Will Other States Follow Arizona's Lead on Immigration?

AP

Politicians in at least five states are calling for their state legislatures to adopt immigration laws that mirror Arizona's controversial new measure.

State lawmakers and others in Texas, Utah, Georgia, Ohio and Maryland are seizing on Arizona's hard-line approach to illegal immigration, which has the approval of many conservatives who say it is necessary in the absence of adequate federal policies. The law, however, has outraged others across the country who say it violates Americans' Constitutional rights and/or encroaches on federal authority to regulate immigration.

Arizona's new law, signed by the governor on Friday, would require immigrants to carry documents verifying their immigration status. It would also require police officers to question a person about his or her immigration status if there is "reasonable suspicion" that person may be illegally in the country.

Both those in favor of and those opposed to the Arizona law say that Washington's lack of action on the issue of immigration prompted the Arizona legislature to act.

Immigration reform "has to be a priority" in Washington, White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs said Tuesday. The Arizona law, he added, "could naturally drive each state to creating its own immigration law."

In Georgia, Republican gubernatorial candidate Nathan Deal is saying just that.

"I agree with the Arizona governor and Legislature that the federal government has failed miserably at protecting our borders and enacting sensible solutions that would protect our states, counties and cities from bearing the enormous costs associated with illegal immigration," Deal said in a statement yesterday. "As governor of Georgia, I'd work to pass and sign similar legislation."

Deal formerly served in the House of Representatives but resigned in March this year after the health care debate. He authored an amendment to the health care bill restricting access to health insurance for illegal immigrants. As a congressman, he also authored legislation that would end birthright citizenship to babies born in the United States to parents in the country illegally.

In Texas, both conservative Republican Gov. Rick Perry and his Democratic challenger Bill White are hesitant to take up the issue, which is not surprising given the significant role Latino voters will play in this year's gubernatorial race.

Nevertheless, one Republican state lawmaker is pushing for Texas to adopt legislation like Arizona's, the Houston Chronicle reports. State Rep. Debbie Riddle has introduced similar legislation in the past and will reportedly do so again when the legislature meets in its next regular session in January.

"The first priority for any elected official is to make sure that the safety and security of Texans is well-established," she said. "If our federal government did their job, then Arizona wouldn't have to take this action, and neither would Texas."

Republican State Rep. David Swinford previously decided not to advance Riddle's bill in his capacity as former State Affairs Committee chairman because he said he was advised they'd violate constitutional standards, the Chronicle reported.

"I'm real proud of Arizona," Swinford said. "A lot of this stuff we wanted to do, we just couldn't do, because I didn't want Texas going bankrupt trying to defend it in the courts... Arizona can take it to the courts."

In Ohio, Butler County Sheriff Rick Jones and Republican State Rep. Courtney Combs, sent a letter Tuesday to Gov. Ted Strickland and state legislative leaders asking for action, the Cincinnati Enquirer reports.

The letter asked Strickland "to employ your leadership role as Governor to assure legislation is passed that will mirror that of the illegal immigration legislation" in Arizona and to press for the passage of other immigration-related bills. According to the paper, the letter was sent the same day Jones was preparing to lay off 10 members of his staff. While a law like Arizona's would place more responsibility on local law enforcement, Jones stood by his position. "The only alternative you have is that you don't do anything. This is a violation of the law," he said.

Some state lawmakers, including Republican State Rep. Stephen Sandstrom of Utah, say action is needed because Arizona's law could otherwise adversely impact their state.

"When Arizona, in the past, has cracked down on illegal immigration, Utah has been the destination of choice for illegal aliens that leave the state of Arizona," Sandstrom said, KSL-TV reports. Sandstrom said he is drafting legislation similar to Arizona's to introduce in the next legislative session.

State Delegate Pat McDonough, a Republican from Maryland, wants his state to pass a version of Arizona's law for the same reason, ABC2 News in Baltimore reports.

"When people come across that border, they're not going to go to Arizona anymore. They're coming here," McDonough said.

McDonough reportedly plans to send a survey to every candidate for the state's General Assembly, along with the candidates for governor, asking them whether they agree with Arizona's approach.

"We'll go on the record and this summer we're going to pretty much know who is in favor of the Arizona bill and who is not," he said.

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Arizona Immigration Bill Exposes GOP Rift

[josedh3]

In response to everyone, yes the arizona immigration law is racist. Just because hispanic people is out in the streets buying food or other products doesnt mean they are criminals. And dumb pleople like xlady11x she said 'the mexicans', who said that everyone comming to u.s is mexicans. Alot of people illegal could be from every country but people. Im pretty sure that xlady11x doenst do hard jobs or if she has one. People need to be careful to write or say something before its said. All I can say is that god is the only one to make decisions. We are all human beings and deserve respect.

