USA - Racism and farm workers

AT ISSUE: A bill recently passed by the Arizona Legislature and signed into law by its governor, Jan Brewer, continues to make the headlines across the country, even though the law doesn’t even go into effect until July 29. Basically, what it says is this: It authorizes police officers who have stopped someone in connection with another possible violation to check the citizenship of anyone they believe might be in our country illegally. It also expressly prohibits any type of racial profiling. Should South Dakota concern itself with such a law?

AT LAST COUNT, 20 or so states are considering similar laws that, in effect, outlaws illegal aliens within their borders. Then, add to that the number of communities across these United States that have or are attempting to have ordinances that make it illegal to hire or rent to illegal aliens.

Total this all up and what have we got? It is a growing national debate on illegal immigration, pointed primarily at those Hispanics from south of our national border, but to all other illegal aliens as well. Fremont, in our neighboring state of Nebraska, is the latest city to pass an ordinance by a 57 percent vote to make it illegal to rent to or hire an illegal alien.

But we cannot forget that the new law has its detractors as well. There are at least five lawsuits filed against the state of Arizona and that doesn’t even consider the one that came last week from the federal government. Nor does it include a promised lawsuit from the American Civil Liberties Union. It does include a lawsuit filed June 22 by none other than Mexico, itself.

MEXICO HAS ASKED a federal court in Arizona to declare that state’s new immigration law unconstitutional. It argues that the country’s own interests and its citizens’ rights are at state, believe it or not. Its lawyers contend that Mexico has a legitimate interest in defending its citizens’ rights and the Arizona law would lead to racial profiling and hinder trade and tourism.

According to The Associated Press, “citing ‘grave concerns,’ Mexico said its interest in having predictable, consistent relations with the United States shouldn’t be frustrated by one U.S. state.”