How can we guarantee freedom for the hardworking, English-only-speaking American descendants of immigrants in an age of foreign-born, Muslim presidents and the threat of terrorism? Why, enact immigration reform that demands racial profiling, of course. The real threat to American security is, naturally, illegal immigrants. Thanks, Arizona, for showing the rest of us how it's done!
The argument that illegal immigrants threaten the fabric of American society is one that I've frankly never understood. Ignoring the glaringly obvious fact that this nation was founded by a group of immigrants who stole from and killed members of countless Native American tribes, how do their modern-day equivalents pose a greater threat?
I'm not saying we should open the floodgates and forget all about immigration reform; however, laws such as the one recently passed in Arizona are a completely insulting joke, as are the related xenophobic remarks one might encounter emblazoned upon posters at Tea Party rallies. Immigration is a serious issue, particularly in states such as Arizona that typically see the largest number of illegal immigrants from countries in Central America. Nevertheless, it needs to be dealt with rational legislation that will address the issue, not inflame racism and exacerbate the problem.
You'd be hard-pressed to find any sizable contingent to the left of the Tea Party movement in favor of the bill, which is ironic, considering the ruckus this group has raised about individual liberties and their ultimate ideal, the limited role of government in the lives of individuals. Apparently, Obama wants to take away their rights to just about everything (it changes daily, and I've given up trying to figure out what, exactly, they hate him for). But somehow this bill helps protect our independence?
The question becomes, then, how much can this bill really be about guaranteeing freedom? Is it about ensuring liberty for the select few whose families have been in this country for enough generations that they cease to "look foreign"? There is no doubt that this bill will require a heavy dose of racial profiling, so how can it really be about personal liberty? Here's the bottom line: Because the bill specifically targets certain racially identifiable groups of people, it cannot be applied equally across different groups of citizens. It would be a laughable piece of legislation if it weren't so frightening.
Instead, it becomes an exercise in defining what it means to be American. Certain highly specific racial groups will have their citizenship status questioned, lines will inevitably be crossed, and racist boundaries defined. Venerable columnist Eugene Robinson, who writes for The Washington Post, has gone so far as to call the bill possibly unconstitutional, as it gives police the right to search any person they might reasonably suspect of being an illegal immigrant—a perilous clarification, as reasonable suspicion can mean a lot of things.
The legislators who drafted, supported and voted for the bill maintain that it ensures the "safety" of American citizens, which is a complete fallacy. The illegal immigrants who work hard labor for low wages don't pose a threat to the security of our nation—they are, however, consumers of resources paid for by taxpayer dollars, which is one legitimate aspect of immigration reform that must be addressed. Border patrol is a federal responsibility, and Arizona has become fed up with the government's inaction in the matter. Despite this conundrum, this bill will only serve to aggravate the issue and will fail to provide long-lasting, legitimate results.
Ultimately, xenophobia is xenophobia, and this bill perpetuates outdated, medieval attitudes in an increasingly globalized world—to the detriment of American reputation. If illegal immigrants steal jobs from Americans, which they do not, in any large capacity, as the jobs they do manage to obtain are often undesirable and low paying, then large American corporations must similarly stop outsourcing jobs to foreign countries where the labor might be cheaper. This, however, has largely been a non-issue for those members of the Tea Party in support of this bill and a whiter, brighter future.