How Arizona became center of illegal immigration debate

The frustration had been building for years in Arizona with every drug-related kidnapping, every home invasion, every "safe house" discovered crammed with illegals from Mexico.

The tensions finally spilled over with passage of the nation's toughest law against illegal immigrants, a law that has put Arizona at the center of the heated debate over how to deal with the millions of poeple who sneak in the U.S. every year.

Arizona is the biggest gateway into the U.S. for illegals. Arizona is home to an estimated 460,000 illegal immigrants - a population larger than that of Cleveland, St. Louis and New Orleans.

Many Arizona legislators backed a series of immigration measures in the past decade, only to have them thwarted by then-Governor Janet Napolitano.

Lawmakers felt compelled to act because more will sneak across the border with the "smell of amnesty in the air" from President Obama.

Over the past three years, Border Patrol agents have made 990,000 arrests of illegals crossing the Arizona border - an average of 900 a day.

Authorities routinely come across safe houses and vehicles crammed with illegals across the vast Arizona desert. Last week 67 illegal immigrants were found crammed inside a U-Haul truck - a typical scenario in Arizona.

The volume of drugs coming through the Arizona border is also eye-popping. Federal agents seized 1.2 million pounds of marijuana last year in Arizona - an average of 1.5 tons per day.

Marijuana busts have become so common in Arizona that until recently federal prosecutors in Arizona usually declined pressing charges against marijuana smugglers caught with less than 500 pounds.

Anger over the illegal immigrantion problem reached a boiling point in March when a popular cattle rancher named Rob Krentz was gunned down along with his dog on his property by an illegal.

The right way to mend immigration.

By Charles E. Schumer and Lindsey O. Graham

Friday, March 19, 2010

Our immigration system is badly broken. Although our borders have become far more secure in recent years, too many people seeking illegal entry get through. We have no way to track whether the millions who enter the United States on valid visas each year leave when they are supposed to. And employers are burdened by a complicated system for verifying workers' immigration status.

Last week we met with President Obama to discuss our draft framework for action on immigration. We expressed our belief that America's security and economic well-being depend on enacting sensible immigration policies.

The answer is simple: Americans overwhelmingly oppose illegal immigration and support legal immigration. Throughout our history, immigrants have contributed to making this country more vibrant and economically dynamic. Once it is clear that in 20 years our nation will not again confront the specter of another 11 million people coming here illegally, Americans will embrace more welcoming immigration policies.

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Why did Ellis Island work? Because it was on the border with the Atlantic Ocean.

IMHO The border with Mexico should be sealed / controlled and have "Ellis Iland" type of immgration centers that control who is allowed access into our counrty.

Pull the armed forces out of Europe and put them along the border with Mexico.

There is clearly an unwillingness by our federal government to secure our border w/Mexico. What other possible reason is there short of circumventing the (apparently too expensive American workforce we have)

We seem to have the finances for everyones elses issues around the world but our own!

Those immigrants just want a better life. We should let them in and thrive. What's the worst thing that could happen?

Sincerely,

Native Americans on the East Coast at the beginning of the sixteenth century.

Seriously, wow. Ever heard of the ostrich w/his head stuck in the sand? Oh and for the worst that can happen, take a good long look at their country and governing bodies and then ask yourself this again!

#4 8track, consider this for a moment. We have legal border crossings and a legal manner in which to become a citizen of this once great country. All anyone is asking is that these people follow the very same laws that everyone else is expected to follow. It really is just that basic, I don't believe this is a racial issue for most people who back "Legal Immigration"

If Schumer thinks that most people in the USA support "legal immigration" then he is hopelessly out of touch (surprise!).

Most complaints that I hear about ILLEGAL immigrants are made based on experiences or observations which involve immigrants (i.e. brown people) of undetermined status.

Hey Andy, go sit your ass at your local hospital for a few days, I'll bet you change your mind. These illegals are being directed as to how to best bilk the system of whatever they can get, free healthcare,free lunch while there(incl. fam. members)free transportation etc. And if anyone tries to stop it then the race card gets tossed.Our school systems are breaking in a number of states incl. some here in IN. How much are you willing to work and give away to people who broke a federal law coming here in the first place? If wifey is pregnant and gives birth then jr. is automatically a US citizen. Even though his parents are federal criminals!!

City workers banned from official travel to Arizona

San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom announced today a moratorium on official city travel to Arizona after the state enacted a controversial new immigration law that directs local police to arrest those suspected of being in the country illegally.

Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano told a Senate hearing Tuesday that unmanned aerial drones will soon fly through Texas skies!

#8....I was at a hospital for a few hours yesterday and didn't see anyone acting like that.

Are there hospitals in Arizona like you described?

BTW.......I was once hospitalized for about a week; and I did not have health insurance at the time.

There ARE people who will come to you and discuss the best way to pay your bill, show you where to find some relief, etc.

You can get you bill reduced by taking advantage of a process that is in place for ALL people......but still a hospital stay is a considerable expense.

We need to launch Operation "Wide Effort for Tracking and Border Access Control Keystone" immediately.

Anyone who thinks it is just illegal immigrants who are over-using emergency room resources is clueless.

Anyone who thinks it is just illegal immigrants who are over-using emergency room resources is clueless.

We should pass a law that requires cash up front to receive treatment.

And then people should always keep like.....a twenty....tucked away in their wallet somewhere.

It does seem like we should pass some sort of law to deal with the medical care situation in the USA.

If Draco would have written health care law, he would have required $20 up front for ER services.

If I was a Dem and facing reelection in Nov, I'd want to legalize a bunch of illegal people also. Thereby increasing the voter base that would most likely vote for me. I'd be totally against this AZ thing, even though it says exactly the same thing as a bill I probably wrote/voted for several years ago (while simultaneously hoping no one bothers to check on that).

There are almost as many illegals in North Carolina and Georgia as in AZ and a third as many in New Mexico

There has been a 18% decline in Illegal Immigration in AZ.

Why the need to grandstand Arizona?

I agree refrom is needed but draconian measures that may raise the flight or fight reaction by illegals could pose a potential hazard to the law enforcement officers directed to step up their activities.

50 different untenable immigration laws won't work.

For me I wouldn't let any Red Sox fans in my state...The bastids.