Arizona Law Protestors Hit the Streets

Can someone please remind the "factually challenged Professor" that although we ARE a country of immigrants the great majority came here by following the rules. Maybe he should pursue a tenure track position at a Mexican University where he can advocate breaking
Mexican law at the state's expense !

William Robinson is right when he says immigrants contribute to the economy. No one is contesting the fact that immigrants have been the back bone of this country for generations. We are a nation of immigrants and proud of it. However, ILLEGAL immigration is the problem and it's contribution to the financial drain of the country and this state. He needs to do some research into this, as do the misguided protesting students. Those very students who no doubt have been protesting against rising fees and dropping classes. The results would surprise them. If Robinson lacks tenure he should also be aware of the reality of imminent lay-offs in the UC system.

Try to get into any other country in the world without a passport and/or papers and you'd soon be staring at the stars through bars. And that's the truth.

Ah, the ignorance of youth. The Arizona law (have you read it? No excuses, now - it's only 17 pages - a simple Google will reveal it's full text) is simply a restatement of existing federal law. As to the argument that this country was built by immigrants, there is a big difference between then and how - the immigrants that settled this country were LEGAL immigrants who came from Europe, not for the welfare, but to work and build new lives. They didn't come for the free schools and free health care (for them, that is - I have to pay for mine).

Calderon is one of the great hypocrites of all time - complaining about Arizona's (i.e. the ENTIRE US's) immigration law while presiding over much more stringent law in his own country.

News Flash - the US should not be the welfare department for Mexico.

According to the article, these protestors want Santa Barbara to be a sanctuary for illegals immigrants. I thought we are already a sanctuary for homeless, gang members and marijuana dispensaries? Do we want to take more illegal immigrants? Sounds like these protestors stop by the dispensary on the way to the courthouse.

Nothing will alter the facts. There is no problem with legal immigration. There never has been. There never will be. Clearly we are a nation of immigrants. ILLEGAL immigration is the problem. That's the truth, and those are the facts.

When our leaders wake up and acknowledge the differences beween legal and illegal immigrants perhaps we will get somewhere. Or not.

These protestors aren't realizing that the illegals that come into America aren't always nice people just looking for a better life. They are criminals, some are terrorists from the middle east, drug smugglers, and people looking to give birth to an anchor baby. If they came across the border legally, paid taxes, stopped living off welfare...then that would make them legal and there's no problem with that! And AZ is just enforcing what the law already states.

"Muggy" you are tossing off careless and incorrect statements in your brief post:

When you say that illegal immigrants are "living off welfare..." you should realize:

Undocumented immigrants, who comprise nearly one-third of all immigrants in the country, are not eligible to receive public "welfare" benefits -- ever.

And I'm not sure what you actually mean by "anchor baby" unless it is to perpetuate the idea that Illegal Immigrants having kids in the US somehow helps them. The birth of a child in the United States does not affect either parent's immigration status (and by the 14th Amendment to the Constitution, that kid IS a U.S. citizen).

I suppose the parents could wait the 10 years required, and file a Cancellation of Removal form, which would also require proving deportation would be a heinous burden, and they have kept their 'moral character" high during that decade.

Even then, only 4,000 waivers of this type are allocated each year -- quite a crap-shoot and bit of planning for these poverty-driven free-loaders you so smear with your talking points.

Muggy is right up to a point. Many illegal immigrants are living off stolen and forged Social Security cards. This is a fact. The birth of a baby to an illegal is an ongoing problem for the parents. They live in fear if their status is revealed, although their child would clearly be a legal citizen, they themselves could still be deported. With or without the child. Anyway you look at it, it's a mess.

Another unsupportable idea in the main, mr. samuel;

Sure, a Social Security card can be forged, and could help an illegal immigrant get a job or a flimsy ID.

But when an individual applies for welfare there is a citizenship status review, which includes the status of each household member, before assistance is granted. They would need more than a Social Security card to pull that off.

