Truth or Dare says

What this law may help support is " vigilante type"  milita orgs. such as the Minuteman Civil Defense Corp.  (MCDC) and it's several off-shoots  that are already present in Arizona and have been for 5 yrs., who'se  leaders (some) are now trying to disassociate themselves from one of our nation's "most prominant nativist extremist groups",  as they have no problem w/physical violence towards Latino's whether a U.S. Citizens, or not!    They're whole purpose in forming was to guard our borders  and they  teamed up w/those from neo-Nazis from the National Alliance.      They're claiming to be disbanding after 5 yrs., as their leaders, the one's who provide the $$$$'s  to preach  & fund an ideolgy of not only racism and bigotry, but also anti-government rhetoric,  are no longer willing to be held responsible for those that will continue to "Lock and load"  and not hesitate to  "take forceful control of our borders".!  

I have a young relative who in just a few weeks will be spending his first year as a Border Patrol Agent on the Arizona border!  Baptism by fire I guess!  I wasn't all that excited  to hear this is what he would be doing, and warned him against being brainwashed into thinking all brown-skinned people are the "bad guy".  I have to wonder what he'll come into contact with, more illegals of which hopefully he'll treat as he would want to be treated, drug smugglers, or vigilante soldiers who are taking the law into their own hands!  I'm also to understand that by 2011, we're to have quite a few thousand available to provide along our border.  I understand the need to stop those that will try entering our country illegally,  but it must be done in a humane way!  I also support the prosecution and stiff fining attached for any business that participates in any way shape or form, the bringing of illegal's here to work or hiring them!   They capitalize off of paying one an unfair wage, playing an important role in helping to perpetuate the problem! 

eriemom says

 Mr. Reagan gave amnesty to illegals. More people crossed the boarder and had children/American citizens. As long as conservatives had power, any effort to stop the bleeding of jobs to other counties and illegals from coming to pick crops, house keep, and maintain landscape, nobody cared--"the jobs that no American wants". It wasn't until these same people began to move into "good paying" jobs, like meat packing did blue collar workers notice. It wasn't until these same people began to open business and compete with small business owners did the middle class sit up and take notice.

The roofing company in Anywhere, USA took advantage of cheap, unregulated labor, until the labor noticed that they were being under payed. Now that same roofing company is screaming about their competition.  It is only good when YOU benefit. I am sure that their unemployed roofers were not happy. Not many heard the voices of the unemployed and underemployeed textile workers, car company workers, and many, many others.

The problem is that we now have citizen children of illegals. Children educated and opening competing businesses. How should we solve a problem of this magnitude? Now if I were the owner of the roofing company, or one of thousands of American roofers displaced, I would be ranting about sending "everyone back". Ever try to put a cork back in a wine bottle? Want to blame someone? Mr. Reagan and business associations who lobbied to block citizen checks for employment over the last 20 years would be a good place to start. We can continue to call for the fed to solve the problem, but we cannot hamstring the effort through partisan bickering and posturing. I am not anti business. I am just explaining that business owners cannot have it both ways--cheap illegal labor and no local competition.

moonrick says

I didnt mean to say I was going to go there and work.  However there are probably many people like me in that area who I am sure would take those jobs, just to put food on the table.  Would they go to work everyday and smile the whole time they are there?  Of course not.  the one thing they  would have is money in their account and food on the table.  

jpear says

Looks like he is not only packing he has left.  I mean thought of people just packing up and leaving ohio or anywhere to go get a job in the fields is just unreal. 

rocketman2468 says

Maybe he is packing.

jpear says

I have a very hard time with the thought of  people from Sandusky just moving to the somewhere 2000 miles away so they can work in a field for minimum wage.  Are yor ready to buy a plane ticket and head down there?

moonrick says

I think it is worth trying for a little bit, shutting down the boarder that is.  There are plenty of people out of work right now who would take ANY JOB.  I am one of them.  If for some reason americans are not willing to work then we could work out a visa program or something, but americans at least ought to have first crack at the jobs.  

