Raising Arizona

Late last night, an Arizona Senate panel passed sweeping reforms that would target illegal immigrants in public housing, benefits, and the workplace. In response to this measure, I have only one thing to say: it's about time.

Earlier in the day, the same panel had already approved a bill to deny automatic citizenship to children of illegal immigrants. That one is sure to be challenged and head all the way to the Supreme Court at some point. The rest of the legislation exerts more pressure on employers to check the eligibility of new hires, requires schools to collect information on the legal status of their students and report those who are in the country illegally, makes it illegal for illegal immigrants to drive in the state, and requires public agencies to verify the status of renters.

As usual, the left is up in arms over the proposed legislation, labeling it racist and discriminatory. But I applaud the Arizona State Senate for refusing to fold under that type of liberal moral elitism. To the left, if you're against gay marriage, then you're "homophobic." If you're pro-life, then you're a sexist infringing on women's rights. If you're against affirmative action, then you're a racist. If you're against illegal immigration, then you're also a racist. They've resorted to these tactics for years, and have often been very successful with them.

But when are people around the country, and the federal government for that matter, going to understand the plight of Arizona's citizens? They deal with tens of thousands of illegal immigrants flooding their state each year. Ciudad Juarez has become a war zone, with entire police departments resigning their jobs in fear for their lives. Violence has spilled over to our side of the border, with our agents being attacked and even killed. Yet Janet Napolitano continues to blow sunshine up the butts of Arizonans, and the federal government still neglects their responsibility to secure the border.

What choice then do they have? Many of Arizona's citizens have been the victims of crime at the hands of illegal immigrants. Some have even been murdered by them, though you won't hear much about that from the liberal media. The state pays $2.7 billion per year to provide illegals with education, healthcare, and other entitlement programs, and to provide for those who are incarcerated. It is a travesty of justice if ever there was one.

How can a state be expected to bear such a burden? Even in better economic times, spending $2.7 billion on illegals was a huge strain on the taxpayers. But now that we're enduring a global financial crisis, it is a colossal stone around their necks that will surely cause Arizona to sink all the way to the bottom.

I will never be able to understand the logic of those who are in favor of amnesty for illegals, especially given the current state of our economy. Americans are struggling to put food on the table. They have dealt with salary cuts and loss of benefits. Many millions, myself included, have lost their jobs. Yet we are still expected to support illegal immigrants, people who have broken our laws to enter our country, with our tax dollars? Can someone please explain how that makes sense???

The federal government has dropped the ball big time, leaving Arizona with no choice but to act on their own. They have shown great moral courage in approving this legislation, and I hope that it passes and becomes law very soon. Sure, they'll be vilified by the liberal press and hypocrites everywhere who don't have to face the issues Arizonans are facing. But it's a very small price to pay for saving your state.

Arizona will provide the litmus test for whether this legislation will hold up in court. If it does, then there are sure to be other states that will follow Arizona's example. Just as New Jersey is blazing the trail for the battle against unions, so Arizona can set the path for saving America from the scourge of illegal immigrants. They've been riding the gravy train long enough. It's time for that train to come to a complete stop and let everybody off.