Arizona is leading the nation in local enforcement of laws against illegal immigration. As illegal immigrants leave the state, the state’s most serious problems such as traffic congestion and the expense of teaching English Language Learner classes are dissipating.
Since Arizona’s local law enforcement began enforcing illegal immigration laws and an employer sanctions law went into effect, illegal immigrants have been fleeing the state in large numbers. The effects have been far-ranging. Commuters are reporting fewer vehicles on the freeways, shortening their rush-hour commutes. What had become a serious transportation problem in Arizona is losing its urgency. English Learner Language (ELL) students started dropping out of school. This helped end a confrontation between the state legislature and a liberal federal judge who had ordered the state to spend more money on ELL classes.
Fewer illegal immigrants are using hospital emergency rooms, so waiting times have decreased. Although the rest of the country is in an economic slump, unemployment is going down in Arizona, from 4.5% in January to 4.1% in March. Day laborers loitering outside of Home Depot and other stores have mostly disappeared, ending months of confrontation between illegal immigrant sympathizers and protesters. Desert lands near the border are returning to their pristine condition and the wildlife is coming back. Identity theft and car thefts are decreasing. No one showed up on May 1 to march in immigrant rallies.
With illegal immigrants leaving, the state will see huge savings as fewer illegal immigrants use social welfare programs and the cost of arresting, prosecuting, incarcerating and deporting them decreases. Arizona is facing one of the worst budget deficits ever, looming as high as $2 billion in 2009, but the situation may resolve itself.
Sheriff Joe Arpaio and Maricopa County Attorney Andrew Thomas are leading the local law enforcement efforts in Arizona against illegal immigration. Arizona is also home to State Representative Russell Pearce, who is responsible for spearheading possibly more laws against illegal immigration than any other state representative in the country. It is also home to Chris Simcox, President of the Minutemen Civil Defense Corps. Other counties around the state are beginning to follow the lead of Maricopa County, signing agreements with I.C.E. to permit their law enforcement agencies to arrest illegal immigrants. Cochise County Attorney Ed Rheinheimer intends to prosecute illegal immigrants for trespassing on public lands. Mesa mayor Keno Hawker recently wrote an op-ed in the East Valley Tribune praising Sheriff Joe Arpaio’s sweeps of illegal immigrants. Pima County Sheriff Clarence Dupnik bypassed the Pima County Supervisors when they refused to authorize him to add two Border Patrol agents to his border crime unit, and added them anyways.
Although Arizona’s Democrat Governor Janet Napolitano has vetoed most illegal immigration bills since 2002 when she entered office, Arizonans have bypassed her by sending initiatives directly to the ballot. In 2004, voters passed four illegal immigration measures with over 70% yes margins. A law targeting drophouses was signed into law earlier this month. An even stricter employer sanctions measure is currently underway to be on the ballot this fall.
Arizona’s illegal immigrants are fleeing to sanctuary cities like San Francisco and states with less enforcement and laws prohibiting illegal immigration like Nebraska, Iowa, and Maryland. Since one out of every 10 illegal immigrant is a felon, the result is felons are disproportionately moving to these places.
Granted there are benefits that immigrants bring to our country. But those benefits are outweighed by the negatives when the immigrants cross illegally. There are too many rules, laws, traditions, and practices in society that conflict with illegal immigrants trying to make a living. Arizona’s experiment may end up resolving the illegal immigration problem satisfactorily for all, because once the fiscal expense of illegal immigrants is brought down, revising the laws to permit more immigrants to enter the country legally will become more attractive and realistic.
For daily news updates on illegal immigration, visit illegalimmigrationjournal.com, and subscribe to their weekly updates.
Rachel Alexander and her brother Andrew are co-Editors of Intellectual Conservative. Rachel practices law in Phoenix, Arizona and blogs for GOPUSA.com.
