Sunday, April 25, 2010

How to identify an Illegal Immigrant..

I've been following the progress of Arizona SB1070,which was signed into law by governor Jan Brewer on Friday.
The gist of this abomination,is that the police in Arizona will now be empowered to demand proof of citizenship from any one of whom they have 'reasonable suspicion' of being an illegal immigrant.

Well isn't that lovely..

As a natural born citizen,I had to wonder exactly how it is one might have cause to reasonably suspect a person of being in this country illegally?
Fortunately,Arizona Representative Brian Bilbray appeared on the Chris Matthews show to enlighten us with his criteria,in an effort to clarify those tell-tale signs that might betray a person's questionable immigration status.

Follows,his well framed guidelines:

1) You can tell by their hair..



2) You can tell by their clothes..


3)  You can tell by their shoes..


No doubt,this information will prove to be indispensable to Arizona's dedicated law enforcement officers,and I'm grateful for his concise evaluation.

Of course,I'll have an easier time explaining to my two-year old grandson Jackson the intricacies of alien identification under this ill-conceived piece of legislation.
All he has to do,is look in the mirror..

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17 Comments:

At 5:34 PM , Blogger yellowdoggranny said...

I'll believe that this is not pitted against mexicans(which they say it isn't) when they arrest a blue eyed blond..bastids.

 
At 5:42 PM , Blogger Charlene said...

Lenny and I were discussing the issue this afternoon. I told him my sister has been crowing about the law being signed. She lives in Arizona about a mile from the border. I asked her how many illegal, drug selling, gun toting people have passed through her back yard lately. She said none, but it happened to a friend's mother-in-law's brother's second ex-wife's sister a while back.

Lenny thought that was funny.

 
At 12:19 PM , Blogger Laurent said...

All this is law is going to do is create more problems, because some bozo with a gun will arrest the wrong person and then the lawsuits gonna fly. The taxpayers are going to get stung with it. The thing about drug dealers and criminals is just a smoke screen.

 
At 12:20 PM , Blogger mi said...

speaking as someone who is stopped, frisked and have my bags searched each and every time i fly (i believe my passport is flagged in the system because i'm foreign-born and have a foreign name), i have to say i am not against this new law in arizona. the vast majority of illegal border crossers are latino, and like i said in a response to random thinker - if there was an amber alert that a child abductor was driving an suv, it wouldn't make sense to stop sedans and motorcycles.

i almost bought a house in tucson, and i can tell you that even i can usually tell who is most likely an illegal immigrant. i sure can in los angeles, where i live. i know people equate this to gestapo tactics, but i think some people forget that in most of europe you have to produce your papers, even if the cops DON'T have probable cause.

i wish laws like these weren't necessary, but i can't blame a state for wanting to protect/enforce their borders.

 
At 3:45 PM , Blogger billy pilgrim said...

great, give the cops more discretionary powers.

have i ever mentioned that i don't like cops?

 
At 5:17 PM , Blogger Mom said...

I don't know just what to do about immigration, but this is not it. I think this law is just asking for more trouble. Why can't we give people temporary visa and let them work legally for a certain period of time? Who else is going to pick the crops and do all the hard work that native born citizens refuse to do?

Jackson is adorable.

 
At 5:20 PM , Blogger Random Thinker said...

Heard already about a truck driver crossing into Arizona who got stopped by the local law enforcement. He was asked to provide a birth certificate. Not something people usually carry with them. They detained him unti his wife could send it to him. Haven't checked the authenticity of this story but it sure has the ring of truth to it doesn't it? Some gung-ho state trooper now empowered with just what he doesn't need... an excuse to lord it over somebody who looks like trouble... I mean Mexican.... I mean illegal.

 
At 5:34 PM , Blogger secret agent woman said...

I was reading about this. It's nuts. And so mean-spirited.

 
At 6:08 PM , Blogger Sling said...

Yellerdawg- I don't see that happening.
Remember,this is the only state that refused to recognize Martin Luther King's birthday back in the day,and plans on passing a 'Birther Bill' in aknee jerk reaction to Obama's election.

Charlene- Yeah..I hear migrant farm workers are bringing weapons of mass destruction across the border to set off,..after harvest season,of course.

Laurent- The illegals that are here to commit those kind of crimes,are just going to be better able to exploit those that are just here to work,knowing that they will be even more hesitant to come forward and cooperate with law enforcement.

mi- Thanks for making some very valid points on the subject,and i really am not trying to defend folks that are coming here illegaly.
I know that the problem of illegal crossings is probably worse in Arizona than any other state,due to it's expanse of unprotected border with Mexico.
Something needs to be done,but this law is unconstitutional in it's construct.
It violates the 4th ammendment against unreasonable search and seizure,as well as the 14th ammendment that guarantees equal protection under the law.
By your own example,it isn't intended to be used to discover say,illegal Canadians,or Europeans.
That really is my beef with the thing.

