Stop and think for a moment. If a cop stopped you and asked for proof of legal US citizenship, what would you give him? You would probably give him your driver’s license. What if he told you he can’t accept a driver’s license because, like Maryland, your state issued them without first verifying that you are here legally? You would probably be at a loss. Very few people carry anything else that could be used to prove legal presence. A social security card won’t work, because it’s too easy to counterfeit. Credit cards don’t work. Besides, neither have your picture on them.
People are all excited about the new Arizona law. Many have suggested we need such a law in Maryland. At least one politician has suggested that he will introduce legislation that exactly mirrors the Arizona statute. One even suggested that people shouldn’t vote for a political candidate who won’t sign a pledge to back such a law in Maryland. Well, that’s a real problem, because the Arizona law, as written, won’t work in Maryland. Candidates should be wary of signing anything without first verifying that it will be enforceable.
The Arizona law does a number of things that apply to this situation. Only those who commit a crime or violate a regulation can be questioned as to legal residence. Once they are stopped, or detained, their legal presence can be questioned, but only if an Arizona law enforcement officer has good reason for suspicion. Only after establishing good reason can the officer ask for ID proving legal presence. It’s reasonable to assume that aliens who don’t possess drivers’ licenses will have other forms of ID to prove legality. This is not an unreasonable burden. For others the law clearly states that if the person under suspicion produces a valid Arizona drivers’ license, the investigation must cease. A valid Arizona license is presumed to be adequate proof of legal presence.
This poses a real problem for Maryland. A law reflecting the basic principles intended by Arizona will be difficult to write, because there’s no easy way around the identification issue. There are two possible solutions. First, Maryland could recall all drivers’ licenses and issue new ones after verifying legal presence, but that would be costly, time consuming and not likely to happen – particularly in a state that thought so little of federal immigration laws that it purposely issued ID to illegal aliens.
A second solution would be to require everyone to carry a second form of ID; one issued after verification of legal presence. A law could be written to accommodate this, but what document would be acceptable for those born and raised in the US? The only one I can think of is a passport. Should we require natural-born citizens to carry passports with them just to venture out of their homes? The swift answer to that is NO!
There is no way that I, as a person born in this country, will accept the idea that I have to carry a passport just to go about my normal life.
As stated above, aliens have several forms of ID showing that they are here legally. It’s not unreasonable to require them to have such ID with them at all times. After all, they are here as our guests. But, what about someone who was born in this country to foreign born legal aliens and went through school where English wasn’t required? What if they did something to raise suspicion as to their legal presence and were asked by a law enforcement officer to show proper ID? What could they show? Are these legal citizens to be required to carry passports just because their parents were foreign and they were schooled in a liberal institution that didn’t see the need for English?
The conclusion to be drawn is that Maryland and any other liberal state cannot effectively enforce a law similar to Arizona’s. Of course, it’s not likely that a liberal state like Maryland would choose to do so. What a shame, because I suspect that plays into Obama’s hand.
The President has frequently spoken of the need for “Comprehensive Immigration Reform”. I suspect to him that means amnesty for illegal aliens. Amnesty is nothing more than a despicable dirty political trick to garner thirteen million votes, and it must be prevented. Perhaps November’s election results will make that possible.
Much has been written in Mexican newspapers about how comprehensive immigration reform will finally solve the immigration problem. They are wrong. Their view is that anyone should be allowed to enter the US any time they wish for any purpose. Such a situation can only come about in the absence of immigration law. By definition, immigration law means that restrictions are placed on who can enter and why. It doesn’t mean that the borders will be opened for all.
There’s no doubt that bureaucratic government agencies take too long to process applications for green cards and citizenship – so long that many give up before the process is complete. Many find it much easier to sneak across the border illegally than to take the legal approach. Lax law enforcement might even encourage this approach. Consequently, along with those who would otherwise be law abiding people, there are criminals and drug smugglers.
The immigration problem isn’t that difficult to solve, but it requires political leadership and courage; something seriously lacking in Washington. The first step is to close the borders to stop criminals and drug smugglers from entering. Second, we should create an application process that is quick, but effective. Third we should give employers the necessary tools to verify legal presence quickly and accurately. Fourth, we should impose severe penalties on any business that doesn’t verify, through official channels, the legal presence of every person hired. Loss of business license and huge fines come to mind.
This is the world of near instant communication. There’s no excuse for this country not to be able to process applicants quickly and accurately. There’s no reason why an electronic verification system can’t be developed to assist employers. Employers need to know that the social security card presented by a prospective employee doesn’t belong to someone who passed away years ago. These steps are possible and should not be offensive to anyone.
What stands in the way? Gutless politicians who are more concerned with offending anyone, and being accused of being politically incorrect. Until we get real leadership in Washington, this problem will persist.
Where is Mr. Obama’s proof of legal presence? Social Security Number? ( which by the way, by law, cannot be used as a form of I.D.) … when did he ever live in Connecticut? Just by these two facts alone we can see what his plans are regarding comprehensive immigration reform. Let ‘em all in! I say, Remember In November.
Comment by Wendell — June 13, 2010 @ 4:19 PM
As always, well reasoned and thought out. My comments?
1. I would hope whoever wants to have a law passed in Maryland (to imitate Arizona) would have thought through howe to apply it in Maryland. Once done, point 2…
2. Perhaps a barcode attached to current licenses (after proper background checks) to verify one’s citizenship. Less cost, less hassle.
Just a thought.
