More on immigration

The U.S. Supreme Court recently took Arizona's immigration law down a few notches, according to an article by Yahoo! News (see also an excellent Yahoo! blog). A post taken from the real-time conversation-via-Facebook-thread between a Yahoo! reporter and readers summarizes the points the court struck down:

Liz Goodwin Christopher! Hello! The Supreme Court struck down three parts of the law: 1) Making it a state crime for illegal immigrants to seek work 2) Requiring all immigrants to carry their papers or face a state fine 3) Letting police officers arrest people they suspect are in the country illegally and deportable. So, under the Court's decision, local police officers can ask about immigration status, then call the federal government [ICE] and ask them if they want to deport someone. If the federal government says no, they have to let them go.
Monday, June 25, 2012 about an hour ago

Something I never knew/realized:

Liz Goodwin Hi Angelea, you are pointing out exactly what's so complicated about this case! Even though the commonly used term is "illegal immigrant," it's not actually a crime, federal or state, to lack status in this country.[Not true, because technically, a misdemeanor is considered a crime- albeit one of a minor degree.] (It's a misdemeanor to cross the border illegally, and it's not a crime at all to overstay a visa.) So just because an illegal immigrant is deportable, does not mean he or she is a criminal in any sense of the word.[I absolutely agree with this; I only crossed it out because again, it is technically untrue.] Part of the reason why the justices struck down Arizona's law is that it was trying to criminalize certain things, like seeking work if you are an illegal immigrant, that the federal government specifically chose not to criminalize. The justices ruled that states cannot make their own immigration policies, even if they don't like the federal government's.
Monday, June 25, 2012 at 2:28pm

And because I believe in the importance of representing both sides, and am impressed and gratified by the courtesy Angelea shows. May we all take a note from the "just be nice!" (especially while debating sensitive issues) book:

Angelea Thank You Liz..... but I respectfully disagree with your points that it is not a crime to cross the border illegally. We have laws for great reason's and if 'anyone' breaks those laws..... no matter how small some think they are (misdemeanor) it's still 'illegal' and we must enforce all laws of our land.... The Federal Government's law is that there is a process to come to America 'Legally' yet they refuse to enforce it and that's why the problem has... evolved so greatly.....In order for 'Everyone' to have a Fair chance in coming to America..... Everyone must abide by the correct and legal manner in becoming a 'Legal U.S. Citizen'.... for which I myself Welcome with open arms.... but I don't favor cutting in line.... for want of a better way of putting it.....
Monday, June 25, 2012 about an hour ago