In the meantime, that forged number is adding payments to the Social Security coffers to aid in funding your benefits, never to be reclaimed by the actual working stiff.
Estimates of W-2 tax forms that cannot be matched to a Social Security number. -- called "earnings suspense file" -- I've seen figures that run $6-8 billion per year.

so exactly what "rules" did the europeans who immigrated to this continent follow? the rules of conquest, rape and slavery?

still, assuming we "americans" have a right to be here and latinos need to file paperwork to live and work here, shouldn't the companies that hire so-called "illegals" be held accountable first?

why dont we arrest the people in the front office of construction firms, restaurants, landscape companies, etc?

no jobs = no incentive to cross the border

Binky. Successful living under stolen identity is neither new nor unknown.

Professor Robinson lives off of other peoples taxes and then blocks the road while the taxpayers are trying to get to and from work. Why are so many of these enlightened thinkers on the public payroll?

reality-check : Without academic pressure it's been comparatively easy for these pioneers of social reform to find the time for the occasional pointless public activity. Up to now. The system,notorious for it's waste, is beginning to crack down and prune out.

As I blogged on the "On The Beat" column, I too am opposed to what is happening in Arizona, but what William Robinson and the usual cadre of social activists need to understand is WHY this has come to pass.

What is interesting to me is that these same social activists will rightfully point out that if you abuse a child repeatedly, that child will act out in an aggressive manner, but they miss the point that the people in Arizona are simply a larger example of this same theory. How long can people be expected to put up with gang violence, overcrowding in schools, and the other problems our open border has caused before finally hitting the breaking point? Yes, this is ugly stuff, but it was a long time coming and the blame for this lies squarely on the shoulders of the U.S. government.

For decades people have been watching as the U.S. has served as an A.T M. machine for a Mexico's government that everyone seems to agree is corrupt. The results of our open border are so obvious and have been so hashed over I won't waste my time or yours going over it in this post. For decades people have turned to the Federal Government to enforce our immigration laws but whenever they do the Feds blow them off. There is also the message from open border supporters that people need to sit down, shut up, and get used to it. All the while, the Federal government talks out both sides of it's collective mouth and lies out both sides as well and here is the clincher: the open border only makes life worse for the people in Mexico. (Lest I be accused of being jingoistic or insensitive to the plight of the people down there)

The people of Arizona have come to realize that the Federal government couldn't care less about them and like any other person/people, they have finally snapped out of frustration.

John Locke hit the nail on the head in his last sentence that the U.S. should not be the welfare department for Mexico.

Instead of joining the mob mentality chorus and simply boycotting Arizona, understand that these people are reacting out of a feeling of helpless frustration, and if the U.S. continues to serve the corrupt interests of the Mexican government as it ignores its people, the problems we are seeing in these demonstrations/protests will prove to only be the tip of the iceberg.

We can always depend on Binky for the farthest left view. Kinda comforting, actually, knowing that some things never change. Touching faith in the ability of regulation to actually control behavior. Citizenship test for welfare? In what alternate universe does that happen? Citizenship test for admission to UC? Not by the stated policies of that fine institution. Free health care for illegals? Ask anyone who works in an ER. Anchor babies have no effect on citizenship of the parents? Technically true, but one of the primary arguments by the pro-illegal bleeding-hearts in favor of amnesty is to prevent the separation of legal children from their illegal parents. Social Security payments by illegals helping to reduce that phantom 'trust fund' deficit for the rest of us? Goody. They're illegal - shouldn't be here in the first place. To repeat for the millionth time - there is a big difference between legal and illegal immigrants. Gotta wonder if those apologizing for the illegals are in the 47% in the US who pay no taxes and therefore pay nothing for their munificent views.

Crime is already down in Arizona and the streets are cleaner, less gang violence and less worried legal americans. I never said obtaining legal status is easy but if you're here for the right reasons, it sure is. Work visa, school visa...if you're not here for one of those, then what are you here for? MS13..they're in CA, where did they come from? El Salvador, ILLEGALLY. Before you get upset and say we're not allowing people the opportunity our ancestors were offered, read what other countries (including Mexico) will do to you. They sure aren't going to just send you back.

