Immigration Enforcement Goes From Bad to Worse in Arizona

Deanna,

How do you put a value on a person's life? How can you isolate people into separate groups, and justify leaving some to abuse without concern about how far that abuse will go, so that you can advocate for others you find worthy? Do you, or I, or anyone, have the status to judge and condemn?

And then there's the moral evil of some laws -- we may not agree about the fairness of these laws; I believe their intent and enforcement, particularly in AZ, makes them immoral, a violation of all both the Old Testament and Jesus himself taught us about being servants, cherishing humility, and "Greater love has no one than this -- that he lay down his life for another."

We become what we live and believe. To be like Christ we're obligated to live as he did -- and does.

There are no other holy perspectives.

The treatment of Jews, Gypsies, and other undesirables in the Third Reich was basically a political matter. Therefore Christians such as Bonhoeffer, Niemoller et. al. should have just stuck to preaching the gospel and let Hitler and his minions do whatever they chose to do with those they deemed undesirable?

Please call Governor Brewer and ask her to VETO SB1070! 602-542-4331 You can call several times each day - and if it is after hours, you can leave a voice mail. After you do that, visit http://act.credoaction.com/campaign/az_immigrat... to send a fax. Then look up Governor Brewer on Facebook and leave messages on her fan page. Her phones have been swamped all day and we need everyone to call! They are counting!

Then...if that isn't enough, Border Action Network has been holding a rally at the State Capitol every Wednesday at noon. Visit http://www.borderaction.org for times and info.

Also...I appreciate your blog. I've been reading it for a couple weeks now. Good stuff!

Unfortunately, many of the comments here are missing the point of what is going. There is no perfect law, but the laws are the laws, and we are a nation that abides by our laws. When someone knowingly breaks the law for whatever justification they may use, it is still breaking the law and there are consequences to breaking the law. When we as lawful citizens support and enforce our laws there will be people that will suffer from that, namely the law-breakers. When people actually read the bill, much of the hysteria surrounding the bill is proven to be false. Racial profiling is strictly prohibited in this bill, although most anyone agrees that since we are a border state here in Arizona and most of the illegal immigration is from Mexico, then the potential for the ones to be asked about their status is more than likely to be Mexican. But here is the major point, laws are not based on color, they are based on principles of a orderly society, and God has commanded us to obey the laws of the land. And since this immigration law is simply a restatement of existing federal law that has not been enforced, it is consistent with the orderly society that we choose to live in. If we were to go to another country such as Mexico and try what is being tried by the pro-illegal groups, there would be no sympathy, only justice and jail time or deportation, period. There is no tolerance for illegal immigration in other countries. Why are we expected to have no laws and no expectations of people coming to our country? We are happy to embrace people of all countries and show God's love to them, but as a dear pastor in the Virgin Islands told me, he has Haitians that illegally immigrate to that country and as they accept Christ and begin a life of discipleship, part of their training is they need to start obeying the law, which requires them to correct their immigration status to become consistent with being a christian. No one is persecuted for religion or anything else in this country. If obeying a law that is consistent with a country and their guidelines is somehow anti-christian, I find it hard to see how Christians can condone law-breaking in the name of Christ.

I don't live in Arizona, but I do live in an immigrant heavy neighborhood (wildly diverse at that, not from a single country or region). I am deeply concerned about the implications for racial profiling that this law entails. This is practically demanding that law enforcement harass any immigrant, or suspected immigrant, at any time. And it gives anyone with a beef against their foreign-born neighbors the chance to sue the police to harass them.
Forget the debate about immigration policy, this law effectively declares open season on any and all foreign born people in this country, and anyone who have the appearance of an immigrant (such as Asian Americans or Hispanic Americans). I hope that it is defeated, or else found unconstitutional because the possible implications are horrifying.

love for anyone, including immigrants, is not a zero-sum equation, we must remember that where sin abounds, grace over abounds. i as an undocumented immigrant benefit from the brilliance of a local chaplain who once wrote "But the universal idealism that informs my Christian theology argues that redemption can't be hoarded, that we are not free from sin so long as the world is engulfed in sin, and that if we want to be redeemed, we must be willing to share that redemption with everyone. To borrow a phrase from Judaism, we must work for "the ...repair of the world." So as we seek to aid the victims of the tsunami, we must seek to aid the victims of war and injustice everywhere. There is an abundance of redemption, and if we can view our enemies in war by the same light with which we view the tsunami victims, than we can share in that abundance."

