 16) by drinking Coronas and margaritas.
Or as this article calls it "Gringo de Mayo." Gustavo Arellano argues that the holiday is ridiculous as it celebrates the victory over French troops in one battle, even though Mexico was to lose the war, which ended in a five-year occupation by the French.
The Chicago Tribune reports that there was a meeting in the White House last Monday on pushing ahead on immigration reform. No doubt President Barack Obama is feeling the pressure from restless Hispanics, unhappy that his health care reform has pushed back work on immigration reform. On Sunday, March 21, they’ll be rallying in front of the Capitol to get it moving again.
An immigration rally at La Placita in Los Angeles, the historic downtown church entrusted to the Claretians, reflected a growing pessimism on the prospects of comprehensive immigration reform among immigration activists. The Massachusetts election had something to do with it, but Rep. Luis Gutierrez (D-IL) ventures the lukewarm support of President Barack Obama had as much.
Arizona has the toughest state legislation against undocumented immigrants. Its employer sanctions have received most of the attention as challenges to the sanctions are winding their ways up to the Supreme Court. But more disturbing to the Hispanic community is a provision hidden in this year’s state budget that requires state workers to report any undocumented applying for a state benefit to the Immigration and Customs Enforcement. Failure to do so is a misdemeanor.
Last Saturday the U.S. House of Representatives passed a comprehensive health care insurance bill. Controversy over abortion was highlighted in the press with its narrow passage, especially the clout exercised by the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops. But the bishops had another agenda item in regard to the bill -- extension of benefits to all immigrants. The Congressional Hispanic Caucus successfully pressured Speaker Nancy Pelosi, with help of the USCC, to protect most rights of immigrants.
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