Perhaps the apologist and the compassionate would understand the tax payer's concerns if he knew a little more about the personal side of this dilemma. An illegal alien with a wife and five children takes a job for $5.00 or 6.00/hour. At that wage, with six dependents, he pays no income tax, yet at the end of the year, if he files an Income Tax Return, he gets an "earned income credit" of up to $3,200 free. He qualifies for Section 8 housing and subsidised rent. He qualifies for food stamps. He qualifies for free (no deductible, no co-pay) health care. His children get free breakfasts and lunches at school. He gets bilingual teachers and books. He qualifies for relief from high energy bills. If they are, or become, aged, blind or disabled, they qualify for SSI.  If qualified for SSI they can qualify for Medicaid.  All of this is at our, the taxpayer's expense. He doesn't worry about car insurance, life insurance,or homeowners insurance. Taxpayers provide Spanish language signs, bulletins and printed material. He and his family receive the equivalent of $20.00 to $30.00/hour in benefits.
Working legal citizens are lucky to have $5.00 or $6..00/hour left after paying their bills and his.

Compassion is not wrong and it's definitely a luxury for the sentimentalist if he can afford it. It's wrong if irresponsibly used in ignorance to advocate squandering the working man's hard earned cash.

Two problems with my gal "Muggy's" thesis that "Crime is already down in Arizona and the streets are cleaner, less gang violence and less worried legal americans" due to SB 1070 as as revised by HB 2162 on April 30, 2010.

-- The law doe not into effect until July 29, 2010, and may be tied up in court by that time.

-- Violent crime has been declining for the past decade in AZ:
http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/illega...
and many of the nation's police (Los Angeles, Houston Philadelphia, Phoenix, Tucson, San Jose and Montgomery County) chiefs think 1070 will have a deleterious effect:
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/...

Someone should go south of the border and see, for example, the huge billboards, some paid for by US big agribusiness, which advertise smuggling services. The bottom line here, is that those universally targeted in the immigration clampdown are the undocumented people themselves... i.e. the working-class poor and disadvantaged. Naturally, those who make the big money from taking advantage of mass illegal illegal immigration are allowed to carry on regardless by the authorities on *both sides* of the border.

It's all about privilege, connections, duplicity and favors. Welcome to the real world.

I see some improvement here. Last year around this time the good professor was confusing Israel with Nazi Germany. This year he's only confusing Santa Barbara with Arizona. Getting closer, and not nearly so offensive.

Samuel-As far as the "squandering of the working man's hard earned money" is concerned, I believe your beef is with the government not the "illegal". After all where do you think the money used to fight every war since Korea came from? The SSI fund.
Even though 1070 has not gone into effect, "illegals" are leaving for fear of deportation. It is still too early to tell if it will be a positive or negative, after all "illegals" do create LEGAL income for many legitimate business, this decline has hurt alot of places. The positive is that there will be less kids in school and using social services, but that can also be negative, because funding is made available due to need. If the need is not there that there will be no funding provided, especially where federal funding is concerned. Well I guess we will see how this experiment plays out, just like we will be watching how the marijuana experiment will work out for CA.

joshn113 Brilliant !! So Yes, the professor is not only factually challenged but Geographically so as well...!!

One can only imagine the "balanced points of view" the students in his classes receive ?

This can hardly be considered education but rather political indoctrination all at a growing expense, and paid for by parents ( and taxpayers) who believe their kids are getting "educated" and prepared for life.

Really, blogulator, billboards paid for by US agribusiness advertising smuggling services? Doyou have a shred of proof? Do you really believe this stuff or are you just trying to look gullible?

Interesting comment about crime in Arizona. One might conclude that if we'd adopt AZ's (i.e. the U.S.'s) immigration law and enforce it the crime rate here in CA would go down too.

Or if that's too 'racist', then take a lesson from Florida. Allow any adult with no felony record to carry a gun. Although the anti-gun types hate this fact, a 10 year dramatic reduction in gun crimes in FL directly followed the passing of this law. The logic is impeccable - if a bad guy thinks you MIGHT have a gun, he's much less likely to challenge or threaten you. Of course, it were up to Feinstein and Boxer and their Lefty cohort, no one in CA would be allowed to own a gun, meaning only the bad guys would have them. Brilliant thinking from two brilliant senators (small 's' for small minds).