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Brittanicus said,
Immigrants are the epitome of what America great! Not illegal aliens who ignored the law of our sovereignty. Strong minded spirits that will fight for what they believe is right. The law is all the separates innocent citizens from the imported criminal element from other countries. Only enforcement of our immigration laws will rid us of the child violators, women rapists, gang bangers, robbers and murderers. Amongst the illegal aliens who have entered America, without the peoples permission the filth of the earth has come here too. The defenders of the illegal alien invasion of our country, have been seduced by the pro-immigration lobby, made up of La Raza, MEChA, LULAC, MALDEF, CHIRLA, La Voz de Atzlan, Zapatista Army of National Liberation and Mexicanos Sin Fronteras (Mexicans Without Borders). Foundations also fund anti-American entities like the ACLU, Southern Poverty league, who we know are pro-illegal immigrant. Many of the illegal aliens have been deported more than once and must now lose their freedom.
More than ever we need a federal law with teeth, to halt this foreign national occupation. Sheriff Joe is part of the vanguard that will use state enacted laws, his courage against insurmountable odds to reduce the illegal alien population. Our politicians are easy fodder when the race card is used against them, and they cringe in dark corners like frightened mice. But a new breed has risen in the ranks of true patriots like Sheriff Joe Arpaio of Arizona , Lou Dobbs (CNN), Governor Don Carcieri and strong minded lawmakers like Tommy Tancredo, Duncan Hunter are just to name a few. Their are men and women not intimidated by pro-illegal alien wimps like House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, Senator Harry Read and others who pander to the special interest lobby.
More than 10 million immigrants have arrived since year 2000; it is estimated that nearly 6 million are illegal. All told, the group of immigrants now account for 38 million at the moment according to the White House’s own census bureau.
America cannot afford to enact another AMNESTY? The ramifications are unthinkable on each states economy? Taxpayers will have to support even more illegal immigrants as the word gets out and millions more will pour into our nation.
Democrats have done everything possible to derail, cut of funding other than dismantle the border fence themselves. They have orchestrated the usual suspects to condemn the fence, no matter the consequences to American security.
It turns out that environmental groups such as the Sierra Club and the Defenders of Wildlife are more concerned over displacing a few animals than in protecting our borders from potential terrorists and the unchecked flow of illegal immigrants, and the Democrats are more than happy to help. Right now as we speak thousands a day and crossing our border. Attacking land owners and US border agents. In some places trash is knee deep, discarded and left to rot. Environmentalist gripe about the border fence and their beloved tortoises and lizards, but not a word about the hills of filth and despondent property owners whose homes have been vandalized.
Democrats need to think of the massive cost on taxpayers, not that all Republicans are without blame. Many of our politicians are in bed with the special interest groups. Each and every voter have a substantial interest in the progression and success of constructing the border fence. It will slow the movement of smuggled drugs into our country, restrain millions of illegal aliens many being convicted felons. American Patrol, a pro-sovereignty group have attributed from their own survey and analysis of the border fence and resolutely deny that Homeland Security, have in fact constructed the miles they admit.Federal Border Fence Only at 150 miles
* According to Duncan Hunter (R - El Cajon) feds are 300 miles behind schedule
* There is an additional 150 miles of vehicle barriers, Chertoff lied when he said “300 miles of fencing”
* Feds gutted double fencing, only Chertoff can key-in extra double fencing
* According to some, only 12 miles of double fencing has been built
* Best case scenario, feds will complete 650 miles of pedestrian and vehicle fencing combined at end of year, far short of 2,000 mile length of border According to American Patrol using their own aircraft reconnaissance only 300 miles have been constructed and not the two-tier border fence that Rep.Duncan Hunter (R-CA) which the President had signed into law.All patriot Americans no matter their political affiliation should DEMAND YOUR BORDER FENCE IS COMPLETED! In addition Demand your Democratic representative co-author the SAVE ACT. Go to NUMBERSUSA to read the raw facts. Today House Speaker Pelosi is trying to pass a AMNESTY, for illegal alien workers.
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May 15, 2008 at 6:32 pm
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May 28, 2008 at 9:03 pm