Jan Brewer, Governor of Arizona and vehement immigration opponent, has taken on Secretary of State Hillary Clinton in a recent report sent to the United Nations’ Human Rights Commissioner by the State Department. Apparently, Brewer is steamed at the move toward “internationalism” and is trying to protect her state from charges of racial profiling, a thinly veiled accusation included in the report.
Brewer was pretty adamant in her, uh, request that Arizona’s immigration law pretty much requiring police to check the immigration status of anyone they encounter “enforcing other laws” be removed.
The federal government, however, views its legal challenge to the law as a prime example of how it’s addressing possible human rights violations.
In a letter to Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, Brewer says it is “downright offensive” that a state law would be included in the report, which was drafted as part of a UN review of human rights in all member nations every four years.
“The idea of our own American government submitting the duly enacted laws of a state of the United States to ‘review’ by the United Nations is internationalism run amok and unconstitutional,” Brewer wrote.
Okay, this is a dicey one. Consider, for example, the shooting death of Houston police officer Rodney Johnson, who was killed by an illegal immigrant who had been deported at least once and arrested several times. Under the Arizona law Brewer is touting, Rodney Johnson might well be alive.
There is, however, the very real possibility that Hispanics would be unnecessarily and unfairly targeted. Look at what happened to Florida mother Janet Lovett, who was arguably targeted for being Hispanic and subject to some pretty rough treatment.
Is this a can of worms that we want to open? Obviously the federal government is not a big fan of Arizona’s law, with a federal judge agreeing with the U.S. Justice Department’s attempt to block many parts of it.
While the State Department dances around stating directly that the Arizona law would result in racial profiling, the insinuation is pretty clear.
“A recent Arizona law, S.B. 1070, has generated significant attention and debate at home and around the world,” the report says. “The issue is being addressed in a court action that argues that the federal government has the authority to set and enforce immigration law. That action is ongoing; parts of the law are currently enjoined.”
The thing is, there are valid arguments on both sides here. Illegal immigration is a very serious problem, and there are many, Rodney Johnson’s widow Joslyn, for example, that can say firsthand that this law is necessary.
At the same time, though, it is a complete set up for racial profiling. You’d have to be a complete moron not to see that. Like it or not, it’s the world we live in.
My older daughter recently flew by herself for the first time, and she told me after she landed that she got a little nervous when the pilot came on the intercom and introduced himself in a middle-eastern accent. This is a very open-minded and trusting kid, and she was very unhappy with herself for having that, “Oh my God, is he a terrorist?” reaction.
I understand the need for border states to have immigration policies. I totally get that. If I lived near the Mexican border, it’s entirely possible that I would look at this differently, and I completely admit that.
At the same time, however, it is certainly noteworthy of discussion in terms of human rights with an international group focused in that area. Frankly, it might help America break down its “elitist” reputation if they are looking as closely at their own policies as they do those of other nations.
I feel that, by examining its own potential human rights violations, the United States will gain more credibility when it calls out other nations for atrocities.
I know this isn’t a popular opinion, but I honestly think that Jan Brewer, who is a favorite for reelection in November largely due to her hard-nosed stance on immigration, is turning this into way more of an issue than it really is.
I agree, I think she’s getting her panties in a bunch for nothing. If the law doesn’t violate human rights, what harm is there in having it be reviewed by the UN?
Because the UN has no business sticking their nose in the affairs of Arizona. People act like the term illegal alien is an oxymoron,they’re fucking illegal for Christ’s sake!
That’s the part I don’t get – what don’t people understand about illegal?? Try going to another country illegally and see how well that works.
It has nothing to do with illegal aliens.
It is about harassing every single hispanic in Arizona as a consequence…
As you say, if you lived in one of the border states, you might feel differently. This is a very important issue because all Arizona is trying to do is enforce federal laws that are already on the books. The federal government is shirking its duty by choosing not to enforce the laws, which negatively impacts the border states.
Rather than using our tax dollars to protect the border, the federal government has chosen to use our tax dollars to sue one of its own states for trying to help do the federal government’s job.
How anyone can think this is a trivial matter is beyond belief to me.
I take it very seriously! But then again,the American people elected a person who announced his political career in the living room of a man who was convicted of bombing the pentagon. Not much surprises me anymore.
Aaaand….how on earth is that relevant?
Its not,I just like to piss people off. I’m blaming friday night happy hour.
And you didn’t invite us? We could have had a great time antagonizing the masses!
ARIZONA IS HARASSING THEIR NON-WHITE LEGAL IMMIGRANTS.
Thats’s the issue here
I grew up less than an hour away from the border in Arizona, I moved away last year. I’ve known them, I went to school with their children, I slept over at their houses and they helped me work on my Spanish, I’ve heard their stories and have seen the poverty and despair they came from. Not a single one didn’t have their taxes automatically deducted from their pay, they didn’t go around killing cops, they did not steal. I’m proud that our government is taking a closer look at human rights, human rights to me is one of those cases where unless your doing something wrong you shouldn’t be afraid to show your policies.
Again, the Arizona law only requires the enforcement of existing federal laws, so if there are human rights violations, they would need to be examined at the federal level. To go down that rabbit hole, you would have to believe that the United States’ legal immigration procedures somehow violate human rights. In other words, if we don’t let everyone come into our borders, that is a violation of human rights.
Many of my friends are Hispanics of Mexican origin, and they also have their taxes automatically deducted from their pay, don’t go around killing cops and do not steal. They are also US citizens who believe in protecting the borders from those who are trying to enter illegally.
Most illegal aliens here in Texas are paid in cash and do not have taxes deducted from their pay; therefore, they do not contribute to the cost of the services provided to them by the United States.
In addition, I know people who had part of their ranch burned when illegals set a fire as a distraction to get away from immigration enforcement officers. This provided the right environment for a bacteria to be released that killed livestock, horses and deer for many miles, ruining their and many other ranchers’ livelihoods.
We should not be afraid to “show our policies” and our government should not be afraid to stand up for the United States.
I try to look at both sides but when some of these right-wingers think the word illegal and mexican/latino/hispanic are the same thing it gets difficult. Illegal immigration is a problem that needs to get solved but pointing the finger at brown people and their dirty little language is crap.
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