It is coming time for Christians to harbor innocents being persecuted by the state, at risk of their own liberty.
If there is an economist reading this I challenge you to provide economic justification for anti-immigrant laws. As a graduate student in economics, as far as I know, there are none.
To those of you who don't know economics, don't try to make arguments about economic conditions.
From the Christian perspective, there is no reason at all to respect state borders. They are arbitrary constructs of empire designed as instruments of distinction for the benefit of those in power. Personal boundary lines are to be respected by all individuals, but state and national borders are not personal or collective property.
I hereby declare that I will willingly provide refuge to an illegal immigrant who has not violated the rights of other individuals. You may come and live with me. I will protect you from the INS. Even if I have to go to jail for it.
Other courageous Christians, join me in this declaration!

"for every illegal Mexican...there is a refugee who will not be able to come." This is a simplification and can't technically be true. As they are here illegally, they are not "counted" and the refugee status of someone else has nothing to do with the wait to come to America legally. That wait is directly a result of politics and defined quotas by the government of who can come here. Sponsoring a legal refugee is a wonderful thing to do and I hope more do that. But the people who cross our border (not demanding any "rights" that I know of, in reality they are living in fear constantly but still working as hard as they can...this I know personally) are not trying to steal anyone else's chance...they are simply desperate to work and save their family and their future.

Not that I speak for the author but I heard him speak on NPR about the raids and their nature. Assuming you are a documented or non-documented immigrant, imagine helicopters overhead and ICE agents raiding and arresting people like you, in light of the legislation that cleared the house.
Similarily to Nannygate of a few years ago, I wonder how many of these reps had or still personally used non documented workers. We all have reaped the benefit, if you call it that, from cheap housing and produce among other things.
I am sure Sojo does not support human trafficking and is why previous blogs have supported immigration reform.
Regarding the nature of the law, could you produce evidence of your status as a US citizen on demand, perhaps the long form of your birth certificate? Acusation or assumption

This column starts by mentioning the raid on five shuttle services yesterday (presumably that extra information was added by a Sojourners editor). Given the thrust of the column, can we assume that Sojo is OK with businesses being set up specifically for the purpose of smuggling people across the border illegally, and finds law enforcement efforts to stop them unacceptable?

Thanks for what you do here in Phoenix, Ian. I wonder what the President & Sec. Napolitano think about this bill.

You seem to suggest that everybody who wants to enter the United States legally should be willing to languish in wretched conditions for many years - or die waiting for an opportunity to feed their families. This time lag encourages illegal entry because of the desperation. Fairness is not in making everyone contend with misery, but in making it possible for people who are willing to contribute, support their families, and lend their expertise to this country to make use of their skills as immigrants have in the past. Unfortunately, the poem at the base of the Statue of Liberty seems only to apply to Europeans - the statue faces out toward the Atlantic. The "least of these" include ALL the "huddled masses yearning to breathe free."

I guess it's easier to love your neighbor across the ocean than it is to love your neighbor across the river.

"How do you put a value on a person's life?" Actuaries do it all the time. What's the problem?

Thanks for the good argument, Ian. I appreciate hearing your well thought-out perspective on this.

"for every illegal Mexican...there is a refugee who will not be able to come." This is a simplification and can't technically be true. As they are here illegally, they are not "counted" and the refugee status of someone else has nothing to do with the wait to come to America legally. That wait is directly a result of politics and defined quotas by the government of who can come here. Sponsoring a legal refugee is a wonderful thing to do and I hope more do that. But the people who cross our border (not demanding any "rights" that I know of, in reality they are living in fear constantly but still working as hard as they can...this I know personally) are not trying to steal anyone else's chance...they are simply desperate to work and save their family and their future.

Not that I speak for the author but I heard him speak on NPR about the raids and their nature. Assuming you are a documented or non-documented immigrant, imagine helicopters overhead and ICE agents raiding and arresting people like you, in light of the legislation that cleared the house.
Similarily to Nannygate of a few years ago, I wonder how many of these reps had or still personally used non documented workers. We all have reaped the benefit, if you call it that, from cheap housing and produce among other things.
I am sure Sojo does not support human trafficking and is why previous blogs have supported immigration reform.
Regarding the nature of the law, could you produce evidence of your status as a US citizen on demand, perhaps the long form of your birth certificate? Acusation or assumption

As someone who lives in Arizona currently I was in no way surprised by this bogus legislation. Illegal (or otherwise)immigrants are blamed for everything known to humanity, I am surprised they aren't to blame for the recent spate of earthquakes. This has to be the most regressive state, well at least one of them. Unfortunately I still live here, hopefully soon I can say I don't.

