“What is your immigration status?”
Those words will now be uttered by government employees in Arizona to any suspected illegal alien seeking welfare, thanks to a judge who lifted a restraining order against voter-approved (56 percent) Proposition 200:
A federal judge on Wednesday lifted an order barring Proposition 200 from becoming law, clearing the way for state, county and municipal employees to immediately start reporting to immigration authorities suspected undocumented immigrants seeking public benefits.U.S. District Judge David Bury’s decision allowed Gov. Janet Napolitano to issue an executive order enacting the controversial voter-approved legislation Wednesday afternoon. The decision left some municipal officials across the Valley and state scrambling to prepare workers who will be required to ask all who apply for public welfare benefits for proof of citizenship. (Source)
Scramble on! It’s about time the will of the people was upheld. The costs of illegal immigration are straining Arizona.
Even the New York Times agrees. But don’t take my word for it since my bias is showing. Read it yourself:
- $150 million annually to treat illegal aliens — “Increasingly frustrated with millions of dollars in uncompensated care, University Medical Center (Tucson) hospital administrators are reporting uninsured immigrants who don’t pay their medical bills to immigration officials. UMC incurred $3.3 million in immigrants’ unpaid bills in one four-month period in 2003. At least three Arizona hospitals are sending bill collectors into Mexico to try to obtain payment.”
Just like California, health care for illegal aliens is bankrupting the state. Some hospitals and clinics have had to reduce services because of the burden of treating non-citizens with no insurance. It’s American citizens in Arizona who get the shaft.
- $187 million annually to educate illegal immigrant students
- 10 percent of Arizona’s prison population are illegal aliens, criminals who shouldn’t even be here in the first place! We’ve got enough home-grown crime. We don’t need to import it.
Millions, billions, 10 percent, 20 percent. It’s all so abstract, isn’t it? People who support open borders and the like don’t seem to get it. That money comes from you and me, not a government money tree growing on Capitol Hill. Even the folks over at Defeat Prop 200 are concerned about taxpayers:
Prop 200 will cost Arizona taxpayers millions of dollars to implement. State, County and City employees will have to be trained to become immigration officials. Prosecuting and incarcerating public employees will be expensive. The state will become embroiled in costly lawsuits.
How sweet.
An illegal alien living illegally in Arizona says you’re all racists for supporting Proposition 200. I guess that includes me. He whines:
“I think it’s racist,” Garcia said. “They don’t understand if (undocumented immigrants) receive help, it’s not for them, it’s for the kids who are U.S. citizens. They’re trying to put pressure on immigrants, and it’s very dangerous…because some won’t seek help.”
Garcia is quite the role model for his children. Break U.S. law, enter the U.S. illegally, then complain when U.S. immigration law is enforced and you get caught. You think America enforcing its laws is dangerous and racist, Mr. Garcia? Then go back to Mexico. The border’s wide open, as you well know. Have a safe trip. Give Vicente my love!
Some think it’s “un-Christian” of me to be so strongly pro-enforcement. It’s ironic. What could be more un-Christian (unbiblical is a better word) than allowing the guilty to profit from their crimes? While my words may sound harsh, they’re no harsher than the burden Americans have had to shoulder to support lawbreakers who have no respect for American law but seek only the benefits of a free and generous land. To them, the United States is a tree in full bloom, ripe for picking.
When pandering politicians spend billions of our dollars on millions of people who cross our borders without going the through the proper channels and should be deported as a consequence, we the people have a right to complain and demand reform. Breaking state-funded health care and educational systems at the expense of Americans is immoral.
May similar Proposition 200s propagate across our land.
Addendum: I forgot an important fact. Forty-seven percent of Hispanic voters said YES to Proposition 200. (Hat tip: Digger’s Realm).
In her latest column, Michelle Malkin addresses homeland “insecurity,” as well as amnesty for illegal aliens.
Update: For people who’ve e-mailed me in the past couple of days, I’ll respond by tomorrow. I promise!
