Paul Mauro: Baumgardner should learn from Arizona visit
Wednesday, September 1, 2010
Steamboat Springs — I spend half of my year in Arizona, so I read with interest the article about Rep. Randy Baumgardner’s recent visit to Arizona (“Border trip spurs debate,” Aug. 27, 2010, Steamboat Today). I wish to thank him for the trip because he helped the tourism industry that is in desperate straits since the passage of the new immigration law SB 1070. The new law in Arizona is not going to accomplish what many across the U.S. think it will. Nor will it do anything for the real problem with security at the border. I hope Mr. Baumgardner learned that.
First, it already is against federal law to be in the United States illegally. Arizona didn’t need a new law for that; it already is on the books. Second, police already had the power to detain individuals suspected of being here illegally. The controversial Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio has been chasing illegals for years.
So what did the law add to the arsenal for security? It requires police to ask for papers. Because police already had the power to ask for papers, some police jurisdictions have opposed the law. They believe this requires them to do time-consuming searches, often for no value. And because they are not likely to stop Canadian visitors — or Coloradans for that matter — to check their passports, the law has raised the specter of profiling brown-toned people only.
The main problem with the law is it doesn’t address the real problem. Illegals running through the desert aspiring to become bus boys or lettuce pickers in Phoenix might be an irritant, but they are not dangerous. These people don’t kill border patrol or police officers, they run from them. And they don’t disturb residents except to beg for water. Besides, if you really wanted to stop these incursions, you would merely enforce the existing law that penalizes employers for hiring illegals. The dominant Arizona newspaper did a recent survey and found that only one-third of Arizona employers are using the eVerify system to check the immigration status of job applicants. Again, no new law necessary. It’s simple: no jobs available, no illegal immigration.
The real problem is the drug cartels. They will resort to killing to protect their merchandise. A new law that says you must ask for papers doesn’t help here because you won’t get close to these people. The cartels are way too sophisticated and well-financed to climb over fences and sneak through the desert on foot. Experts who have examined this issue have offered that the way to stop the drug runners is to seize their money, stop the reverse flow of weapons into Mexico, and attack the drug sales (the demand end of the supply-and-demand curve). SB 1070 does absolutely nothing to help this. In fact, perversely, Arizona is simultaneously relaxing gun laws, thus making it easier for drug runners to obtain and transport weapons.
This all hit the fan as a result of a single murder in southern Arizona. While the murder was deplorable, it is not believed to be the action of future bus boys. Local police believe it’s related to drugs. As one reporter noted: “If an illegal immigrant did murder Krentz, it would be the first time in more than a decade that a migrant has killed an American along the border’s Tucson, Ariz., sector” (Tim Padgett, July 30, 2010, Arizona Republic). What is different during the past 10 years is the drug running into the U.S. The Arizona Legislature overreacted by passing SB 1070. It might feel good, but it is ineffective and unnecessary — and mostly redundant.
I hope when, and if, Baumgardner goes to the Colorado Legislature, he doesn’t lead them to make the same mistake Arizona made with SB 1070. Police action to stop the flow of drugs and drug runners is what is needed.
Comments
pitpoodle 2 years, 8 months ago
I hope Mr. Baumgardner joins the CO legislature. According to a June 2010 Denver Post poll, 61% of residents support the AZ-style immigration law, as do 62 % of CO hispanics. Here are some reason why people support it. In AZ, immigration has quadrupled from 115,000 in 1996 to 500,000 + raising not only population but costs of healthcare, prisons, schools, law enforcement, solid waste facilities (to name a few) for residents and diminishing their quality of life. Eventhough AZ has decreased their water usage by 26% since 2000, this increased population has diminished water supplies. Surface water supplies are completely allocated and groundwater is being used at an unsustainable rate. Traffic and air quality are huge problems. Wilderness areas and national parks are suffering because of trash and human waste by illegals who leave an estimated 8 lbs per person adding to soil and water quality issues. Hospitals and healthcare sources take $150m yearly to care for illegals. Who pays for this? Not the illegals nor the fed govt. In one county, 37 cents of every dollar is spent by residents to support illegals. Medical treatment alone accounts for 10% of the budget. When AZ requested reimbursement by the fed govt of $41 m they received $16m (that would come from me and you. Who ponies up for the rest of costs? Residents. So while stopping the flow of drugs and violence would be nice, AZ residents are concerned about their pocketbooks and quality of life. I don't blame them. Perhaps Mr. Baumgardner will protect Colorado's interests.