For the intrepid "samuel," with all the freedom you have in creating a hypothetical "illegal alien with a wife and five children" I'm surprised you built such a slip-shod case. It doesn't even have it's hypotheticals in order.

Just for fun, let's call your made-up character "Essamuel."

-- An "earned income tax credit" is just that, not some sort of cash bonus as you seem to believe. For "Essamuel" as his income is so low, he has no tax upon which to credit. ($12,500 a year to support 7 people in Santa Barbara!)

-- Illegal immigrants are not eligible for Section 8 housing
http://portal.hud.gov/portal/page/por...

-- the same for food stamps
http://www.ssa.gov/pubs/10101.html

-- free health care? only if you're in Congress. I realize, though that no one can be denied emergency medical care, but do you want them to die?
( This is where the compassion part comes in.)
The Emergency Medical Treatment and Labor Act
http://www.medlaw.com/healthlaw/EMTAL...

-- again SSI and Social Security benefits not available to "Essamuel" and Co.-- Medicaid is also out of reach.
http://www.factcheck.org/2009/04/soci...

So, I've got "Essamuel" working 80 hours a week so he can make at least $24k a year -- no taxes, but he is faking his Social Security card, let's lop off another 6% -- I'm feeling generous.

So "Essamuel" y familia (6 dependents) are getting by on about $63 a week, each -- in Santa Barbara!*

Now that's the guy I want balancing the City's budget!.

* [If "Essamuel" played his cards right, he made sure he and Mamma. "Essamuel" had all their little ninos in the USA, -- cuz those little citizens get covered by Schips, Medicaid, and food programs to prevent starvation and particularly ugly deaths -- then he and the Mrs.can throw around all that extra cash!]

On a lighter note, I didn't know Robert Deniro was at the protest and got himself arrested. Or isn't that him in a white guayabera being escorted by the police?

Professor Robinson and his merry followers might do well to read a DIFFERENT professor's book: Mexifornia, a State of Becoming... http://www.amazon.com/Mexifornia-Beco...

Meanwhile, here's a site that helps support the brave citizens of Arizona:

http://arizonabuycott.com/

The problem is the absorption rate or the rate at which the "new" group is socialized as Americans. With the prior waves of immigrants each group was required to learn the language, history, democratic institutions, etc. Unfortunately the Mexican wave is coming a little too fast and rather than absorbing Mexicans into American Society we are observing the Mexican takeover of American Society and with the birth rate that will be complete by 2030. What I ask the immigrants is whether they want to be absorbed, meaning want to become Americans or they simply want to recreate what is south of the border up here? I believe that the jury is still out but I do not want to see our cities become sprawling megalopolis a la Mexico City. So it all boils down to what this new group will contribute? One thing we all should remember we are more alike than different!

yendoposta:

I think someone needs to remind you "historically challenged" person that the majority of immigrants historically DID come here illegally in the past. Were the first pilgrims in this country documented? Were all the U.S. Americans who invaded Texas and the SouthWest when it belonged to Mexico documented? Are you honestly going to play that card? That's why we should be ashamed as U.S. Americans, because were historically challenged, we forget our pasts, that's why we have crappy education systems, because we think history is history, but history is written every single day. I don't mean to insult you as a person, but if we all looked into our history as a country we would start thinking differently about how we handle situations.

Thanks to Binky for pointing out the facts. An illegal can get a job with a fake Social Security I.D. but cannot get benefits. So illegals pay into social security but I, a legal, will be the benefactor of illegal's contribution. Doesn't seem just.

Probably everyone agrees that illegal immigration needs "comprehensive" reform. That reform discussion needs to be about employers, wages and consumers who expect so much and for so little.

But, this stirring of the pot in Arizona is the fear-mongering side of politics because it scapegoats hardworking people who contribute more than given credit for. Here's an interesting documentary trailer that might help demonstrate that http://9500liberty.com/index.html

While there is this desire for comprehensive reform, Arizona's legislation is the right wing stirring up the hate just before a consequential election. That is the right wing strategy. Hate. Don't fall into this trap. See it for what it is and make this strategy fail.