Tom
Comment by Tom Henry — June 14, 2010 @ 6:49 AM
I would like to hear your views on the flip side of the immigration problem, which costs us in a different but also significant way:
We allow in many foreign students on student visas and educate them, often to the end point of advanced degrees. Many of them have experetise that would be very helpful to us in their various technological developing fields, in competing with othet countries. Our present system requires them to leave and wait a year or more to return. It is very inefficient and results in those talents which these people learned here going elsewhere- to the competition. Grantewd, some always planned to go home, but many did not. Doesn’t it bother you when you hear of a major technologic advance by the Chinese which gives them a “leg up” and it was the result of work by someone who graduated from Cal Tech?
Comment by Dr R in Annapolis — June 14, 2010 @ 8:07 AM
To Dr R in Annapolis: There will be a follow-up article at some point in the future. I think we go about immigration all wrong. We are fortunate to live in a country so enticing that people literally risk their lives to come. Why don’t we use that to our advantage? I think it’s ridiculous that we don’t give bright students whom we just educated to the max an opportunity to stay. But, in the words of the late Ted Kennedy, “but that would be a brain drain on their home country”. Honestly, I don’t care. If other countries created the same kind of environment students would stay there. If they don’t care enough to make the effort, they can suffer a brain drain.
More at a later time…
Comment by Tom — June 14, 2010 @ 4:10 PM
I do not understand why this issue is such a political hot button. Certainly, everyone agrees that:
1. A basic reason for the greatness of this country is its history as a melting pot. When America ceases to be thought of a land where people can come to find political, religious and economic freedom, we all will be losers. Responsible citizens should act to protect this legacy.
2. The most basic consitutional right(actually all rights are set out in the Bill of Rights, not the Constitution)is the right to be free from unreasonable searches and seizures. This was the view of our founders and it is my view as the child of Holocaust survivors. Any law that gives the police a pretext to search an indiviual based on that person’s ethnicity is DANGEROUS! Responsible citizens should stand guard against any such threat to our most basic liberties.
Immigration reform is essential,as is enforcement of existing federal immigration law. BUT, we certainly can do better than the Arizona law (I like Tom’s pragmatic approach to the issue). Unfortunately, instead of trying to do better, almost all the the discussion of this issue (on both the left and right) has degenerated into a for or against, litmus test type discussion. That makes it a sure bet that there won’t be real immigration reform anytime soon.
Comment by Bruce — June 16, 2010 @ 9:49 AM
I once worked for a man who frequently said, “reasonable men can reasonably disagree.” I always assumed that since he was the boss and occassionally displayed his considerable temper, he meant it to apply only to the rest of us. However, his saying would apply to Bruce and me. I see nothing in the Arizona law that serves as a pretext to search an individual based on ethnicity. Instead, I see restrictions placed on investigations that might result from suspicion, not invitations. I fully recognize the discomfort that might result from the word “suspicion” being undefined and open-ended, but I don’t see nearly the threat that Bruce and others see. We can reasonably disagree.
I’m in complete agreement with Bruce regarding the “melting pot”. We owe our greatness to those who risk a great deal to come to this country. That’s our real advantage, and we’re not taking advantage of it.
I greatly admire Bruce’s ability to get to the real root of the issue, when he says, “almost all the discussion of this issue (on both the left and right) has degenerated into a for or against litmus test”. Once again, a cry from those “in the middle” to stop the extremists who accomplish nothing in their attempt to block any and all moves made by the other side. You’re so right, Bruce
Comment by Tom — June 16, 2010 @ 1:37 PM
Here in this sanctuary state of md where illegal aliens are catered too by giving them a drivers license, welfare,voters card and allow them to work cash day jobs like Casa’s day labor camps throughout md where casa admitted that 80% of aliens sent to these day labor camps are illegal. Cut off all funding to them. They also have been getting mortgages through bank of america and other lenders. Stop the funding to illegal aliens and their groups like casa de md. $1.4 billion tax $$ went to illegal aliens in md last year not including their health care and millions more to Casa de md. Why????. How can they walk into a welfare office and get emergency cash checks and welfare with little or no id? How can they vote? Check out the voters registration process and read it very carefully. Easy to vote in md. Similar to Acorn tactics.. All about the votes. Many leaders sold their souls and threw the citizens down the sewer for the votes of illegal aliens.
Comment by jackie — June 29, 2010 @ 11:20 PM
Where there are rights, there are responsibilities. Where there are freedoms and rights, there are responsibilities and laws. Let’s hear more about the laws! And the crimes of not enforcing laws!!
No comment needed. Sending a special prayer for you and Suzanne and us on Tuesday! We need you and people like you.
Comment by Connie Esposito — September 11, 2010 @ 8:42 PM
Here in this sanctuary state of md where illegal aliens are catered too by giving them a drivers license, welfare,voters card and allow them to work cash day jobs like Casa’s day labor camps throughout md where casa admitted that 80% of aliens sent to these day labor camps are illegal. Cut off all funding to them. They also have been getting mortgages through bank of america and other lenders. Stop the funding to illegal aliens and their groups like casa de md. $1.4 billion tax $$ went to illegal aliens in md last year not including their health care and millions more to Casa de md. Why????. How can they walk into a welfare office and get emergency cash checks and welfare with little or no id? How can they vote? Check out the voters registration process and read it very carefully. Easy to vote in md. Similar to Acorn tactics.. All about the votes. Many leaders sold their souls and threw the citizens down the sewer for the votes of illegal aliens.
+1
Comment by Barry Morales — September 16, 2010 @ 3:12 AM