rocketman2468 says

I have no idea.  But I bet the ones from over seas do not even make minimum wage.

jpear says

And what does cedar point pay its employees anyways?

jpear says

Most of the young people who work at CP are from Europe and other countries.  They are local kids.  Kids these days are not going to work long hot hours.  All they want to do is talk on cell phones and hang out with their friends.

around the block says

There are high school and college students who work long hours at Cedar Point.  Its not like they are getting rich there.  I think these kids are willing to do more than you give them credit for.  

jpear says

We need to just put the military on the boarder.  They could shut it down in about week.  Once that is in place we just need to put a guest worker program in place and let them come over.  AROUND THE BLOCK.  There is NO way high school and college kids are going to be out in the hot sun picking strawberries every day.  I see all these kids wandering around town up here with out jobs.  They are way to lazy to do that hard hot work.  

around the block says

I think any state has to right to make whatever law its wants.  If the people out there support it who are we in Sandusky to say they can not do that.  I am sure that some high school and college kids would be willing to work anywhere to get a good summer job.  I know i spent a lot of time bailing hay when I was younger.   Its good for you.

rocketman2468 says

Who is going to do the work once the work force is cut off and cant come into AZ.  This is profiling and should be illegal.

Cross says

Poor migrant Mexicans trying to make a better life for themselves are not the enemy. They bring in a lot more revenue for America than they cost.

Rufus' column wasn't good, because he's just a DNC cheerleader, but ignore his partisan rhetoric, and remember these are people. Mostly good people.

brutus smith says

It was illegal to invade Iraq, torture people, and use sedition too.

6079 Smith W says

dorothy gale says:

"Or how about pulling some of our troops out of Iraq and stationing them HERE, in THEIR OWN COUNTRY, to guard and secure our southern border?"

It's been illegal to use Federal troops for the purposes of police action since Reconstruction.

See Posse Comitatus:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Posse_Comitatus_Act

dorothy gale says

So if an illegal shows up at the ER, bleeding to death, are we all supposed to just stand around and watch them DIE?  It is a difficult situation all around and my opinion is that they should be prevented from entering this country in the first place.  How about putting unemployed Americans to work as sentries along our border with Mexico?  Remember "Hands Across America?"  Sorta like that.  Or how about pulling some of our troops out of Iraq and stationing them HERE, in THEIR OWN COUNTRY, to guard and secure our southern border?  

A hint for all foreigners in this country, legal and illegal:  learn to speak our language, which is ENGLISH, and maybe you won't be so easily "profiled." 

BytheBy says

liberalmomof3....YES THEY CAN GET ASSISTANCE!!!

Stop spreading misinformation.

I also suppose you think they can't get a free education without a proper birth certificate too.

YOU are what is wrong with this country! Get your head out of the sand!

brutus smith says

The only reason Arizona is even an issue is because the loser Republicans ( tea babies, Conservatives, right wing nuts, Phony Libertarians) don't have anything else. Their patron saint Ronnie Raygun opened the floodgates for illegal immigration.

6079 Smith W says

liberalmomof3 says:

'Give me a break! Illegal immigrants cannot get government assistance.'

No forgeries?

 No naturalized citizens sharing their taxpayer-funded benefits with their illegal relatives?

What about when an illegal shows up at the ER requiring service?

How are you not being naive?

----------

With the oil spill, Mr. Obama rushes hundreds of govt. employees to the Gulf but he won't secure the border with Mexico?

Maybe Mr. Obama should just tell Louisiana: 'Hey! Don't worry about a little oil.'

liberalmomof3 says

Give me a break! Illegal immigrants cannot get government assistance.  You MUST have a social security number to receive food stamps, cash assistance, medicaid, metro, and even taxi vouchers! Before you start complaining about them taking away from OUR people, learn the facts.

