Arizona and the Politics of Racial Profiling

The Arizona Legislature Just went off the "right" field as it relates to addressing immigration issues.They have definitely chosen to go down the road that takes them straight into the realm of racial discrimination and racial profiling. It seems the politics of fear and ignorance strike again. The creation of a bigger police state can not be the best and only alternative. Our elected officials can choose to deflect the hard reality of looking at the plight of undocumented workers, our unsustainable immigration policy and a world where social, economical and racial disparities are undeniable at their own risk.

The you must have "papers" that prove your citizenship in order to be able to be a free individual in our country is disturbing. The first sign of a controlling state and loss of freedom is having to supply papers on demand in order to travel. Is the color of your skin, accent or association a trigger? This will surely continue to exacerbate the problem of so many already in the shadows. The use and instilling of fear must not be a public policy option.The Legislature and the Senate in Arizona are both controlled by Republicans. Can you spell compassionate Moderate Republican yet? Governor Jan Brewer, also a Republican, refuses to say whether she will sign it into law or not. Advocates and Law Enforcement officials believe the bill is an assault on public safety. Criminalizing immigrants will surely force them to fear and shun the police. In high crime areas riddled by gangs and violence, non-cooperation can prove lethal. It would certainly change the level of priorities in which law enforcement resources are allocated. The first and foremost goal of law enforcement should be to prevent, persecute and apprehend violent offenders and not a drive to round up the mostly harmless undocumented. This priority will surely make our communities less safe.President Obama promised Immigration reform during his first year in office. Granted that the political dynamic has changed in Washington and to a lesser extent around the country, but in the absence of pro-active leadership and action, radical and extremist movements based on fear and poorly disguised hatred can take form. 

As it was with Health Care reform, the current discussion dealing with Financial Reform and the necessary resolution to Immigration, legislation must not be delegated to the fringes of the political spectrum. Our voices must be heard and known as the line must be held. Understood that as in many issues in our country, the solutions are not basic and simple, but a compassionate open look at all possibilities can surely trump the politics of fear.Immigration reform must be comprehensive. Failing to reform the outdated and broken immigration system as a whole, would be an exercise in futility.A truly Comprehensive immigration reform legislation must include the improvement of the economic conditions in which all workers find themselves, legalization of all undocumented immigrants working and living in the United States, reforming visa and worker programs, protecting workers’ rights, implementing smart and effective enforcement measures geared to repeat offenders and  respecting the due process rights of all in the United States.http://www.examiner.com/article/arizona-and-the-politics-of-racial-profilingIt must not be forgotten that our country was founded both as a nation of immigrants and a nation of laws. A balance must be reached between our security needs and the reality of 8 million undocumented immigrants in our nation. http://www.examiner.com/article/arizona-and-the-politics-of-racial-profiling