FOR ALL THOSE WHO BELIEVE THAT IMMIGRANTS STRAIN OUR ECONOMY:

First of all, I do not have time to school you on the real reasons behind our failing economy but look into some stuff written by political scientist and foreign policy expert Fareed Zakaria. Some people do not understand the magnitude of globalization and believe that the problem is simply between the US and Mexico. Are you serious? do you not understand how our world functions today? When you need help with an electronic device, who answers the phone? uhhhhh someone in India. And wait uhmmmm where do we buy all our products fromm eheemmm China. Who is financing our debt ... eheem ehemm China ....

As a society we need to become conscious and understand that the world is a much smaller place and that these issues can't be blamed on immigrants.

if anything immigrants are giving free labor and money to the people they work for. get payed much less than min wage , and yesss they doooo pay taxes, so dont be fooled, you honestly think the companies they work for aren't going to make them pay up? ... plus you may think that immigrants utilize social services, but they dont ... actually they live in fear of being deported so they try to be the least involved with the gov they live in. Their modern day slaves , to put it frankly...

The bottom line is that Arizona is fighting ILLEGAL immigration. What part of ILLEGAL don't these protesters and anyone else against the law in AZ, understand? Do they suggest we turn a blind eye to ILLEGAL activity? It's ILLEGAL people! And if we start overlooking this ILLEGAL activity, what next? Santa Barbara as a sanctuary city? God help us!

The Arizona law is just more big-government intrusion into people's lives. Don't tread on me!

FightWoo- Fully agree with you, we have enough laws to enforce this particular crime, we don't need more. If the politicians want more votes they should reinforce the state police's presence around the border areas, or better yet figure out the budget. Don't mess with the laws, becuase you want votes.

Too bad we don't get to vote on this in November. Legal immigration is okay by me, but ILLEGAL IS ILLEGAL and anyone ILLEGAL including their children should be deported ASAP.

We have legitimate issues to think about when we accept legal immigration, when illegal immigration occurs it hurts everyone. Think about: healthcare, schooling, crime (gangs/prison) and host of other issues.

We have to stop it OR the FLOOD GATES WILL REMAIN OPEN.

Those of you who are so eager to throw around the word 'illegal' to apply to human beings -

Are you aware that sb1070 is ILLEGAL? It is UNCONSTITUTIONAL. It violates FEDERAL law. Before we debate the legality of a human being, let's debate the legality of this law.

It violates the fourth and fourteenth amendments. People imprisoned under this law are held for excessive bails (if even) even when they present three different forms of identification to police because the police 'assume the papers are fake'.

It's so disgusting to have you ignorant bigots telling us UCSB students to 'go back to Mexico' and shouting racist slurs at us. You are displacing your anger for unemployment and crime. Unemployment is the employer's fault, not immigrants'.

The employers are the ones illegally hiring people without working permits (think about a 14 year old working at a store when the legal minimum age to work is 16, getting paid $5 instead of the minimum wage of $9 - it's not the kid's fault, it's the employer's crime for breaking minimum wage laws and employing a minor). Immigrants should not be able to get hired, but they do, because greedy employers want to profit more by paying workers less.

Crime is the local government's failure. I'd even say it's parental failure and the media (movies, videogames, music videos) making gangs, guns, and crime seem cool. Undocumented immigrants can't commit crimes in the US because then they will be deported. Because their countries are so impoverished from NAFTA, the immigrants want to stay here, where they can have a better life.

If you don't want desperate people trying to escape the desperate conditions of their countries, then don't let 'good life' and wealth accumulate into one corner of the world while misery and destitute plagues everywhere else.

Blaming all of America's problems on immigrants is a reflection of your intellectual sloth. Think deeper and get to the root of the problem. Don't just listen to FOX News and parrot everything they say.

"Professor Robinson and his merry followers might do well to read a DIFFERENT professor's book: Mexifornia, a State of Becoming... http://www.amazon.com/Mexifornia-Beco...
-- maximum

Speaking of professors then ...

