On April 23, Governor Jan Brewer of Arizona signed what is considered the toughest legislation in the nation targeting illegal aliens. It is set to go into effect on July 29 pending multiple legal challenges and the Justice Department’s review.
The 17-page law requires police investigating another incident or crime to ask people about their immigration status if there is a “reasonable suspicion” they are in the country illegally. It also makes being in Arizona illegally a misdemeanor and it prohibits seeking day-labor work along the state’s streets. The Arizona law is prudent and fair; anything less is acquiescing to the presence of illegal aliens in our country.
The Arizona law strengthens the state’s ability to protect its citizens and has been enacted because the Federal Government has failed its responsibilities for years while crime and public safety risks have risen to a crisis level. The new law bolsters the ability of law enforcement agencies to detect and prosecute illegal alien activity.
The 17-page law requires police investigating another incident or crime to ask people about their immigration status if there is a “reasonable suspicion” they are in the country illegally. It also makes being in Arizona illegally a misdemeanor and it prohibits seeking day-labor work along the state’s streets. The Arizona law is prudent and fair; anything less is acquiescing to the presence of illegal aliens in our country.
The Arizona law strengthens the state’s ability to protect its citizens and has been enacted because the Federal Government has failed its responsibilities for years while crime and public safety risks have risen to a crisis level. The new law bolsters the ability of law enforcement agencies to detect and prosecute illegal alien activity.
Our broken border is a national security risk. Since 9-11, even with heightened interest and a new Department of Homeland Security, we still don’t know who is in our country and illegal aliens are everywhere and moving around our country without proper scrutiny. Reasonable minds may conclude that our Federal Government has an unwritten policy of enabling illegal aliens to enter our country.
Governor Brewer recently had a brief meeting with the President in Washington DC who was expected to respond in two weeks (deadline June 17) with additional information. Though the Governor’s issues relate to homeland security, Secretary Napolitano, former Arizona Governor, was not invited to meet with them though she has attended a meeting regarding the BP oil spill, a questionable homeland security matter.
The Justice Department has been reviewing the Arizona legislation for several weeks for possible civil rights violations with an eye toward a possible court challenge. The Obama administration has taken the position that the Federal Government should determine immigration policy and is suggesting comprehensive immigration reform (translation: amnesty).
June 17 brought no information from the White House, but Secretary of State Clinton, in a press interview in Ecuador, stated that the Justice Department will be bringing a lawsuit against the Arizona act. Governor Brewer said “This is no way to treat the people of Arizona. If our government intends to sue our state to prevent illegal immigration enforcement, the least it can do is inform us before it informs citizens of another nation.”
Actions to boycott Arizona have been taken by the Sacramento City Council , San Francisco City and County Board of Supervisors, Los Angeles City Council and Board of Supervisors, and the Los Angeles Unified School District that sent kids by bus to participate in a public demonstration against the Arizona law. Because we consider this action by elected officials to be acting outside their authority, the members of Nevada County Republican Women Federated blasted them with 100 handwritten postcards. We also took the time to applaud the courage and bold action of Governor Brewer. It’s time to stand up for what is right and shame those who are acting irresponsibly.
Fran Grattan Freedle
Legislative Chairman
Nevada County Republican Women Federated
Governor Brewer recently had a brief meeting with the President in Washington DC who was expected to respond in two weeks (deadline June 17) with additional information. Though the Governor’s issues relate to homeland security, Secretary Napolitano, former Arizona Governor, was not invited to meet with them though she has attended a meeting regarding the BP oil spill, a questionable homeland security matter.
The Justice Department has been reviewing the Arizona legislation for several weeks for possible civil rights violations with an eye toward a possible court challenge. The Obama administration has taken the position that the Federal Government should determine immigration policy and is suggesting comprehensive immigration reform (translation: amnesty).
June 17 brought no information from the White House, but Secretary of State Clinton, in a press interview in Ecuador, stated that the Justice Department will be bringing a lawsuit against the Arizona act. Governor Brewer said “This is no way to treat the people of Arizona. If our government intends to sue our state to prevent illegal immigration enforcement, the least it can do is inform us before it informs citizens of another nation.”
Actions to boycott Arizona have been taken by the Sacramento City Council , San Francisco City and County Board of Supervisors, Los Angeles City Council and Board of Supervisors, and the Los Angeles Unified School District that sent kids by bus to participate in a public demonstration against the Arizona law. Because we consider this action by elected officials to be acting outside their authority, the members of Nevada County Republican Women Federated blasted them with 100 handwritten postcards. We also took the time to applaud the courage and bold action of Governor Brewer. It’s time to stand up for what is right and shame those who are acting irresponsibly.
Fran Grattan Freedle
Legislative Chairman
Nevada County Republican Women Federated