What does an undocumented person look like?

Do I look like one? Do you look like one?

What does an undocumented person from – let’s say Argentina – look like? Do they look different from people from Mexico, Brazil, Colombia or even China?

Are all the undocumented people in the United States brown skinned and short as has been portrayed by the decades-long stereotype.

I’m wondering how Arizona’s police will identify undocumented people when the new state immigration law goes into effect in approximately 90 days. Under the new legislation, local law enforcement officials will be authorized to arrest a person if they believe he/she may be in the country illegally.

Activists around the country have expressed their outrage and concerns about the potential of racial profiling that this new law will bring.  They also fear it could reinforce patterns of discrimination and hate against immigrant communities. I believe they are right.

There are too many studies – from both extremes of the social spectrum – that analyze either the contribution or the cost that undocumented immigrants represent for states and cities. There are also many stories documenting the cost that lawsuits against municipal ordinances or state laws related to immigration will inflict on local governments.

The Farmer’s Branch case in Dallas County is one of the most recent examples of this:  In November 2006, the city council approved an ordinance that prevents landlords from renting homes to undocumented immigrants. The ordinance was challenged by a group of citizens because it was approved in a closed meeting session, which is against state law.  The ordinance was then taken to the polls, and approved on May 12, 2007.  However, civil rights groups sued the city, arguing that the ordinance caused them economic harm. As a result, a U.S. District Court Judge granted a temporary restraining order, preventing the ordinance from going into effect.   Four years have passed and the ordinance is still in the middle of a legal battle. 

In Arizona, several civil rights organizations have announced their attempts to sue the Arizona government as well. If they do it, the legal battle will be also very long.

My point is that the social and economic cost of implementing this new local immigration law could be higher than taking the first steps for comprehensive immigration reform.  Immigration is at heart a federal issue. So wouldn’t it be better to start discussing it now?

According to several estimates, there are 12 million undocumented people living in the U.S. right now.  A new law, such as the one that Arizona enacted, is not going to stop people from coming here, nor is it going to send them back to their country of origin.

Immigration reform could open a path for legalization to the majority of these people, and at the same time, could give the federal government an opportunity to implement changes in the migration policy that would regulate the flow of immigrants and secure the border.

Perhaps Arizona’s law will serve as a timely reminder to the U.S. Congress of the need to address the immigration issue as soon as possible.

 

Comments

[Fight Racism]

This law by Arizona is racism pure and simple.

Check out this video by MSNBC's Rachel Maddow to find out about the Nazi supporters who actually wrote SB 1070 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ilKUxWbGQj4

[alvinyork]

Lourdes, I wish you would quit using PC terms like "undocumented" and instead use accurate terms like "illegal."

[El Paso Native]

I agree, how will they apply this to ILLEGAL Canadians, Swedes, Britons, or anyone who is light skinned BUT still in this country illegally. Racizona has lost any of my hard earned money, won't be supporting a state that promotes hate towards ONLY a certain class of individuals. Although for those protesting, if wave the American flag, no other flags should be part of this protest

[The Obvious]

As an individual that was born and raised in El Paso and has lived in Arizona for the past 23 years, I can tell you that undocumented individuals do not represent a new issue. People have been here illegally since before the 50's and nobody cared as long as they were getting monetary value from it. Mow my lawn, watch my kids, paint my house. It surprises me how the term "ILLEGAL" seems to be the the catch phrase that allows acceptance of this law and total ignorance to what it actually represents. This law very clearly places a specific group of individuals into a catergory that allows them to be targeted based on the "guilty until proven innocent" concept. It is no different than a law that would require a police officer to administer a breathalizer to every individual that leaves a bar under the premise that they are going to drive while drunk simply because they were in a bar. After all, how many of you actually drive while legally drunk and do not get caught? Is this not illegal? While I am very much against drunk driving, I would not ever allow for my rights under the Constitution to be dismissed based on the needs of an individual group. We must cease our practice of allowing panic and mayhem to drive us into fly by night legislation that continues to eat away at our very lives and liberties. There has to be a better way.

[Mr Hate]

Well if he is a male latino, then he wears a new straw cowboy hat, blue jeans with large shining cowboy belt buckle, light colored cowboy boots and long sleeve cowboy shirt opened to his navel to expose hairy chest and gold medallion necklace.

[Leza Rascon]

We have to identify ourselves with identification; the bank, registering cars, doctors office, etc., I don't understand why we panic if the stop us and ask for proper identification. It's already being done for other reasons, I believe its reasonable.

[El Paso Proud]

I worked in Arizona for 5 years and most law enforcement people already had more than they could handle. To give them more responsibility on top of their regular duties, it will not work. Maybe a few renegade lone wolf cops might try and use that option, but those are few and far between. Most officers want that big bust that makes the papers and looks good on paper when their evaluation comes up, not more paperwork and not being a taxi for the ICE.

[Rob]

The Obvious...

This law targets EVERYONE..we are sick of all the ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION..from EVERY COUNTRY.
Will there be a disproportionate number of Mexicans deported?..yep, because there is a disproportionate number of Mexicans here illegally. I can assure you right along with them will be illegal immigrants from over 165+ countries...they all DESERVE to be LOCATED, IDENTIFIED, FINGERPRINTED, PHOTOGRAPHED and sent back the their native countries, along with a ban of ever being able to return to the U.S. or becoming a citizen.

We are tired of being taken advantage of, tired of people that don't even have a right to be here attempting to prosper at OUR EXPENSE. Ignoring our laws and flaunting it in our faces.

WE OWE THESE PEOPLE N O T H I N G.

We are obligated to identify these law breakers people and remove them from our country.

