Usually if someone does something illegal, they face criminal charges, a lawsuit, or some other law enforcement action. If someone follows the law, then everything is OK. Afterall, the whole basis for having a law is so that people will follow it, right? Now, let’s look at that idea in terms of local governments. Applying the same principle, a state or local government that attempts to follow a federal law, should be in good shape. But those governments which don’t uphold the law should be subject to prosecution and lawsuits, right? Well, maybe in a “normal” country under “normal” circumstances. However, we are in Obama’s world now, and if you try to enforce illegal immigration laws, you will be sued. Ignore them, and you’ll be fine.
The Washington Times reports that the Obama administration “said it will not go after so-called sanctuary cities that refuse to cooperate with the federal government on immigration enforcement, on the grounds that they are not as bad as a state that ‘actively interferes.'” That’s right… as Obama’s team actively tries to shut down Arizona’s new illegal immigration law that simply reiterates federal law, they are ignoring local governments which are actively BREAKING the law.
“There is a big difference between a state or locality saying they are not going to use their resources to enforce a federal law, as so-called sanctuary cities have done, and a state passing its own immigration policy that actively interferes with federal law,” Tracy Schmaler, a spokeswoman for Attorney General Eric H. Holder Jr., told The Washington Times. “That’s what Arizona did in this case.”
So… what federal law is being “interfered with?” Can someone please tell me? All the Arizona law states is that when police pull someone over for a crime that they must request proof of citizenship if they believe the person is an illegal alien. How does that interfere with anything?
“For the Justice Department to suggest that they won’t take action against those who passively violate the law who fail to comply with the law is absurd,” said Rep. Lamar Smith of Texas, the ranking Republican on the House Judiciary Committee and chief author of the 1996 immigration law. “Will they ignore individuals who fail to pay taxes? Will they ignore banking laws that require disclosure of transactions over $10,000? Of course not.”
In the meantime, as “sanctuary cities” receive a pass from the Obama administration, the legal action they are taking against Arizona continues. As if one lawsuit isn’t good enough, Obama’s boys are now threatening a second one. The Washington Times notes that the Obama administration “could file yet another lawsuit against Arizona if it decides racial profiling is taking place under that state’s new immigration law, Attorney General Eric H. Holder Jr. said.”
So, if Holder can’t shut down the Arizona law based on their first lawsuit which states that Arizona’s law “interferes” with federal law, then they will go after them on racial profiling charges. As we all know, this is about politics and not law enforcement. Obama’s agenda means that if there are laws which conflict with his “vision,” then those laws will be ingored. If you try to enforce them, watch out.
Fortunately, several GOP senators are trying to stop the nonsense. According to The Hill, “two Republican senators announced Wednesday they will attempt to amend legislation to prevent the Obama administration from suing Arizona over its controversial immigration law.”
“States like Arizona shouldn’t be prosecuted for protecting their citizens when the federal government fails to do so,” said DeMint said in a statement. “The federal government is rewarding illegal behavior and encouraging many more to enter our nation illegally when they refuse to enforce our laws.”
Whether their amendment to a piece of small-business legislation works to stop the lawsuit remains to be seen, but at least they are attempting to restore some sanity to the Obama administration. If Obama will not only ignore the pleas of Arizona residents but then also sue Arizona for trying to protect itself, then something has to be done.
We are talking about enforcing existing federal laws. Sanctuary cities ignore them. They get a pass. Arizona is attempting to enforce them. They get a whole world of grief.
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