Secondly, the comment about "his" people and the 44% unemployment rate?! are you serious? have you driven around Sandusky?! Why would any MAN (sarcasm) WANT to work when they have a dumb girlfriend willing to work to support their lazy butts???

If you want to be mad- be mad at the women who continue to have babies with these "unemployed" natural born citizens.  while they're sitting around, kickin' it with their friends, their baby-mamas are working and getting assistance...and those "men" are reaping all the benefits!

Everyone complains about people coming into our country because they want a better chance in life- it's not their fault where they were born.  Look at all the people who WERE born in the US and don't appreciate the opportunities in front of them! it just makes me sick.

6079 Smith W says

The basic fallacy with the go-after-the-employers argument is the assumption that the majority of jobs that the illegals are performing are being sought after by U.S. citizens.

MiddleRight says

Jimmy Ego has obviously not read the bill, like many of his fellow detractors at the nation level.

"What they are doing now, stopping and checking people who LOOK like they might be here illegally".  Jimmy, the law clearly states that this is not allowed, and that people are only checked after they are arrested for a violation of the law.

Why is everyone worried about the rights of criminals?  Should the law protect law abiding citizens(even illegals)?

DON'T BREAK THE LAW AND YOU WON'T BE SENT BACK TO MEXICO!!

As for all these Cities and Counties boycotting Arizona, I hope the whole state of Arizona boycott's your small minded cities and counties!  What Arizona does is none of your business.

Tobias Casillas says

Maybe we ought to focus on cracking down on outsourcing, so everybody doesnt have to be quite so angsty about the presence of immigrants in the American workforce.

I also agree that we should be going after the businesses that hire illegal immigrants. Not the immigrants themselves, so much. Make it so theres no reason for them to sneak in here. We still need to tighten border patrol measures, to crack down on drug trafficking and the like, but I think the potential strain that is put on American citizens employment opportunities could be greatly alleviated if the businesses were held just as accountable.

Racial profiling is a pathetic, offensive, and unneccesary tactic.

6079 Smith W says

Go-after-the-employers ? That's a straw man argument.

Americans like things CHEAP.

Heck authorities can't even stop the vast majority of illegal drugs coming into this country; why? Because those in office can't or won't stop 'em - too much money is being made.

And besides, has anyone ever heard of Operation Intercept? It was a failure.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Operation_Intercept

The methods that would be needed to be used to totally stop illegal drugs or aliens would turn the U.S. into a police state - think of the TSA on steroids.

I say, that if Mr. Obama wants 'em, AZ should rent buses and take 'em to DC.

knolldawg8227 says

its called a checkpoint it may be an inconvience but it finds people you dont belong on the road drinking, without insurance, or other warrants, Mr. Ego better make sure he has a seatbelt on beacause they are also looking for that at these stops, and it is a inconvience to wear sandals through the airport so i dont have to worry about my shoes

Truth or Dare says

 It's profiling made legal by the State, that's what it is!   The South is well known for this form of law enforcement, which can be difficult to prove unless a pattern has been shown.    As for going after the employers,  it seems just as logical.    Could it be there is too much to loose in the way of profit for the companies, as well politicians at all levels as to campaign (funds) $$$'s and the  financing  rec.  from  corporations, large and small alike?!

Raoul Duke says

Carl, although I agree with you, people who are opposed to the law are concerned about the rights of American citizens who are of Mexican heritage. Like I've said before, the only reason illegals come into this country is because they CAN find work. Why aren't we going after business owners who employ illegals? If there is no work for them, they'll stop coming here.

What they are doing now, stopping and checking people who LOOK like they might be here illegally, would be similar to stopping everyone who is driving a car on a Friday night because they MIGHT be drunk. How would you like to be stopped on your way home from working 2nd shift EVERY Friday night? It's simply unreasonable to take away the freedom of every law abiding citizen to enforce any law.