End of Sanctuaries

We hope this Arizona law is the start of a trend:

• The new law, which will take effect in late July or early August, was cheered by many, including Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio, whose tough crackdowns have made him a hero in the anti-illegal immigration community. He said it gives him new authority to detain undocumented migrants who aren't accused of committing any other crimes.
  
  "Now if we show they're illegal, we can actually arrest them and put them in our jails," Arpaio said.
  
  Current law in Arizona and most states doesn't require police to ask about the immigration status of those they come across, and many departments prohibit officers from inquiring out of fear immigrants won't report crime or cooperate in other investigations.
  
  Now, police departments seen as weak on illegal immigration could face lawsuits. The new measure also toughens restrictions on hiring illegal immigrants for day labor and knowingly transporting them.

You'll never guess where the most outrage is being expressed:

• Chicago Democrat Luis Gutierrez, chairman of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus, has been especially vocal as the measure -- which will require local police officers to question people about their immigration status if there is reason to suspect they are illegal immigrants-- wound its way through the Arizona Legislature.

  The law makes it "open season on the Latino community in Arizona," Gutierrez said, describing it as "an insult to American justice and one of the harshest assaults on basic civil rights in recent American history."

• Gutierrez plans to attend a rally in Phoenix on Sunday to "let the people of Arizona know that they are not alone in fighting against bigotry and hatred."

Um, Luis? Doesn't part of your District fall into that "9%" J-Fled was talking about? Aren't there more pressing local issues for you to be dealing with, rather than Arizona's?

And it isn't "open season" on anyone Luis - these people are illegal, and it certainly isn't just Latinos as you allege. They broke the law. They should be jailed and then deported. Constitutional protections apply to citizens. Illegals can still be treated humanely and properly within the bounds of United States law, but calling it an "assault on basic civil rights" completely stands on it's head what civil rights actually are.

If you're looking to assist your local ICE agents, you can contact them at 101 West Congress Parkway, Suite 4000, Chicago, Illinois 60605, (312) 347-2400.