The fact that the state legislature in Arizona (backed by 70% of that state's population) have taken it upon themselves to pass legislation to deal with the overwhelming problem of illegal aliens in that state has gotten quite a bit of attention lately, to say the least. Here's a roundup of some of today's headlines...
When this year started, immigration was an afterthought issue, as Congress was facing high national unemployment, a huge deficit, an unfinished health care bill, and energy and financial regulation bills next in line.
But immigrant rights groups refused to accept that calculus and have cajoled and pushed their way into the discussion. Along the way, they've been helped by politics, with Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid's re-election bid in Nevada depending on tremendous Hispanic support....
... The only people who approve, it seems, are the American citizens who have to live with the consequences of the federal government's long-standing failure to enforce its own immigration laws and protect the country's border with Mexico. Seventy percent of Arizonans -- and 60 percent of people surveyed nationwide -- favor the law signed by Arizona Gov. Jan Brewer last week. The bill's chief sponsor, state Sen. Russell Pearce, R-Mesa, summed up local sentiment when he said that it will "take the handcuffs off the police and put them on violent criminals." read more »