Texas lawmaker to introduce anti-immigration bill similar to Arizona law

[Joanne98]

Source: AP


AUSTIN, Texas – A Republican Texas lawmaker plans to introduce a tough immigration measure similar to the new law in Arizona, a move state Democrats say would be a mistake.

Rep. Debbie Riddle of Tomball said she will push for the law in the January legislative session, according to Wednesday's editions of the San Antonio Express-News and Houston Chronicle.

"The first priority for any elected official is to make sure that the safety and security of Texans is well-established," said Riddle, who introduced a similar measure in 2009 that didn't get out of committee. "If our federal government did their job, then Arizona wouldn't have to take this action, and neither would Texas."

The Arizona law would require local and state law enforcement to question people about their immigration status – and make it a crime for immigrants to lack registration documents.


Read more: http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/news/texassouthwest/stories/042810dnmetimmigrationbill.1185ea0.html

[closeupready]

1. This all started with Prop 8.

Even if the AZ law is deemed unconstitutional, they'll find other ways to strip minorities of their rights.

[slackmaster]

2. Annnnnnnnnnnnnnd, they're off...

[joeybee12]

3. I always thought--believe it or not--Texas wasn't as half-baked as AZ

when it came to immigrants. I don't think this will get anywhere.

[EFerrari]

16. TX almost turned blue in 08, iirc. n/t

[Vogon_Glory]

34. Riddle Is A Particularly Hard-Core Rightie

Riddle's a particularly hard-core rightie. In addition to supporting a Texas version of 1070, she earlier said that public education was a foreign, socialistic idea of the sort put out by the old Soviet Union--ignoring numerous examples of even fairly conservative Texas legislators supporting public education all the way back to the War Between the States.

I expect that that Louis Behrman fellow from Tyler would support her, but then again, Tyler has been known to send particularly obnoxious reactionaries to the State Legislature for over a century.

I like to believe even Texas Republicans would have better sense than to support this law, but I've been unpleasantly surprised at the depths of reaction within the GOP a LOT these last twenty years.

:dem:

:patriot:

[dkf]

4. Isn't it already a crime to lack immigration documents?

All these laws do is mirror federal laws that the Feds aren't enforcing right?

[Soylent Brice]

6. for the 9 millionth time, they are profiling people based on race.

that's what these laws are about.

if you are "BROWN" they will fuck with you. i don't understand how people aren't getting this.

[slackmaster]

7. They aren't doing anything yet

The law hasn't taken effect, and it is not clear that much will change when it does.

[Soylent Brice]

11. there doing already anyways:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x8219314

[slackmaster]

14. That stop was done by federal INS agents

You should read a story before citing it.

[Soylent Brice]

27. ??? who gives a shit if it's INS or Barney Fife?

this happened on the 202 in Phoenix. this isn't exactly a border patrol scenario here. this was a US citizen, a truck driver, driving through phoenix.

there was no reason whatsoever for them to do that. the guy has a CDL. do you have any idea what kind of paperwork you go through to be a truck driver in this country?

DAC reports, MVRs, criminal background checks. the fact the guy had his CDL and his SSN on him was way more than enough proof of citizenship.

[slackmaster]

29. The fact that it was federal agents means it has NOTHING TO DO with AZ law or LEOs

Present or future.

[Tempest]

36. Maricopa County has been racially profiling for some time

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/07/16/AR2008071602636.html

[slackmaster]

40. Which has nothing to do with the topic of the OP or with Arizona's new immigration law

:hi:

[dkf]

12. And if it were randomly checked you would support the law?

Why can't this be like terrorism where you can't simply check the Arabic names. We are all screened at the airports after all.

[EFerrari]

23. But it isn't. n/t

[slackmaster]

26. Correct, it isn't being enforced at all yet

Because the law has not taken effect.

[dkf]

35. My question is would you support it if it was.

My suspicion is most here wouldn't. No one cares about immigration laws. I've come to the conclusion that most Americans could care less if laws are broken in general.

[EFerrari]

37. Your question avoids the topic at issue.

And no one has been more vocal in asking for immigration reform than the Latino community.

ETA images

[dkf]

43. Anyone here illegally wants reform that makes everything they did legal and hunky dory.

Kind of a no brainer. On the other hand they also celebrate zero enforcement as did the geniuses at Lehnan Brothers who disguised their balance sheets and pot smokers who want to toke all day long. They are lawbreakers all.

I think the AZ law can be enforced without profiling so I support enforcement using the same lack of racial profilng that we exercise when looking for terrorists. Yes wall street shenanigans are not the same as illegal immigration or taking drugs but they all fall into the same category for me.

[EFerrari]

44. How do you know what "they" celebrate?

And there is no "lack of racial profiling" in the way we screen for terrorists. People who fit the profile are subjected to all kinds of crap all the time. People have been thrown off flights for wearing t-shirts with Arabic lettering that say "peace".

[pampango]

30. Most of us do get it. I see three possible scenarios here.

1. This turns out to be just republican fear-mongering and playing to their base, but has little on-the-ground effect. For whatever reason, when the law takes effect, the implementation will be so negligible or watered-down that it accomplishes nothing that the republicans actually wanted it to achieve (except for winning some political points for repub politicians with tea baggers). Arizona's politicians may become fearful of law suits, of boycotts, or of not being reelected, so they don't fund enforcement or in some other way keep this from being enforced. If it is not repealed, it will be still be a republican success because it will leave the police with enhanced powers and people more fearful.

