What does Mexico have to say about Immigration?

Mexican President, Felipe Calderon, will likely protest the new Arizona Immigration law in his two day visit to the U.S. that begins tomorrow. His first stop on his visit is a private oval office meeting with President Obama where it is expected that they will discuss the issue. Calderon is also likely to urge for new immigration legislation that would allow the estimated eleven million illegal immigrants in the U.S. to gain legal status. In addition to meeting with President Obama, Calderon is also scheduled to address a joint session of congress and meet with the Congressional Hispanic Caucus. With an upcoming election in Mexico the voters there expect the president to denounce any part of U.S. policy that shows discriminatory practices toward Hispanics. It is also reported that Mexico has issued a travel advisory warning citizens they might be harassed should they visit Arizona.

Sources:
http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/washingtondc/la-fg-mexico-summit-20100519,0,564596.story
http://content.usatoday.com/communities/theoval/post/2010/05/obama-welcomes-mexican-president-to-the-white-house-tomorrow/1

Immigration Through Congressmen's Eyes

As of today, the United States borders are open to everyone. However, this is costing the country too much money between the identity fraud and jobs taken by illegal immigrants. The "SAVE Act" is a reform that the United States bordered will be rebuilt, they will enforce the laws strictly, and then the employees with be under a employer verification program upon hire. Another solution seen is the "LEAVE Act" which encourages illegal immigrants to come to the United States to live and work. This gives them an open opportunity to work and stay in the country without having to worry about whether they will get caught or not for being in the country illegally. With the employee verification system would make it so that people's Social Security Numbers will be checked not only once, but twice to make it harder for immigrants to steal someones SSN. Along with this, it would make more jobs available to US citizens because illegal immigrants wouldn't get hired. In doing so, it would help the country's economy to not have to pay off the missing money that illegal immigrates can take in order to live in the country. As a result, the illegal immigrants number would be some what under control and then the economy would be able to go up little by little.

http://www.boozman.house.gov/Issues/Issue/?IssueID=2191

Federal Immigration Reform, Already Passed?

With the national debate focused on the new Arizona law, a little known federal law has been overlooked by headlines across the nation. Hidden in title 8 of the U.S. code is a provision that authorizes federal immigration officers “to interrogate any alien or person believed to be an alien as to his right to be or to remain in the United States”, all without a warrant.

Farmers are also seeking immigration reform because many Americans are reluctant to work the seasonal farming jobs which often must be done in poor weather and in very rural areas. They are seeking a provision which would allow any illegal immigrant who has worked in the agricultural industry for 150 days of the past two years, to obtain legal status.

Sources:
http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2010/05/11/opinion/main6473960.shtml
http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5j7ClwmqgaB_7gXAEpxwpxaMRSSwQD9FJQVH80

Immigration Reform Spreads

The immigration law in Arizona was signed by the governor on April 23, 2010. Since then, one of Pennsylvania's Representatives, Daryl Metcalfe, presented a bill that was like the Arizona immigration law. But the other representatives, such as Tom Caltigirone said, "that bill is going nowhere" (http://www.wfmz.com/news/23492321/detail.html). The people of Pennsylvania have already planned a rally in front of Metcalfe's office to show their dislike in the bill.
This law, like the one in Arizona, makes it so that law enforcement officers can find out an immigrant's legal status only in the event of an offense such as a traffic violation or a robbery. If the immigrant doesn't have the correct documents to show they are a legal immigrant, then they will have the choice of being escorted out of the country or be put in jail. This would help the state by removing the estimated 140,000 illegal immigrates that would lower the loss of jobs and crimes committed by illegal immigrants.
On the other side, the residents of Pennsylvania feel that immigrants have the right to be there and that just because they look or talk different shouldn't mean that they can get harassed about where they come from. They say that the state shouldn't be making new laws, they should be enforcing the laws they already have.
Next week, the officials are holding a meeting in Allentown and Bethlehem to discuss the matter.

Sources:
http://www.repmetcalfe.com/NewsItem.aspx?NewsID=8874
http://www.wfmz.com/news/23479025/detail.html
http://www.wfmz.com/news/23492321/detail.html

Immigration debate heats up

The Phoenix Suns have tossed their hat into the ring in support of the many protesters against the new Arizona law. The team will be wearing special jerseys during their game on Cinco De Mayo, a popular latino holiday. Sarver, the team owner, said the jerseys will "honor our Latino community and the diversity of our league, the state of Arizona, and our nation."

Also the City of Tucson is suing the state of Arizona over the new law. They voted five to one to sue the state and attempt to overturn the new law. Mayor Bob Walkup said much of Tucson's economy is derived from Mexican tourists who come to vacation and shop and thus the new law would negatively affect the local economy. The one council member against, Councilman Steve Kozachik, cited that although the new law is clearly flawed, Arizona needs "to de-escalate the conversation."

New York Governor David Patterson has created a panel to review each immigration case individually in that state. The panel will have the power to pardon many minor crimes or misdemeanors committed in that state.


Sources
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/arlene-m-roberts/special-immigration-board_b_563135.html
http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5hBSq5omsaKlFcCseHSvBa8Pr66_A
http://www.azcentral.com/arizonarepublic/local/articles/2010/05/05/20100505arizona-immigration-tucson-city-council-to-sue.html

Current Immigration Reform

A hot topic in today’s news is the issue of illegal immigration into the United States. A recent bill signed into law in the state of Arizona would require police to ask people for identification to prove their immigration status if they suspect the person is an illegal immigrant. Currently the police only do this if the person in question is suspected in another crime. Arizona being the most often used state of entry by illegal immigrants and it is estimated that Arizona has the largest population of illegal immigrants of any state. Many opponents argue however that it encourages racial profiling because it will only affect those who look foreign. It is also questionable if Arizona has the right to pass such a law because it is said in the constitution that only the federal government has the power to regulate immigration. Arizona however sees it as a protection of its citizens by limiting the abilities of those that they consider dangerous to the public, such as those who smuggle drugs over the border. There is also a bill being devised in congress to cover immigration reform but it is still in its early stages and it is the lack of action by congress that has driven Arizona to this rash action.

Our nation is a nation of immigrants and if you trace any family lineage back far enough, you will find someone who came from another country. Even Native Americans immigrated from eastern Russia to Alaska back in the depths of history. As a nation of immigrants, most Americans are for the enforcement of legal immigration but no one wants this done in a way that is racially discriminatory against those who did immigrate legally. Our founding fathers originally sought freedom from oppressive government. Are we to force the same upon those who are legal citizens of these United States of America?