To see why the president might be considering tackling immigration reform this year you need look no further than Arizona. I refer you to Man Eegee’s write-up because he does a much better job than I could. The Arizona legislature has passed a law (awaiting the Republican governor’s signature) that makes it possible to arrest people without a warrant on the mere suspicion that they are an undocumented worker.
E. A LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICER, WITHOUT A WARRANT, MAY ARREST A PERSON IF THE OFFICER HAS PROBABLE CAUSE TO BELIEVE THAT THE PERSON HAS COMMITTED ANY PUBLIC OFFENSE THAT MAKES THE PERSON REMOVABLE FROM THE UNITED STATES.
Obviously, a lot can hinge on what constitutes ‘probable cause,’ but the certain byproduct of such a law would be routine harassment of Latinos, including full citizens of this country.
Not content to be intolerant, the Arizona government also decided to demonstrate their insanity yesterday.
The Arizona House on Monday voted for a provision that would require President Barack Obama to show his birth certificate if he hopes to be on the state’s ballot when he runs for reelection.
The House voted 31-22 to add the provision to a separate bill. The measure still faces a formal vote.
It would require U.S. presidential candidates who want to appear on the ballot in Arizona to submit documents proving they meet the constitutional requirements to be president.
Phoenix Democratic Rep. Kyrsten Sinema said the bill is one of several measures that are making Arizona “the laughing stock of the nation.”
It was quite a two-fer.