George Fargo 2 years, 8 months ago
Paul - thank you for an intelligent summary of a complex problem. I spend a fair amount of time on the Tex/Mex border and see many sides of this issue. But we continue to treat the symptoms (redundant laws and fences) instead of the disease (lucrative employment opportunities). When the existing laws against hiring and providing housing for illegals are enforced, the flow will slow to a trickle.
seeuski 2 years, 8 months ago
This writer is so disingenuous that it is silly to waste time posting here. The news is aflame with the recent ICE memo that orders illegals be left alone and set free. It is being called back door amnesty, and while OUR POTUS is ordering his minions at the State Department to turn in Arizona to the UN they are filing lawsuit after lawsuit against that State. This is the most despicable act of Federal aggression towards Citizens of the US by a POTUS EVER! The UN with Libya and Iran on this panel? Are you kidding me? Our Government is purposely leaving the border open, ordering ICE to stand down and then attacking it's own Citizens in the World court, disgraceful. Thanks to Randy Baumgardner for doing the peoples work and standing up for the sovereignty of the USA.
seeuski 2 years, 8 months ago
And I hope someone in Congress orders an investigation as to who is blowing up our oil rigs in the Gulf. Once, maybe but two explosions in one Season after some 5 decades of drilling is now obviously suspicious. If the White House starts sounding the trumpet for cap and tax laws that will do it for me, especially sense it is becoming clear that they are about to lose the Congress on November 2nd and the ability to shove those laws down our throats like they did with Health care. Very suspicious.
Matthew Stoddard 2 years, 8 months ago
Someone is blowing up oil rigs in the gulf? Why ask, but where is your proof? Oh wait! Here it is: http://www.foxnews.com/us/2010/06/14/days-explosion-bp-engineer-called-deepwater-horizon-nightmare/
Looks like BP was blowing up their own wells by cutting costs on many safety measures. (Not the first time for this for BP, either)
On today's, it looks like while Mariner's record isn't as bad as BP's, they also have had a couple of violations. http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/2010-09-02-oil-rig-explosion_N.htm?csp=34news
So, of course the idiot thinks it's a conspiracy instead of relaxed oil rig safety laws and incompetent inspectors. Basically, Palin's "Drill, baby, spill" is the cause for it. Thanks for bringing us up to date.
Here's a little learnin' for you:
http://www.google.com/#q=timeline+oil+rig+safety+law&hl=en&tbs=tl:1&tbo=u&ei=8B-ATNj2C8TGnAfL-txa&sa=X&oi=timeline_result&ct=title&resnum=11&ved=0CDcQ5wIwCg&fp=696297088623de2b
sledneck 2 years, 8 months ago
Ma-Deuce on a 20' high wall.
Problem solved.
Scott Berry 2 years, 8 months ago
gaf---Obama has successfully killed all the lucrative jobs already! So, why do the cartels still want to bring bodies and drugs across the border? Just wondering.
pitpoodle 2 years, 8 months ago
Just one more comment to Mr. Mauro. I hope you pay an appropriate amount of the tax base during your stay in AZ to cover your portion to support the illegals you seem to advocate living there. From your comments, we wonder whether you think your responsibility is only to say let full-time residents pay financially and let them give up their quality of life while you hide out in Steamboat for six months at a time. Maybe your philosophy is to let the govt do it and take no responsibility at all?
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