Hispanic Immigrants

Hispanic immigrants single out any party for undeserved negative treatment or blame for the problems in local communities, from corruption to the overcrowding of schools. Legal immigrants are also victims of this frame of mind despite immigration to not be the original cause or a main aspect in some of these matters.

Immigration was always an issue. Those making up the majority of the population are all immigrants from other nations, descended from those who immigrated here over the course of the previous 400 years. Some areas in which Hispanic immigrants are most numerous were at one point the property of the Hispanic nation of Mexico. Immigrants built this country, and certain segments of the immigrants always accused of ruining this country.

Recently, Arizona, passed a law, SB 1070, which requires the police to question the legal status of those they suspect they do not document the immigrants. Additionally, it sets the official immigration police as 'attrition through enforcement', stating that they intend to be so harsh that immigrants flee in fear (Martinez, 2011).

Currently, the law is on hold do to challenges by the United States Department of Justice for usurping federal jurisdiction on immigration. However, the law has set a horrid precedent, one that has resulted in boycotts that are costing Arizona more than $330 million dollars over the next two to three years (Martinez, 2011).

Similar anti-immigration campaigns are proving to be costly do to such laws being unconstitutional. The Fourth Amendment states "The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized." (Cornell University Law School).

Because 'suspicion' used to determine if someone may be an illegal immigrant amounts to racial profiling, it does not meet the criteria for probable cause. The Judge who blocked the law wrote, "Requiring Arizona law enforcement officials and agencies to determine the immigration status of every person who is arrested burdens lawfully present aliens because their liberty will be restricted while their status is checked." (Archibold, 2010)

The article by Gebe Martinez indicate that several of the laws and policies against immigration are far more costly than any perceived benefits and based on mistaken, prejudiced notions. Additionally, the laws are proving to violate the civil rights of those here legally, including citizens. While the article leans towards the pro-immigration side, the information is obtainable factually without attempts made to sensationalize or misrepresent the information.