[cdriver]

Georgia is still a part of the United States but it doesn't appear to show it. I don't know why we are not standing up for our sovereignty as an American by backing Arizona on the immigration issue. I would bet all that its not just Mexicans coming across the border. Is it going to take another terrorist attack to wake us up to that fact? Those responsible by preventing all that can be done in protecting our borders should be held legally accountable, should that be a venue for the perpetrator. If we do all we can to prevent an attack, that's called an unfortunate incident. How-ever, if backs are turned and illegals are allowed to pass, That's called aiding and is treasonous. Please, do something to protect our country and fellow Americans. This political correctness crap has gone far enough.

[aramaiti3463]

ABSOLUTLY 100% SHOULD AMERICA FOLLOW THE ARIZONA IMMIGRATION LAWS.. IF YOU WANT TO COME TO AMERICA, THEN DO IT LEGALLY.. SEND EVERYONE ELSE BACK... THIS IS B.S. THAT WE ARE PAYING FOR OVER 20 MILLION ILLEGAL ALIENS, WALFARE, TAXES, HOUSING, HEALTH CARE...

WE NEED TO GET RID OF OBHAMA AND REPLACE CONGRESS.. BEFORE THEY CHANGE OUR CONSTITUTION AND DISTROY AMERICA..

[spider6624]

I would like to show you how wrong you are,Illegal aliens pay the same or more as the rest of the people, but guess what? they don't get any benefit from the government,is sad how "smart people" like you just walk like the lambs just following the sound of the bell,social security exist thank to those illegal aliens,there is just a few of them that get paid underwater but 50% of the responsibility is from the employers for not paying taxes dumb-ass is side how stupid you are because you have not real arguments,the problem is because you are scared because being american does not mean knowledge,jajaja and thanks to people like you Illegal aliens has job because you spend more time blaming other for your own frustration, sorry for you buddy :)

[jimmij1]

We should enact a law that states, IF you are caught in the U.S. Illegally you will be deported and never be allowed to EVER apply to become a U.S. Citizen Legally. You people who support these illegals obviously have your head buried in the dirt or are too blind to see the damage being done by illegals. Yes it is true some are hard working and just want a better life but they are well aware of the consequences they face. And from what I see, NONE of them want to assimilate, they bring their Hispanic culture with them... having baby after baby after baby who they cannot support and expect the American taxpayers to foot their bill. (THIS includes those hard working ones) who with U.S. help have better lives that some U.S. citizens who do not qualify for these entitlements afforded to ILLEGAL HISPANICS.

[xlady11x]

wow i could,nt have said it better myself ,these people are allowed housing and othter programs that are to help americans .them getting the help b4 an american just have the one waiting just ait longer .they also claim to have a bad life but they dont under stand thier just making life harder for us ,

[mona92909]

This is how it really is. I don't understand how people can be this way. First of all, we all know that the United States of America was founded based on immigrants whom did do damage to the real citizens, but they also brought good things as well. Now, what everyone is wrong in saying that ALL immigrants are cold-hearted people, that all they do is do crimes, well in that everyone is wrong because not everyone does this. What everyone fails to see or to accept is that it's not just illegal immigrants that commit crimes here, it is everyone including legal American citizens that are "real citizens". The law that Arizona passed is racist in the fact that you don't necessarily have to be committing a crime, unless going to the store to buy food for you and your children is considered a crime. People need to stop all this racism and prejudice towards the immigrants because in some way or another we are all the same. We are all humans who have natural rights given to all of us by the Constitution and which everyone is ignoring just because they feel better than someone else. Everyone says it's not racism, but when you see how things really are, I'm sure that if people that fought and died to stop racism and to gain equality among all would look at this situation and say that this is wrong, people like Martin Luther King and others, because it is going against human beings whom I myself agree that have made wrong decisions, but if we stop and think of how we got here, immigrants looking for something better, for a different route, a better and easier life. People say that Hitler was a cruel and horrendous man by going against the Jews and killing them, but sometimes I stop and wonder, maybe just maybe, we are a small mirror of him, perhaps not by literally trying to extinct a group of people, but by forgetting about innocent people who just tried to live life as best they could. I understand that there are some who bring crimes and drugs to the United States, but yet again, we need them here. I myself wouldn't like to do the jobs that they do, the jobs nobody wants to do like sticking their heads into other people's toilets cleaning them, or staying out in the sun all day to pick the food that we all eat, or to build our houses and repair damages, or staying in the sun all day to build highways that make life for everyone easier. Why don't we all stop and think, "If we were to get all illegal immigrants out of the U.S., who would do the dirty and hard jobs for us which we need to survive?" I'm sure nobody here wants to get out of their offices to go to do the immigrants' job. Let's stop being hard to them because in the end, we are all humans and God's children, so let's act like Jesus Christ would have, because He didn't think of us as aliens when He's the only one who had the right to mistreat us, so who are we to do what Jesus himself didn't do.

