I am bald. Does that mean that I'm a neo-Nazi skinhead?
I am tall. Does that mean I'm a basketball player?
I am white. Does that mean that I'm an illegal immigrant?
The majority of Arizona citizens believe the new legal (and possibly unconstitutional) push towards reducing illegal immigration is a winner. [But then again, millions love Celine Dion.] The biggest issue in Arizona Senate Bill 1070 (section B) refers to "reasonable suspicion exists that a person is an alien," and it's hard to think that the key to determining that suspicion won't be skin color.
Anyway, I'll let you decide:
(B) FOR ANY LAWFUL CONTACT MADE BY A LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICIAL OR A LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCY OF THIS STATE OR A LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICIAL OR A LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCY OF A COUNTY, CITY, TOWN OR OTHER POLITICAL SUBDIVISION OF THIS STATE WHERE REASONABLE SUSPICION EXISTS THAT THE PERSON IS AN ALIEN WHO IS UNLAWFULLY PRESENT IN THE UNITED STATES, A REASONABLE ATTEMPT SHALL BE MADE, WHEN PRACTICABLE, TO DETERMINE THE IMMIGRATION STATUS OF THE PERSON, EXCEPT IF THE DETERMINATION MAY HINDER OR OBSTRUCT AN INVESTIGATION. ANY PERSON WHO IS ARRESTED SHALL HAVE THE PERSON'S IMMIGRATION STATUS DETERMINED BEFORE THE PERSON IS RELEASED. THE PERSON'S IMMIGRATION STATUS SHALL BE VERIFIED WITH THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT PURSUANT TO 8 UNITED STATES CODE SECTION 1373(c). A LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICIAL OR AGENCY OF THIS STATE OR A COUNTY, CITY, TOWN OR OTHER POLITICAL SUBDIVISION OF THIS STATE MAY NOT SOLELY CONSIDER RACE, COLOR OR NATIONAL ORIGIN IN IMPLEMENTING THE REQUIREMENTS OF THIS SUBSECTION EXCEPT TO THE EXTENT PERMITTED BY THE UNITED STATES OR ARIZONA CONSTITUTION. A PERSON IS PRESUMED TO NOT BE AN ALIEN WHO IS UNLAWFULLY PRESENT IN THE UNITED STATES IF THE PERSON PROVIDES TO THE LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICER OR AGENCY ANY OF THE FOLLOWING:
1. A VALID ARIZONA DRIVER LICENSE.
2. A VALID ARIZONA NONOPERATING IDENTIFICATION LICENSE.
3. A VALID TRIBAL ENROLLMENT CARD OR OTHER FORM OF TRIBAL IDENTIFICATION.
4. IF THE ENTITY REQUIRES PROOF OF LEGAL PRESENCE IN THE UNITED STATES BEFORE ISSUANCE, ANY VALID UNITED STATES FEDERAL, STATE OR LOCAL GOVERNMENT ISSUED IDENTIFICATION
Here is the complete bill.
In Arizona, Hispanics account for 16% ($31.1 billion) of the state's total buying power. Nationwide, Hispanics account for 8.9% ($951 billion) of total U.S. purchasing power.
Immigrants pay sales, property, and income taxes, and the Social Security Administration estimates that three quarters of undocumented immigrants pay payroll taxes. (Source: Eduardo Porter, "Illegal Immigrants are Bolstering Social Security with Billions," New York Times, April 5, 2005)
The average immigrant pays $1,800 more in taxes than she receives in public benefits, according to a landmark study by the National Research Council and National Academy of Sciences. Over their lifetimes, the average immigrant and her immediate descendants contribute $80,000 more in taxes than they receive in benefits. (Source: James P. Smith & Barry Edmonston, Editors, The New Americans: Economic, Demographic, and Fiscal Effects of Immigration. Washington, DC: National Research Council, National Academy of Sciences Press (1997) p 349, p 351)
The non-partisan Congressional Budget Office reports that in aggregate and over the long term, tax revenues of all types generated by immigrants -- both legal and unauthorized -- exceed the costs of the services they use." However, the federal government does not always share this tax revenue with state and local governments in proportion to the services immigrants use. (Source: "The Impact of Unauthorized Immigrants on the Budgets of State and Local Governments," Congressional Budget Office, 2007)
Undocumented immigrants contribute $7 billion a year in Social Security taxes even though they cannot claim benefits from this program. (Source: Randolph Capps and Michael E. Fix, "Undocumented Immigrants: Myths and Reality," The Urban Institute, 2005)
At current immigration levels, new immigrants entering the U.S. will provide an estimated net benefit of $407 billion to the Social Security system over the next 50 years. (Source: Stuart Anderson, "The Contribution of Legal Immigration to the Social Security System," National Foundation for American Policy, 2005)
Immigration is a significant contributor to the rapid growth of the Hispanic and Asian-American consumer markets, which together accounted for an estimated $1.46 trillion in buying power in 2008. (Source: Jeffrey M. Humprheys, "The Multicultural Economy 2008," Selig Center for Economic Growth, University of Georgia, 2008)
Immigrant consumers will be particularly critical in reviving the nation's devastated housing market, according to Harvard University's Joint Center on Housing Studies. They reveal that immigration contributed to over 40 percent of net household formations between 2000 and 2005. (Source: Joint Center for Housing Studies of Harvard University, "The State of the Nation's Housing 2009," and "The State of the Nation's Housing 2007")
I am tall. Does that mean I'm a basketball player?
I am white. Does that mean that I'm an illegal immigrant?
