Apparently, Alabama’s new immigration bill (HB 56) is causing quite a bit of controversy down south. Alabama Gov. Robert Bentley, who signed the law back in June, said it would not have been needed “if the federal government would have done its jobs and enforced the laws dealing with this problem. However, they have failed to do that.” The federal government has spoken about protecting our borders, but has not really done anything to secure them. Border states have answered the call, but many are under funded and out manned.
“You’re not supposed to be here without documentation. You’re not supposed to be in the United States,” Bentley argues. “And so that’s all we want to do is to make sure that the people that are here, that are working here, do so legally.”
Many feel that the new bill is unconstitutional and threatens “the most basic human needs,” the U.S. Department of Justice said in a court filing. The U.S. Justice Department, under President Obama, has sued Alabama, arguing that enforcing immigration policy is the job of the federal government, not the states. Gov. Bentley says Alabama is just enforcing laws that the federal government has not. He added, “This law was never designed to hurt fellow human beings.”
Sen. Jim DeMint, R-South Carolina, called it “absurd” for an administration “which has failed to enforce the nation’s immigration laws” to try to stop South Carolina, Alabama, and Arizona “from taking commonsense steps to protect citizens and uphold the law.”
“I’m not going to back down from the fact that we need immigration reform in this country,” Bentley says. “Let me tell you, if the federal government would do their job, that’s all we ask. If the federal government would do their job, we wouldn’t, states wouldn’t have to do this. It would not be necessary for Alabama or Georgia or Utah or South Carolina or Arizona or any of these other states to pass immigration bills if the federal government would do their job.”
Among the critics are the farmers that have seen a sudden loss of undocumented workers. The “Help” as they call them have fled the area because of the fear of being deported. Some are moving up north where legislation has yet to be enforced and others are taking the whole family and returning back to Mexico, with no intentions of ever coming back. The farmers are complaining that their business’s are in danger of going under. The argument is that most legal U.S. citizens are not up to the task of working 12-14 hours a day doing backbreaking work for pennies on the dollar.
Alabama passes immigration Bill
Maybe these farmers should step back and think about what they are complaining about. Let’s see, they can’t find anyone willing to work hard labor for hours and hours a day for very little pay? Maybe if they increased the wages and working environment, they could get legals to work for them?
On another note, we as society have gotten lazy and complacent. Our impatience has gotten the best of us and many feel they are above an honest days pay! I remember hearing from my grandma about the Great Depression and how any work they could find was greatly appreciated. The work ethics back then were much stronger than they are now. One guy that did go to work on one of the farms quit after a day and said he would rather return to Applebees to wash dishes.
To ease the adjustment, Bentley has set up a statewide employment hotline for farmers looking for agriculture workers. The site has not produced many willing to work and those that are, have not lasted very long. It seems there is much more to this than the farmers are willing to admit. Would they really care if this law didn’t affect their businesses? Probably not! A new forecast from the University of Alabama estimates the law will cost the state economy at least $40 million in lost revenue overall, but will even out as time goes on.
This goes back to the simple question that no one is willing to ask, why has a government failed its own people enough that they risk life and limb to go to another country with the hope of a better life for themselves and their families. Why has no one called the Mexican Government out about this?? They actually encourage this because they know that those that make it to the U.S. and find work, will send U.S. dollars back to family still in Mexico.
Alabama passes immigration Bill
Our focus should be on comprehensive immigration reform and If this law stands, children will be denied admission to public schools if they can’t prove their citizenship, and schools will be turned into enforcement operations. Poor people of color will be ripped from their families if they are caught in public without their papers in order. Samaritans and people of conscience who employ, harbor or help undocumented workers will be severely punished.
This current system is not working. My heart goes out to undocumented people, looking for an honest buck, but have they gone to their own elected officials first? Is there a movement going on down in Mexico demanding their government to take responsibility for the citizens of that country? No! I don’t mean to sound harsh but the United States is currently NOT in a position to take on another country’s citizens.
November 19, 2011 at 5:57
This is why we need mandatory E-Verify passed and enforced. It’s true that the Federal government has failed all of us in not enforcing our immigration laws. Look at all the problems and unnecessary cost of this illegal immigration. Look at all the anchor babies, (illegal alien children), that the American taxpayer has paid for only to have them go on welfare where we have to keep them. The problems are just overwhelming with these illegal aliens. The problems will all go away when we get rid of all the illegal aliens and their anchor babies, (illegal alien children). THAT IS A FACT! Go ALABAMA! Other states will be joining you.
