Ariz. Law Puts Immigration on American's Minds

(CBS)  Agree with it or loathe it, everyone seems to have a strong opinion about Arizona's immigration legislation.

"It's stupid," said Sheriff Clarence Dupnik of Pima County, Arizona. "And it's racist."

San Francisco's mayor just banned official travel to Arizona. City councils in Washington D.C. and Los Angeles are considering similar measures, reports CBS News Congressional correspondent Nancy Cordes.

"We want them to be the last state that does this," says Los Angeles City councilwoman Janice Hahn.

At the same time, a flurry of editorials are thanking Arizona for putting the immigration issue on the nation's front burner for the first time since 2007, when a major bipartisan reform bill backed by President Bush went down in flames.

"We're at this point because of the inability and the timid attitude about dealing with comprehensive reform at a national level," said Rep. Raul Grijalva (D-Ariz.).

On Wednesday a group of House Democrats called on Senate leaders to revive languishing immigration legislation.

"The words 'show me your papers' we've known from movies of World War II coming out of the mouth of a Nazi," said Rep. Jan Schakowsky, D-Ill.

The bill being crafted by Sen. Chuck Schumer and others would step up patrols on the border, and then allow some illegal immigrants to get in line to become U.S. residents.

But it's running up against the reality of this summer's packed legislative calendar, which includes financial reform and Supreme Court confirmation hearings.

Sen. Harry Reid, D-Nev., dialed back expectations he raised recently that immigration reform might move to the top of the agenda.

"It's obvious that we have an Energy bill that's ahead of the Immigration bill," said the Senate majority leader. "It's just the way things work around here."

"What Democrats are trying to do is show that they are willing," said CBS News political analyst John Dickerson. "That they want to tackle the issue so that they can say to Hispanic voters, 'on this issue that you care about, we're fighting for you.'"

[Cattzen]

The GOP only has racism left to run on?

[Youbekiddingme]

Just saw the report on the CBS TV evening news tonight - about a woman (no father in sight) with a gaggle of kids piling into a late-model Suburban and getting out of AZ. So far so good. BUT... she's heading NORTH to Colorado?!?

Umm.... how about heading to a country where you're legal? And that would be to the south, not the north.

[snolover12]

OK, come on now. At approx. 6:50 p.m. EST, CBS just ran a bio-piece detailing an undocumented alien couple with 10 children!!! And the couple is unemployed. And living in Phoenix area. Now just what is fair supporting this family? Do they pay taxes? I seriously doubt it.
And FYI, I'm not in the Phoenix, AZ area, but the Detroit, MI area where we have thousands, yes, thousands of undocumented immigrants who happen to be ARAB. Call me racist, whatever, but I don't want my tax dollars to support them either.

[alienstark]

I am a Canadian living in the US as a Permanent Resident, I carry an immigration card (Permanent Resident card) which I have to show at border or to any federal Agent that ask me for it I have to show it when i cross border when i return to the US.If i cant produce it I am driven to the border where I have to pay a fine of 170.00 even if i have a photocopy of the card which I am told I have to do. then I have to get another card issued before I can leave the US to see my kids who live in Canada even if i have my passport.Do These people even have passports I applied to come into the US legally at a significant cost to me. I dont see why any other people or persons no matter where they are from who are here illegally should have more rights then me. I believe that the law in arizona does not have to be implemented . What they should do is have an open enrollment month allow all the ones who are here illegally fill out the paper work pay the going rate and make them legal permanent residents. then anyone who crosses the border illegally after that date and caught should be dealt with in the courts and returned to where they come from repeat offenders are just thrown in jail.imagine the money this would generate thanks for listening

[ThomasJeffersonLives]

You make a great point - sometimes I think illegal immigrants have more rights than anyone else (even more than U.S. Citizens).

[improana]

For those who believe that this law will cause racial profiling, was created by racists and that people who look to be Mexican will be stopped while just minding their own business....you can read the actual Senate bill here:

http://www.azleg.gov/legtext/49leg/2r/bills/sb1070h.pdf

CBS and the other liberal media probably should have looked at this before creating mass hysteria.

[Palin_for_Presidentess]

@improana

Thankfully, we who are in opposition for the open racism and bigotry on display in Arizona don't have to wait for November. We can vote with our feet and dollars and just not go there or have anything to do with them economically.