[JRMaynard3]

There's no difference between this type of profiling and that which you Mexicans do when you call me "guero". None. Period. I've dealt with it all my life in El Paso and it's sad. I support the law if it is properly enforced and carried out. Maybe Texas will follow suit.

[JRMaynard3]

What does a "guero" look like? What does a "gringo" look like? How 'bout a "pinche' guero
or "pinche' gringo?" C'mon, people. Enlighten me. When you can justify this type of profiling, with intelligent debate, rather than racial epithets and mindless drivel, I'll listen to your argument against illegal immigrants.

[Kayla Pedroza]

OMG this Arizona crap is unconstitutional. Last time I checked, we were a country founded on illegal immigrants.

[enforce laws not abuse them]

We are a nation founded on LEGAL immigration. Illegal immigration is a problem and citizenship isn't the way to go when others came here legally. That said, this law only creates a threatening atmoshpere and racial hatred to everyone who is minority (Citizens).

This Arizona law bases everything on bigotry, hatred and racism against everyone who in a minority or a citizen born here. The governor is a cheerleader type. Not very smart.

The politicians who crafted this were blatant racist. ts trying to get some political points with extremists.

Illegals should be dealth with humanely but faily according to fair laws.
The businsesses who hire them should be fined or charged with crimes for exploiting their labor.

And automatic citizenship by birth to parents who are here illegally or visas should retain the citizenship of their parents home country not America. Americans don't get that priveledge abroad.

Mexico and Mr. Calderon need to be as aggressive in making opportunities for his country men in Mexico and call for an end to illegal activity. He also needs to invest money in education, jobs, services to provide basics in the most poverty stricken areas: water, roads, healthcare.

And finally Mexicans' gov needs to quit dealing with the cartels and taking bribes to end the crime.

[Patrick]

Has anyone done a study on the economic disruption cause by illegal Swedes in the USA? And would that include all the Swedish mothers who want to escape the publicly-funded Swedish health care system and pay to have their babies born in the USA?

Actually, I think the people who have been ignored in this debate are the people who try to immigrate legally, and find themselves drowning in paperwork and delays.

I would like to give Arizonans the benefit of the doubt, and say that they are afraid rather than racist. Certainly the situation in the border cities and some high-profile violence on the US side are cause for concern and can make for media sensations and public anxiety.

I believe President Calderon has already "called for an end to illegal activity" in Mexico. Unfortunately, it seems that the answer from some of his countrymen has been "plomo".

Because I live in a state whose drivers' license doesn't meet Arizona / Homeland Security standards, it looks like I'll have to carry a passport every time I visit my son in the neighboring state of Arizona.

[The Obvious]

Hey Rob,
Once agian you solidify my point that you are willing to cut off your nose to spite your face. My point is not about the fact that we have to support them. It is about what you are giving up to get rid of them. It is amazing that being LEGAL is not even an issue if they are buying houses, applying for credit or buying cars from American businesses! What happens to these folks? Are you so ignorant as to believe that every immigrant that crosses the border is taking up your precious resources? You and I hemmorage money to our own government each year in taxes that we will never see again becaause it is given to the people that refuse to work and have been citizens of this country all of thier lives! Your argument is weak!

[Alice from Ky.]

Lourdes, once again you have highlighted a simple root cause of many simplistic political solutions: politicians react to their, and their constituents'- emotions. Racism stems from ignorance, followed by denial. Many of the comments are intelligent, many are simply venting hatred. The Arizona law is ill-conceived and unenforceable without checking every brown face in the state, time and time again, unless we brand them or tag their ears, as we do livestock. We Americans like to forget that our ancestors stole Arizona, and the entire country, from someone else.

[The Obvious]

Alice from Ky; Thank you for really understanding the issue. The real truth is that just 2 years ago there were 60% more illegals in Arizona during the housing boom and there were no outcries for national security. (I live here' so I know this first hand.) It was not an issue because the large corporate home builders were reaping the benefits of cheap labor to fill thier own pockets. When the housing market crashed' most of these people left of thier own accord because THERE WAS NO WORK! They went home; not to a welfare line. How many of our own people are currently on the welfare system at the hand of greedy American corporations?

[Alice from Ky.]

Several yrs ago, there was a similar uproar in Ky. Not one voice presented a "mission statement," meaning, defining the problem, the best logical solution, the benefits, and the consequences. This is basic to any Six Sigma company (but not basic to military or politicians, who ignore several of the criteria.) The head wimpster, Republican McConnell, nicknamed "terrapin," sided with the crowd, and everyone was giddy happy, until the tobacco, agriculture and horse industries realized that there was no affordable labor to work in their industries! Tobacco farmers stated that there was only 4% of willing American workers -at any wage. They needed these uneducated Mexican workers who had no other choice but to sleep on a bed of mosquitoes and work 14 hour days for a few dollars a day. Mc Connell made a hasty compromise, which no one even understood, but it was enough to change direction, while promising legislation on immigration. (Curiously, McConnell and the Republicans defeated Bush's immigration bill.)
The lesson is that pols feed on emotions and react to cries and screams of outrage, while not being held accountable for the basic mission statement. I am curious: what is the mission statement for the Az law?

[The Obvious]

American labor is American labor. I agree with Alice about the real results of this type of mob legislation. When legal Americans begin to pick lettuce and onions; the higher wages are NOT going to be absorbed by you friendly grocer. All goods and services will continue to rise in cost and create caos with an already failing economy. Must be the reason most of the elderly "Patriots" flock to Mexico to buy prescription drugs.

[jordan retro 11]

If enterprise is afoot, wealth accumulates whatever may be happening to thrift, and if enterprise is asleep, wealth decays, whatevet thfift may be doing. Do you understand?