Billy P.- Your contempt for cops has been well documented here in the United States Billy..If I were you,I'd steer clear of Arizona. ;)

Mom- Even proponents of this Bill concede that the vast majority of illegals are simply coming here to work,and make a better life for themselves..If they were honest about wanting to solve the problem,a good place to start would be by levying fines against companies that hire them.

Thinker- I have seen the news video of that very incident!
Did you know that happened before the Bill was even passed?
How many brown skinned folks that are natural born citizens,or immigrants here legally,are going to be subject to that kind of treatment in the future?

Secret Agent Woman- I managed to make it through an entire blog post on the subject,without ever once using the word NAZI!!
Aren't you proud of me! :)

 
At 8:43 PM , Blogger booda baby said...

Oh, I'm so glad I waited to reply so I could read your Nazi line. I wish you were sitting here cocktailing with me.

I respectfully have to take issue with mi's comment.

You certainly can NOT visually detect an illegal - not unless you've decided what an illegal looks like, not unless you've got a picture that fits your idea of illegal, not unless you've envisioned Mexicans as illegals.

Frankly, an illegal in Los Angeles is just as likely to be European - and not necessarily from one of the usual suspect countries.

In some countries, I've been an illegal, but I was European-looking, well connected and had the ability to bribe. I also lived where they recognized a grey economy. Although they were legally permitted to check documents, they didn't. And mi would know they don't.

I recognize a problem with immigration. I recognize a meth trade that's totally fucking with us.

And right now, that's about all I have to say because, after all, this is your blog and I want to be allowed back in.

 
At 9:06 PM , Blogger Miss Healthypants said...

Great pics, great point, shitty law. I am livid about this--as you also seem to be.

 
At 4:28 PM , Blogger Sling said...

BOOOODA Babe- HA!..I know you know how hard it was for me not to go straight for the Nazi word. :)
..Or other similar epithets.
I actually read a comment from a person who was defending this law on Facebook: 'It's not racist,because Mexican isn't a race,it's a nationality!'..
I'm working on an invention that will allow me to reach straight across the internet,and bitch slap people for felony ignorance.

Both you and mi (I mean mi,not me) are dearly respected friends,so there is no danger of either of you wearing out your welcome at my house,btw..

Miss HP- I am well and truly pissed,for sure. :)

 
At 2:12 AM , Blogger Shrinky said...

There is a huge immigration debate going on over here too, since countries such as Poland and Romania have joined Europe, and can legally live and work anywhere in the UK. They claim is they are taking "our" jobs away from us. The fact that these jobs were impossible to fill beforehand, seems to have slipped most people's minds. It might have something to do with the strong work ethic they arrive with, it's an uncomfortable fact most native Brits wouldn't last a day working under the conditions and salaries that the majority of these guys have to endure. These guys are "legal", but they are still treated very much as second class citizens. Hatred is everywhere, and bigoted laws such as this one you mention, only throws oil onto the fire.

 
At 3:40 PM , Blogger rosemary said...

I am outraged about this as are my sons with the last names of Correa and Padilla and my grandchildren with Japanese heritage and I gotta tell you anyone messes with my kids these day are gonna be really sorry....start the bail fund now friends.

 
At 5:40 PM , Blogger Middle Child said...

Cripes - Land of the free! It no doubt will happen here and will cause further division between ordinary people - which might even be part of the purpose.

I have green eyes /used to have auburn hair and once was very pale - ages spont (ha) but I get pulled up at the airport for a frisk every single time I go to see the girls or anyone...I must look suspicious - and the reason it happens is i have two banlges don gave me which i refuse on principle (?) to take of (mainly because I can't...this drives them crazy.

Imagine how crazy its going to drive the coppers when someone just simply sayd i have no ID. Say they have no drivers licence whatever - and of course the organised illegals will have fake ID cards because they will become available...

Bloody hell have they forgotten Nazi Germany and Stalin's Russia?

 
At 7:09 PM , Blogger Therese said...

Save time if we could just find an easy way to identify possible illegals...maybe it'd be best if mexicans all just wore some sort of patch on their clothing...a star or something! Everyone loves stars!

 
At 11:41 PM , Blogger Pile Girl said...

How many times have I seen on LAW & ORDER, homicide officers having trouble getting cooperation from immigrant witnesses because they feared the police? I never leave the house, but I imagine it happens in real life, right?

Where did you find those photos? The hair is especially bizarre.

 

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