Deanna,

How do you put a value on a person's life? How can you isolate people into separate groups, and justify leaving some to abuse without concern about how far that abuse will go, so that you can advocate for others you find worthy? Do you, or I, or anyone, have the status to judge and condemn?

And then there's the moral evil of some laws -- we may not agree about the fairness of these laws; I believe their intent and enforcement, particularly in AZ, makes them immoral, a violation of all both the Old Testament and Jesus himself taught us about being servants, cherishing humility, and "Greater love has no one than this -- that he lay down his life for another."

We become what we live and believe. To be like Christ we're obligated to live as he did -- and does.

There are no other holy perspectives.

Unfortunately, many of the comments here are missing the point of what is going. There is no perfect law, but the laws are the laws, and we are a nation that abides by our laws. When someone knowingly breaks the law for whatever justification they may use, it is still breaking the law and there are consequences to breaking the law. When we as lawful citizens support and enforce our laws there will be people that will suffer from that, namely the law-breakers. When people actually read the bill, much of the hysteria surrounding the bill is proven to be false. Racial profiling is strictly prohibited in this bill, although most anyone agrees that since we are a border state here in Arizona and most of the illegal immigration is from Mexico, then the potential for the ones to be asked about their status is more than likely to be Mexican. But here is the major point, laws are not based on color, they are based on principles of a orderly society, and God has commanded us to obey the laws of the land. And since this immigration law is simply a restatement of existing federal law that has not been enforced, it is consistent with the orderly society that we choose to live in. If we were to go to another country such as Mexico and try what is being tried by the pro-illegal groups, there would be no sympathy, only justice and jail time or deportation, period. There is no tolerance for illegal immigration in other countries. Why are we expected to have no laws and no expectations of people coming to our country? We are happy to embrace people of all countries and show God's love to them, but as a dear pastor in the Virgin Islands told me, he has Haitians that illegally immigrate to that country and as they accept Christ and begin a life of discipleship, part of their training is they need to start obeying the law, which requires them to correct their immigration status to become consistent with being a christian. No one is persecuted for religion or anything else in this country. If obeying a law that is consistent with a country and their guidelines is somehow anti-christian, I find it hard to see how Christians can condone law-breaking in the name of Christ.

Tens of thousands of people legally travel across international borders every day, the US-Mexico border too, to engage in commerce, family business, missionary work, and many other things. To the extent that any person or group of people is engaged human trafficking or smuggling, it should be stopped and the perpetrators punished. But to assume that companies who operate bus services are "smuggling services" is ridiculous beyond the imagination. Instead of just making this stuff up, commenters may want visit and listen to the people most affected by all of this.

Please call Governor Brewer and ask her to VETO SB1070! 602-542-4331 You can call several times each day - and if it is after hours, you can leave a voice mail. After you do that, visit http://act.credoaction.com/campaign/az_immigrat... to send a fax. Then look up Governor Brewer on Facebook and leave messages on her fan page. Her phones have been swamped all day and we need everyone to call! They are counting!

Then...if that isn't enough, Border Action Network has been holding a rally at the State Capitol every Wednesday at noon. Visit http://www.borderaction.org for times and info.

Also...I appreciate your blog. I've been reading it for a couple weeks now. Good stuff!

You seem to suggest that everybody who wants to enter the United States legally should be willing to languish in wretched conditions for many years - or die waiting for an opportunity to feed their families. This time lag encourages illegal entry because of the desperation. Fairness is not in making everyone contend with misery, but in making it possible for people who are willing to contribute, support their families, and lend their expertise to this country to make use of their skills as immigrants have in the past. Unfortunately, the poem at the base of the Statue of Liberty seems only to apply to Europeans - the statue faces out toward the Atlantic. The "least of these" include ALL the "huddled masses yearning to breathe free."

Ian, get with the program!! AZ is enforcing federal law. This is not an anti immigrant bill, it is an anti ILLEGAL immigrant bill. As a legal immigrant myself I applause it. I think it is a step in the right direction. The very fact that someone is in the country illegally means they are a criminal de facto. What don't you understand about that? Can you articulate why you support breaking the law?

Thanks