The majority of Arizona citizens believe the new legal (and possibly unconstitutional) push towards reducing illegal immigration is a winner. [But then again, millions love Celine Dion.] The biggest issue in Arizona Senate Bill 1070 (section B) refers to "reasonable suspicion exists that a person is an alien," and it's hard to think that the key to determining that suspicion won't be skin color.
Anyway, I'll let you decide:
(B) FOR ANY LAWFUL CONTACT MADE BY A LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICIAL OR A LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCY OF THIS STATE OR A LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICIAL OR A LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCY OF A COUNTY, CITY, TOWN OR OTHER POLITICAL SUBDIVISION OF THIS STATE WHERE REASONABLE SUSPICION EXISTS THAT THE PERSON IS AN ALIEN WHO IS UNLAWFULLY PRESENT IN THE UNITED STATES, A REASONABLE ATTEMPT SHALL BE MADE, WHEN PRACTICABLE, TO DETERMINE THE IMMIGRATION STATUS OF THE PERSON, EXCEPT IF THE DETERMINATION MAY HINDER OR OBSTRUCT AN INVESTIGATION. ANY PERSON WHO IS ARRESTED SHALL HAVE THE PERSON'S IMMIGRATION STATUS DETERMINED BEFORE THE PERSON IS RELEASED. THE PERSON'S IMMIGRATION STATUS SHALL BE VERIFIED WITH THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT PURSUANT TO 8 UNITED STATES CODE SECTION 1373(c). A LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICIAL OR AGENCY OF THIS STATE OR A COUNTY, CITY, TOWN OR OTHER POLITICAL SUBDIVISION OF THIS STATE MAY NOT SOLELY CONSIDER RACE, COLOR OR NATIONAL ORIGIN IN IMPLEMENTING THE REQUIREMENTS OF THIS SUBSECTION EXCEPT TO THE EXTENT PERMITTED BY THE UNITED STATES OR ARIZONA CONSTITUTION. A PERSON IS PRESUMED TO NOT BE AN ALIEN WHO IS UNLAWFULLY PRESENT IN THE UNITED STATES IF THE PERSON PROVIDES TO THE LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICER OR AGENCY ANY OF THE FOLLOWING:
1. A VALID ARIZONA DRIVER LICENSE.
2. A VALID ARIZONA NONOPERATING IDENTIFICATION LICENSE.
3. A VALID TRIBAL ENROLLMENT CARD OR OTHER FORM OF TRIBAL IDENTIFICATION.
4. IF THE ENTITY REQUIRES PROOF OF LEGAL PRESENCE IN THE UNITED STATES BEFORE ISSUANCE, ANY VALID UNITED STATES FEDERAL, STATE OR LOCAL GOVERNMENT ISSUED IDENTIFICATION
Here is the complete bill.
And some other things to consider, too:
In Arizona, Hispanics account for 16% ($31.1 billion) of the state's total buying power. Nationwide, Hispanics account for 8.9% ($951 billion) of total U.S. purchasing power.
Immigrants pay sales, property, and income taxes, and the Social Security Administration estimates that three quarters of undocumented immigrants pay payroll taxes. (Source: Eduardo Porter, "Illegal Immigrants are Bolstering Social Security with Billions," New York Times, April 5, 2005)
The average immigrant pays $1,800 more in taxes than she receives in public benefits, according to a landmark study by the National Research Council and National Academy of Sciences. Over their lifetimes, the average immigrant and her immediate descendants contribute $80,000 more in taxes than they receive in benefits. (Source: James P. Smith & Barry Edmonston, Editors, The New Americans: Economic, Demographic, and Fiscal Effects of Immigration. Washington, DC: National Research Council, National Academy of Sciences Press (1997) p 349, p 351)
The non-partisan Congressional Budget Office reports that in aggregate and over the long term, tax revenues of all types generated by immigrants -- both legal and unauthorized -- exceed the costs of the services they use." However, the federal government does not always share this tax revenue with state and local governments in proportion to the services immigrants use. (Source: "The Impact of Unauthorized Immigrants on the Budgets of State and Local Governments," Congressional Budget Office, 2007)
Undocumented immigrants contribute $7 billion a year in Social Security taxes even though they cannot claim benefits from this program. (Source: Randolph Capps and Michael E. Fix, "Undocumented Immigrants: Myths and Reality," The Urban Institute, 2005)
At current immigration levels, new immigrants entering the U.S. will provide an estimated net benefit of $407 billion to the Social Security system over the next 50 years. (Source: Stuart Anderson, "The Contribution of Legal Immigration to the Social Security System," National Foundation for American Policy, 2005)
Immigration is a significant contributor to the rapid growth of the Hispanic and Asian-American consumer markets, which together accounted for an estimated $1.46 trillion in buying power in 2008. (Source: Jeffrey M. Humprheys, "The Multicultural Economy 2008," Selig Center for Economic Growth, University of Georgia, 2008)
Immigrant consumers will be particularly critical in reviving the nation's devastated housing market, according to Harvard University's Joint Center on Housing Studies. They reveal that immigration contributed to over 40 percent of net household formations between 2000 and 2005. (Source: Joint Center for Housing Studies of Harvard University, "The State of the Nation's Housing 2009," and "The State of the Nation's Housing 2007")
Perhaps there are better strategies available to decrease American demand for psychoactive drugs and cheap labor. Because the Arizona initiative looks pretty dehumanizing and un-American to me.
[Special thanks to the Lefsetz Letter for putting the facts in order for me.]
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