Latinos hyperventilating over Arizona law

The national firestorm over the new state law passed by the Arizona state legislature and signed by the republican governor, Jan Brewer, last week has reignited the heated debate on both sides of the political aisle that has laid dormant for the past two years, as to what to do with illegal immigrants in the United States.

Arizona is a southern border state. It is estimated that 450,000 illegal aliens reside in the state out of a population of 6.8 million. It is also the state illegal aliens, and human and drug traffickers prefer to cross over because of the vast open desert space despite the dangers the desert poses.

American ranchers in the state have fought a never-ending battle to protect their property and livestock from these trespassers, and have urged and implored their elected officials to do something about this growing problem.

Just ask Robert Krentz, a rancher who not only complained about the problem, but also did whatever humanely possible to help those illegal aliens trespassing on his property by providing food and water. I say "did" because it's too late to ask him anything. Mr. Krentz, and his pet dog, was murdered on March 27th by an illegal alien who fled back to Mexico. His murder set in motion the state's response over the lack of a secured border and federal enforcement inaction.

So, what is the real reason why there is so much hostility towards SB 1070 by the supporters of illegal immigration like the ACLU, the National Council of La Raza and LULAC?

The carefully-crafted law, which, by the way, mirrors federal statutes, authorizes police officers to make a reasonable attempt to verify the immigration status of persons they come into lawful contact, and not to harass people based on the color of their skin.

Article 8, Section B states: "For any lawful contact made by a law enforcement official or agency of this state, or a county, city, town or political subdivision of this state where reasonable suspicion exists that the person is an alien who is unlawfully in the United States, a reasonable attempt shall be made, when practicable, to determine the immigration status of the person. The person's immigration status shall be verified with the federal government pursuant to 8 United States Code Section 1373 (c)."

Meaning, the law is very explicit. Law enforcement officers cannot stop anyone on the street or enter their homes to ask what their immigration status is without a lawful purpose to engage the individual. Such lawful purposes are anything like running a red light, speeding, a bar fight, smoking weed in public, a car accident, a broken turn signal light, intoxication, shoplifting, robbery, murder. Get the picture?

If you are an American citizen or a legal resident alien, you have nothing to fear.

So stop hyperventilating about being picked on for being latino. We are a nation of laws and order, and there is a serious illegal immigration problem in the nation, and Americans have a right to feel protected in their own homeland.

A special note of remembrance to Border Patrol Agent Robert W. Rosas, killed in the line of duty on July 23, 2009, in San Diego by an illegal alien who was recently sentenced to 40 years in a federal lock-up. May you rest in peace.