The President of Mexico, whose country is the source of millions of illegal aliens that have flooded the United States, was honored recently at a State Dinner at the White House by President Barack Obama and first lady Michelle Obama. In an address to a joint session of our Congress the next day, President Felipe Calderon escalated his assault on the Arizona law that allows law enforcement officials to detain anyone suspected of being in this country illegally, calling it a “terrible idea”. President Barack Obama himself has called the law “misdirected”.
The Governor of the State of Arizona has been in the news this week pleading for help from the federal government in addressing illegal immigration in her state. She asked for help in securing the border and has sent requests to Washington asking for financial assistance in enforcement of our nation’s laws. She said no response of any type has been received in her office. Phoenix, Arizona, now has the dubious honor of being the kidnap capital of the world. In a study released this past week, it was estimated that illegal aliens have cost Arizona over 2 billion dollars. The people of Arizona have said enough is enough.
One must wonder what side President Barack Obama is on. Is he on the side of enforcement of the laws of the United States as he pledged to do when sworn to office or is he on the side of defending law breaking for personal and Party gain. Clearly, the federal government has abdicated its responsibility so far to either enforce the law or initiate immigration reform which does not mean amnesty for those in this country illegally. Even the head of the Department of Homeland Security, Janet Napolitano, has become mute when she advocated for corrective action as governor of Arizona. Some one got to her.
Arizona has taken right action. It should always be the responsibility of law enforcement at all levels to enforce the laws of a state and nation. It was never reasonable for local law enforcement’s hands to be tied in matters of immigration with only referral to an impotent federal agency, the Immigration and Naturalization Service, as its only option. The people of Arizona do not think so either. They have enacted legislation which is reasonable and enforceable.
Many so called civil rights groups have filed a sweeping lawsuit against Arizona’s immigration law. Lucas Guttentag, an ACLU attorney called the law “extreme and dangerous”. He claimed this law would undermine public safety. It is quite the contrary. This law is an attempt by a State to establish the rule of law regarding immigration within its own borders. This law will help to restore public safety and confidence. This law is a message to those who willfully violate the laws of immigration that they are not welcome in Arizona.
Indiana should follow the lead provided by Arizona. It should empower law enforcement with the directive to apprehend and ultimately deport those who are in our state illegally. It should empower the legal system in Indiana to arrest and penalize employers who prey on illegal aliens for economic gain. We do not have problems the size of those faced in Arizona….. yet. It is time to act.
May 31st, 2010 at 6:10 am I totally agree–well said!