2. They really do not racially profile and randomly check the documents of white, blacks, asians and hispanics. If they were really gung ho about enforcement and stopped many people at random, it would be interesting to see how long it takes for the political blow back from citizens (who would be the majority of the people who are checked) who are detained for not having the right documents. Also, inevitably they are going to request documents from a Democrat who thinks this is a horrible and unconstitutional policy and will want to stick it to the republican-controlled state government to get this reversed.

3. They do racially profile. The most likely scenario in my opinion, but others differ. This will diminish the political blow back from white, black and asian citizens in the state, since they won't be directly affected on a regular basis - which is why it is a smarter strategy politically, if not legally and constitutionally. It would be interesting to see if the focus on hispanics scares both illegal immigrants into leaving (either to Mexico or to another state) and hispanic US citizens into just being thankful that their papers are in order so that they can go about their lives.

The bigger the brouhaha becomes over this legislation with threats of boycotts, lawsuits, and demonstrations, with even a few republican politicians distancing themselves from it, and with a lot of bad publicity for the state, the more likely scenario #1 is.

If the law does become effective later this summer and republicans really do want to enforce it, neither #2 or #3 are things I would like to see happen, but it will be interesting to see which path is taken.

[EFerrari]

31. How can Latino citizens just go about their lives

if they are subject to racial harassment at any time?

[pampango]

38. I should have added: "as best they can". I agree it would be difficult to do. n/t

[EFerrari]

39. I guess the Republicans have nothing to lose if AZ's economy goes further south.

I have to wonder how much this is going to cost AZ in just shoppers from Mexico alone!

[MadMaddie]

47. Yes, but it's even more than that my friend! It's about VOTING!!

Jan Brewer was Secretary of State before she was governer.


http://www.gregpalast.com/behind-the-arizona-immigration-lawgop-game-to-swipe-the-november-election/


<snip>
Beginning after the 2004 election, under Brewer's command, no less than 100,000 voters, overwhelmingly Hispanics, were blocked from registering to vote. In 2005, the first year of the Great Brown-Out, one in three Phoenix residents found their registration applications rejected.
<snip>

[EFerrari]

20. No, wrong. And haven't multiple posters explained this to you?

This law criminalizes brown people walking around without some undefinable acceptable identification regardless of their status. That doesn't mirror anything.

[Soylent Brice]

24. THANK YOU.

this place is getting goofy as fuck today.

[Soylent Brice]

5. AZ, MO, TX, who's next?

[slackmaster]

8. Ohio

There was a thread or three about it yesterday.

[Soylent Brice]

13. well,

that's just peachy.

[slackmaster]

25. The red states are like a bunch of monkeys fucking a football

Once one of them does something, they all want to do it.

[Soylent Brice]

28. LOL. that's probably the best analogy i've ever heard.

[EFerrari]

18. OH has a proposed bill. n/t

[Name removed]

9. Deleted message

Sub-thread removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Democat]

10. States rights, smaller government, and crying for help from the feds!

Hypocrites.

[dkf]

15. No they are saying they will do it themselves since the Feds aren't doing anything

Then we scream it is a federal job and the states gave no right to enforce immigration laws.

[No Elephants]

32. Not really. All I've heard and read about is profiling, not federalism.

[EFerrari]

33. The ICE "Safe Communities" program is bigger than ever

so the claim that the Feds aren't doing anything is false.

[Rozlee]

17. The GOP in Texas is actually a bit more conciliatory in trying to woo Hispanics

Even when they're trying to bend us over and screw us with redistricting. I can see where this might take off if Riddle gets enough Teabaggers riled up and keeps pushing it up agressively until November. The GOP, which once considered the Teabaggers their loyal spear carriers, are now being held hostage at the tip of those same spears. What the Teabaggers want, the GOP has to give them. Here in Texas, Chuck effin' Norris could theoretically, whip them up into a frenzy and have the GOP leaders with their backs to a wall, forced to endorse such a bill. I don't think it could happen. It would be political suicide. Texas is a majority-minority state. It tottered on the point of purple in '08. Hispanics would register to vote in droves if it happened. We'd clobber Rethugs in state government for generations and send more Democrats to Congress. But, who knows? Teabaggers are so blinded by their own bigotry and stupidity. And the GOP's got a lip lock on their asses. Like I said, unlikely. But, I think Riddle is going to be a darling to those Teabaggers. Expect to hear more about her.

[MilesColtrane]

46. Re: Energizing the Democratic Latino base.

My thoughts exactly.

The GOP is cutting their own nuts off here.

[Hoopla Phil]

19. If this passes my wife better keep her green card with her.

[bowens43]

21. the fascists/nationalists are goose-stepping across the south

proudly embracing their ignorance, hatred and racism.

It's starting to feel a little like Germany must have felt in 1938.

[MilitarismFTL]

22. When I was living in Texas...

I remember Tomball being the city where a KKK museum was supposed to open up in 2005/2006 or so. Insane.

[Justitia]

41. This will go exactly NOWHERE in TX, just like last time this nut proposed it.

Her anti-Mexican schtick may work for her locally in tiny Tomball, but TX is NOT Arizona.

[classysassy]

42. The fastest

growing minorities in this country will have their day when the gringos are in the minority." Can't wait til tomorrow "

[MilesColtrane]

45. This actually may be good news.

This should bring down an shitstorm on Texas Republicans from angry Latino voters.

I happen to believe that the Arizona law will be struck down as unconstitutional. So besides scaring the hell out of half the country, in the end, it may not be all bad.