Can We Dial it Down a Bit?

Rep. Jared Polis (D-Colo) in Politico:

“It is absolutely reminiscent of second class status of Jews in Germany prior to World War II when they had to have their papers with them at all times and were subject to routine inspections at the suspicion of being Jewish,” Rep. Jared Polis (D-Colo), who is Jewish, told POLITICO...

...“I think it’s a very fair comparison and I hope that we’re not headed on the same trajectory that Nazi Germany was,” Polis said. “But this was a very recent experience for Jewish Americans and Jews worldwide and it’s something that when we see similarities we start ringing alarm bells.”

There certainly should be alarm bells ringing for American Jews and Jews worldwide but not because of the new immigration law in Arizona but rather because of the absolutely disgraceful way Israel has been treated by the current Administration.  Polis would benefit from reading Prof. Jacobson's thoughtful discussion of the Arizona law in Legal Insurrection:

Again, the law does not authorize unlawful stops, but only permits verification of immigration status once a lawful stop has been made (emphasis mine):

11-1051 B. For any lawful contact made by a law enforcement official or a law enforcement agency of this state of a law enforcement official or a law enforcement agency of a county, city, town or other political subdivision of this state where reasonable suspicion exists that the person is an alien who is unlawfully present in the United States, a reasonable attempt shall be made, when practicable, to determine the immigration status of the person, except if the determination may hinder or obstruct an investigation....

Which raises a question:  when an officer lawfully stops an individual and the officer suspects that the individual may be in the country illegally what exactly do opponents of the Arizona law believe that the officer should do?  If it is perfectly okay for an officer to ask a driver to show their driver's license, to prove that the driver is driving legally, why is a violation of civil rights to ask that same person to show their green card to prove that they are in the country legally? 

Arizona, with 460,000 illegal immigrants, is at the front line of what has become a battle with very real consequences.  They, and other states with high concentrations of illegals, were put in this position by a federal government that has not done its job.  This problem began long before the Obama Administration, but it is the Obama Administration, not wanting to let a crisis go to waste, that is wringing every drop of political advantage out of the situation.  Obama's position has nothing to do with upholding his duty to the American people and everything to do with the midterm elections.

There are solutions to this problem and as usual, not everyone is going to be happy.

First, enforce the border.  Build the fence, send the troops, allow the Minutemen to fill the gaps.  It is time for the Administration, and particularly Janet Napolitano, to show some backbone. 

Second, admit that our failed "War on Drugs" is partially responsible for the violence on the border.  Raise the white flag.  Take the profit out of drugs and the violence will go away.  A person who uses (fill in the drug of your choice) is going to use the drug whether it is legal or not.  Can anybody name any success story from the War on Drugs?  Any battle won? 

Third, go after the people who employ illegals and go after them hard.  Make the punishment for hiring an illegal severe enough and employers will suddenly figure out that it is cheaper to hire Americans.  The same goes for housing an illegal.  And opening bank accounts for illegals or selling them money orders or sending wires for them.  Go after Americans who profit from illegal immigrants.

Fourth, have a system that tracks people allowed in the country legally.  How many simply overstay their visas or don't attend school or meet whatever was set as their condition for entry?  Our government has no clue.  This long after 9/11 there is no excuse for the lack of followup in this country.

Fifth, do not reward people who are in this country illegally.  No amnesty, law breakers go to the back of the line.

We've heard about comprehensive immigration reform forever.  Enough.  The Administration needs to get serious about solving the illegal immigrant problem.  Not for politics, for the American people.