November 19, 2011 at 5:57
Thanks for the comment Bob! It’s a matter of time before more people will be forced to get involved!!
November 21, 2011 at 5:57
Has everyone seen or heard about the typical American worker, lining up for jobs that are now open after the raids from ICE, leaving wide gaps in staff needs throughout the country. It is obvious to the most prudent of people that if illegal migrants and immigrants fearful of ICE arresting them are fleeing custody. Then business owners really have no choice but to advertise in the local press, or just hang out a hiring sign for legitimate labor? Finally Homeland Security, with the ICE division is sweeping down on criminal companies, who think they exempt from Immigration enforcement. The manifest lightening ICE raids began with the Postville, meatpacking plant in Iowa, when 390 undocumented immigrants were arrested and taken into detention. Soon after the lines grew in volume as Americans turned up for a job opportunity, These are not isolated incidents as other companies have been caught red handed, by the sudden appearance of ICE agents and creating more employment.
This can be accelerated by the ‘The Legal Workforce Act- widely known as E-Verify. It is very distressing that citizens and legal residents must fetch this to the attention of politicians, of a great many who appear to be uninterested to the plight of American workers–that the US government have ignored this illegal alien problem for decades, seemingly denying even the real population size or the massive costs to Americans taxpayers. It’s proven that they just don’t care, or that the interests of Washington lobbyists and the enormity of money flushed into their campaigns by corporations is more important to them than their constituents. Those who enter America illegally are come here for jobs, but are well acquainted in the public entitlement aid structure and are better adapted to use forged ID to get their share of taxpayer dollars–over a hundred billion of those dollars?
A Republican Representative In Decatur, Micky Hammon stated, “The truth is more Alabamians are working today thanks in part to our decision to crack down on illegal immigration.” It is his name on the immigration bill that became law, the Beason-Hammon Alabama Taxpayer and Citizen Protection Act. Birmingham-area unemployment fell by nearly a full percentage point from 8.9% in September to 8% in October. Illegal alien families are leaving, so what other proof do the Congress need to show that immigration works if imposed?
The ‘Legal workforce Act’ like the tough policing laws in Alabama especially; also adopted in a similar fashion in Georgia, Arizona, Indiana and South Carolina, are producing surprising results of foreign nationals moving away to less inhibited states. Sanctuary States like California, Nevada, run by majority leaning Liberals will soon apprehensively find welfare costs will sky rocket. Is it no conjecture that the Democrats, Liberals and the elitist wealthy Republicans are getting uptight, throwing any piece of ambiguous information—whether the racial card or slurs in their newspaper columns of leftist media. In just the last few days was the fact that a German executive from Mercedes Benz Corporation was arrested in Alabama, evidently displays that the new policing laws are working.
I would expect nothing else in immigration enforcement to uphold our laws. The same if the local police pulled me over for a traffic offense, and then I would be ready to display my driving license and insurance card. Both major parties are adamant in ‘business as usual’ so nothing changes for the career policy makers; that are why our country is slipping even deeper in to a recession. These privileged leaders only enforce laws, except where they are of an advantage to their interests. Of late it’s ‘Insider Trading’ that Rep. Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) majority Speaker John Boehner (R-OH) and others hope this blemish will fades away in their Congressional record? Look at the seemingly cover-up in the Obama administration with the massive government guarantee for the ‘Solyndra’s’ solar panel corporation that will cost taxpayers $500.million dollars bailed out once again by taxpayers.
The American people’s own advantage comes in future elections, when we have the opportunity to rid Washington of these rascals. Not only can we vote for more TEA PARTY selected leaders whose main agenda is to repack the US government Departments and return them to the control of the 50 states. Then additionally completely trash the Tax Code, which has been profoundly corrupted giving massive tax liberation of subsidies to thousands of corporations, business and well placed friends of legislators, while the rest of us have to pay the tax-man.
Rep. Smith’s THE LEGAL WORKFORCE ACT’ (H.R.2885.) The ‘Ways and Means Committee led by Majority Speak John Boehner (R-OH) must adopt the Mandatory E-Verify Bill (H.R. 2885.) This would be a great start to cutting down on illegal foreign workers, in every occupation. Call this number at the Washington Switchboard 202-224-3121. Consider that Pro-sovereignty sites as NumbersUSA and hundreds of organizations such as American Patrol, Federation of American Immigration Reform, CAPS, Heritage Foundation and others have the answers on costs, surveys and analysis.