BOYCOTT and DIVEST from Arizona NOW!

QUESTION: Why couldn't AZ just put the AZNG on the boarder?
ANSWER: Because AZ racists and bigots get greater arousal by the prospects of jackboot paramilitary police shaking down every Latino they come across.

[westwood4032]

Please don't come to Arizona. The small amount of money you will spend here is greatly off set by the amount of reduced crime we will have to pay to fight, savings from state monies spent on medical care, reduced education costs for illegal's children, and we'll enjoy reduced unemployment.

[Palin_for_Presidentess]

@improana

I hope we Democrats can get all the illegals amnesty and the oath of citizenship before November so we don't have to work as hard to steal elections.

[improana]

@ Palin_for_Presidentess

Perhaps you have no knowledge that the law for immigrants to carry their papers to show proof of obtaining citizenship have already been in place in this country for decades! The feds already have the authority to check them at will. This law just adds the authority of local law enforcement, and has a clause which doesn't allow for racial profiling...a person has to already be detained because of a violation or a crime for this law to be enacted. It's a shame that we have to wait for more crimes to be committed before we find out who is here illegally. Crossing the border without filling out forms is their first crime.

80% of Americans are in agreement with Arizona's law and the state will do just fine without the other 20% support.

[improana]

Our president, Barak Obama was holding court on a flight to the Midwest and was asked about illegal immigration and the Arizona law. He said "...if you've got hundreds of thousands of people coming in, not playing by the rules, that's a problem." He offered NO suggestions on resolving the issue of illegals in this country, but did say that "I know there may not be an appetite immediately to dive into another controversial issue." In other words, he wants to wait until after the mid-term election so as not to alienate his support base.

As a LEGAL American, Obama says that I will need to show proof of insurance. At the same time, he says that forcing ILLEGAL aliens to show proof of citizenship "threatens to undermine basic notions of fairness that we cherish as Americans." Just how two faced can he be?

November can't arrive soon enough.

In February, 2009, a vote was taken on Amendment #604, the extension of E-Verify which is a process to identify ILLEGAL aliens in the workplace. Many prominent Democrats voted AGAINST the amendment. These individuals were elected to represent their LEGAL American constituents. Instead, in their pursuit of votes, they decided to vote in favor of ILLEGAL aliens.
It is reasonable to assume that these same Senators will vote in favor of giving ILLEGAL aliens complete amnesty.

The next time you vote, remember the Senator from your state that voted against all LEGAL Americans, like YOU.

It's time that we vote against politicians that vote in favor of ILLEGAL aliens. Vote them out of office, this November!

* = Seeking your vote in 2010.
Bennet, Michael. (CO) (D) *
Boxer, Barbara (CA) (D) *
Burris, Roland (IL) (D) *
Dodd, Christopher (CT) (D) *
Dorgan, Byron (ND) (D) *
Feingold, Russell (WI) (D) *
Inouye, Daniel (HI) (D) *
Leahy, Patrick (VT) (D) *
Lincoln, Blanche (AR) (D) *
Mikulski, Barbara (MD) (D) *
Murray, Patty (WA) (D) *
Reid, Harry (NV) (D) *
Schumer, Charles (NY) (D) *
Wyden, Ron (OR) (D) *

[rocketjl]

'Ariz. Law Puts Immigration on American's Minds' - What is CBS trying to do here. The entire nation has been concerned about 12M illegal aliens within it's borders and CBS acts like it is a news flash. Wake up CBS. You have this nut Obama wanting to make every one of them a US citizen and give them goodies. Sure wish he would play Pied Piper and lead them to the southern tip of South America.

[bhappy2-2]

The Arizona law hasn't even gone into effect yet and it is already working! We need to get ALL states to implement the same, or similar, laws and we could be Illegal Alien Invader free in just a few months without having to spend a dime of tax money. THIS IS GREAT!!!
Oklahoma is working on a similar law that would also eliminate anchor babies. I think Florida is, too. In fact, several states have began working to eliminate Illegal Alien Invaders, now that they have discovered we CAN live without them.
Keep up the good work, Arizona. To the rest of the states; TRY to keep up!