Arizona Moves to Criminalize Undocumented Immigrants

by Alex DiBranco · 2010-01-25 17:44:00 UTC
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I'm not exactly surprised that the home of immigrant-hating, power-abusing Sheriff Joe Arpaio wants to break nativist ground as the first state in the country to criminalize undocumented immigrants.

Under legislation currently in the Senate, beautifully titled, "Support Our Law Enforcement and Safe Neighborhood Act," getting caught in the state without documents would be a misdemeanor the first time, a felony charge the second. Hmm ... I guess by "law enforcement" they mean Arpaio and his cronies. They couldn't mean the law enforcement that supports immigration reform, is concerned with protecting undocumented immigrants, and found that immigrants have lower rates of crime -- making our neighborhoods safer.

The bill would also bar any policies that restrict or exempt law enforcement from implementing state or federal immigration law, known as "sanctuary policies." Instead, it would encourage the waste of money and resources on hunting down resources that Arpaio started, and eventually led to him getting cut off. In 2006, former governor and current Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano vetoed a similar bill as an unfunded mandate. But in this time of recession, apparently Arizona doesn't have anything better to spend its money on.

Religious leaders are in a bit of a tizzy over the proposal, which would also penalize those who harbor undocumented immigrants. (It's like the Underground Railroad!) This would put the many members of the clergy who extend aid and shelter on human rights grounds into conflict with the law. Do you think they feel safer now, having their moral calling turned into a crime?

Oh, Orwellian titles for legislation. After all, who can oppose supporting our law enforcement and keeping neighborhoods safe? Too bad we can't call it what it is: "Waste Our Law Enforcement's Time and Tear Apart Communities Act."

Photo credit: Jonathan McIntosh

Alex DiBranco is a Change.org Editor who has worked for the Nation, Political Research Associates, and the Center for American Progress. She is now based in New York City.
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