Article IV, Section 4 of the US Constitution says, “The United States shall guarantee to every state in this union a republican form of government, and shall protect each of them against invasion;…”
Does illegal immigration constitute an “invasion,” especially when it has been encouraged or even sponsored by another country such as Mexico?
In the words of our one-time pal “reagan” (or “raygun”), this is a local issue how?
Comment by Dan — July 11, 2009 @ 2:04 pm
According to Mary’s post on July 9, Jorgenson, “…has promised the next state congressional session will begin straight off with enforcement legislation he is tinkering with.”
If the federal government has a Constitutional obligation to protect states from invasion and if illegal immigration amounts to an invasion, then the federal obligation preempts the state’s enforcement efforts. That makes it a local issue in my opinion. I think it’s a bad idea for a state legislator to want to spend state money on enforcing a federal responsibility. That’s doubly burdensome for Idahoans to be paying federal taxes so the federal government can defer enforcement to state agencies funded by those same taxpayers’ state tax money. I’d rather see state tax money being spent on strictly state issues and see our federal tax money spent meeting federal obligations.
Comment by Bill — July 11, 2009 @ 2:57 pm
Local, because of the loss of state revenue for the state as money goes to bilingual classrooms, crowded classes, free emergency health care, jailed illegals in our prisons and jails, and lower wages. Get the bigger picture, Dan. That’s not even considering the cost of gangs and illegal drugs coming across our state lines.
Illegal immigration is a burden on all people in this county working and paying taxes. It is an even greater burden on those not able to find work or one that pays a living wage.
Glad you asked. Now tell me why it is not a local issue.
Comment by citizen — July 11, 2009 @ 3:03 pm
Thanks. You answered my question.
Comment by Dan — July 11, 2009 @ 6:21 pm
If you care about this illegal immigration issue;numbersusa.com is a good website to go on.It gives you the latest updates on the fight against illegal immigration.You can send faxes from this website.
Here is a quote from Barbara Jordan:
“It is both a right and a responsibility of a democratic society to manage immigration so that it serves the national interest.”
Comment by kageman — July 11, 2009 @ 6:48 pm
Kageman,
Good website! Thanks for recommending it.
Comment by Bill — July 11, 2009 @ 6:58 pm
How 18th Century.
Borders are simply lines on a map. The old slavers who drew up the constitution had neither computers nor a global conscience, we are the world. Except of course for those populations that we don’t want to have too many of.
/satire off/
Frankly the pretty people who scorn the Founding Fathers are also racist pigs who believe in eugenics and forced abortions. The idea that a one world government without any borders is workable is utopian idealism, a worldview that has always ended badly when given power. Since both US parties have cut themselves loose from the little people, such odd ideas now have power. Tremble in fear for the results.
Comment by Pariah — July 11, 2009 @ 7:23 pm
Hi Dan: Glad I could be of help.
Having experienced the effects of illegal immigration I am rather passionate on the subject.
Truth be known, most transplants from California, Arizona and New Mexico feel the same way.
Comment by citizen — July 12, 2009 @ 7:35 am
http://www.reason.com/news/show/134579.html
Interesting view from the border
Comment by locogov — July 13, 2009 @ 9:00 am
locogov,
Examining Reason’s assertion would be an interesting study for a criminologist. The study would include not only the effects of illegal immigrants on local crime, but also the effects of local criminal behaviors on illegal immigrants. For example, one possible reason for crime being apparently lower in EP might be underreporting by illegal immigrant victims of that crime. In other areas, US citizen criminals may suppress criminal behaviors by illegals simply to keep the competition down. More study is needed.
Comment by Bill — July 13, 2009 @ 9:30 am