[cg1116]

In response to your comment. The law clearly states that you won't get stopped and ask for your papers going to the supermarket. You will be asked if theirs a reason. The law Arizona passed is not racist. You also said that we are all humans who have natural rights given to us by the Constitution but obviously you don't now your world history, because people who are illegal don't have rights. You have rights under the Constitution if your an AMERICAN citizen. And also if they are coming here for a better life then do it the right way and became a legal citizen. No one can complain about being deported because its their own fault for being illegal anyway.

[oldloggerak]

I blame the Federal Government for all the issues dealing with immigration. They knew what the immigrations laws stated and that by letting illegals flow freely into this country it would cause all kinds of problems. We now have a large number of illegals whom say that we owe them free citizenship,free medical,low income housing,free school and college educations. They say we are racists just because we do not want to support them.They are not willing to use the legal path to citizenship because they would have to pay taxes and register. Our Federal Government are using our tax dollars to support future voters who are here illegally.Every state that has a population of illegals has to pay large sums of money to support health care,housing,legal defense and incarceration,education,and more because of the mass migration of illegals into their states.Our children can no longer get a job at the local restaurant because all the entry level jobs are taken by illegals. We are no longer allowed to display our flag in some schools because it offends a race of people who do not honor flag,our constitution, our laws, or even want to class themselves as Americans.They only demand that we let them live in the United States,feed and house them ,support them in every way. Everyone has seen how they respect our flag and what they have to say about anyone who says stop the illegal crossing and close the borders.Next thing that our Federal Government will say is that we need to remove the Statue Of Liberty because it also offends the Muslims or Hispanics coming into this nation.

[xlady11x]

YOU ARE SO SO WRITE .THIER JUST HERE TO TAKE AVANTAGE MORE AND MORE .THE MEXICANS THAT ARE ALREADY HERE ARE THE ONES TELLING TO COME BECAUSE EVERYTHING IS FREEE AND THEY KEEP COMING AND SOME OF THESE AMERICAN ARE STUPID TO THINK TO KEEP THEM HERE .I KNOW I WANT ME KIDS TO WORK WHEN THEY OLDER BUT WHERE IF THE ILLEGAL HAS THE JOB FIRST.SEND THEM BACK I SAY .

[oldloggerak]

I blame the Federal Government for all the issues dealing with immigration. They knew what the immigrations laws stated and that by letting illegals flow freely into this country it would cause all kinds of problems. We now have a large number of illegals whom say that we owe them free citizenship,free medical,low income housing,free school and college educations. They say we are racists just because we do not want to support them.They are not willing to use the legal path to citizenship because they would have to pay taxes and register. Our Federal Government are using our tax dollars to support future voters who are here illegally.Every state that has a population of illegals has to pay large sums of money to support health care,housing,legal defense and incarceration,education,and more because of the mass migration of illegals into their states.Our children can no longer get a job at the local restaurant because all the entry level jobs are taken by illegals. We are no longer allowed to display our flag in some schools because it offend a race of people who do not honor flag,our constitution, our laws, or even want to class themselves as Americans.

[lindaarizona]

I live in Cochise County Arizona which on the border of Mexico. We have people coming here from over 100 different countries, so we are not racist against 100 different nationalities. Our law is about Crime, not race. 87 percent of people coming into Arizona illegally has a prior criminal record of average of six convictions, with crimes ranging from murder to child molesting. The law is about Crime, not Race, and it merely supports the Federal laws. Whenever anyone goes through a Federal Border Patrol Checkpoint on our Arizona highways, we get questioned about our citizenship, everyone, regardless of race. This has been a Federal practice for years, and our Arizona law simply allows local law enforcement to apprehend someone already committing a crime. A man on the street will not be stopped and harassed because of how he looks. If he is committing a crime, speeding or something else in violation of the law, our law simply allows the police to check his identity as we Already Do with Citizens! The law is not about race; it is about crime. I live here and our crime here is out of control. These criminal drug cartel members roll over trucks, kill innocent Americans (many of whom are Hispanic citizens) and Arizona is kidnapping for ransom capital of the country. Americans should not have to live like this. Our law is just and fair. It is about crime, not race. Thank you.

[Satz88]

Lindaarizona writes: "87 percent of people coming into Arizona illegally has a prior criminal record of average of six convictions, with crimes ranging from murder to child molesting."

This is false. It's wildly inaccurate. Why would people of normal intelligence be so eager to believe lies like this? It's hysteria.

[larrymelton]

Arizona had to do something, you can't have hoards of people coming accross the border committing murder, robbery and the drug cartels. If were going to have laws in this country let's enforce them. Otherwise why have any laws at all.

The immigration process is fair to all. At some point our forefathers were all immigrants, except for the native Americans. The immigration process helps regulate who enters our borders and provides the potential citizen with tools to conduct daily activities such as learning to speak the language, learning the basic cultures and ways of their new country. These are things needed to conduct simple day to day tasks. If were not going to have everyone use this system then just open the borders and let whoever come in.

[Cattzen]

Deport the Employers of undocumeted workers.