Robinson is a professor of sociology with expertise in Latin America & International studies. The author of that book (Hanson) is a former professor of the classics at Cal State Fresno.

That's like recomending a podiatrist when you need a heart surgeon.

Regarding EastBeach's above post: While Robinson's academic credentials point out he has extensive knowledge in the happenings of countries south of the U.S., and while I can't comment on Hanson's knowledge of the area since I haven't read his book, one doesn't need to have gone to college in order to have a reasoned and informed point of view on the subject at hand.

The activists and protesters did a wonderful job in bringing this issue to a wider audience. It was in AP and went viral on the internet to thousands of newspapers and blogs worldwide. Multinational corporations have destroyed Mexico's rural economy, much like the rural economies of El Salvador and Haiti. It is sick for wealth americans to think they can have all the fruits of globalization while putting their boot down on the throats of these people. We need to have solidarity across ethnic and national lines. Solidarity between working people, against this system that has put the wealth into the hands of a tiny few people. Thanks Independent, for this wonderful article.

"Solidarity between working people, against this system that has put the wealth into the hands of a tiny few people..."

GAG ME!!

Wait until you are a working person, and yet you are not "wealthy." Wait until your tax money is raided by politicians with agendas who aim to secure voters at any cost, including the sovereignity and safety of your country.

Ignorance is no excuse. READ THE BOOK:
Mexifornia: A State of Becoming - Victor Davis Hanson
http://www.amazon.com/Mexifornia-Beco...

......Hanson is a 4th generation Californian who grew up under the old assimilationist model of the 50's and 60's when English was the official language. He describes the irony of Latino migration northward to freedom, only to assume here the same tribalist, statist values they fled. These values are enforced by the Movimiento and assisted by American benevolence and self-loathing. "Malinchismo," the supposed American betrayal of the Mexican people, is readily believable to an American public indoctrinated with guilt in their own public schools." (from Amazon review)

@ucsbstudent8: You make an excellent post, and I would add that what little I know about N.A.F.T.A. supports your statement about how rural life in Mexico has been squashed.

Where we differ is where you imply that the activists and protesters address these points because from what I see, they do not. From what I see, they only are protesting against the movement that is happening in Arizona. Also, the wealthy corporations and the people who want changes to the law in Arizona (which as I point out in my first post, I oppose) are two different entities all together.

What we are seeing is a classic case of "divide-and-conquer". The people in Arizona who want the changes in the law are acting out of frustration, as are the protesters. Meanwhile, the masses perenially elect pro-N.A.F.T.A. politicians. How many people remember that when N.A.F.T.A. was passed then-president Clinton and all the living ex-presidents supported it. Another point: when people argue that our economy depends on the cheap labor that illegal immigration provides, they fail to point out that there is no evidence that the money saved by those who who hire/exploit these workers is passed onto to the rest of us. They also fail to point out how other prosperous nations are able to achieve high living standars without large numbers of cheap imported labor. (Which makes me question their claim that the U.S.'s high standard of living is off the backs of immigrants--especially since we've enjoyed this standard of living long before mass illegal immigration occurred)

Meanwhile, people laugh at anti-N.A.F.T.A. anti-W.T.O. politicians (Ron Paul and Dennis Kucinich as well as third party candidates come to mind) as either being idealistic or unable to win.

Meanwhile, people keep sheepishly running towared mainstream party politics.

I would add tha people will take maximum to task for saying that English was the official language when (as far as I know) it never has been the official language. Nonetheless, English has been the lingua franca of the U.S. and I would add that because it was obviously common sense that we all should have a common language in the U.S. the idea of having to make English "official" was never an issue since we didn't have the Balkanization we see today pushed by muliticulturalists.

When our Founding Fathers were scratching pen to paper and busily creating this country the Spanish,French,Germans,Italians, Asians and the Native American Indian who owned the strongest case to be there were clearly absent. Perhaps we should just get over it and accept the fact that official or not, this is actually an English speaking country. Or- perhaps the language should have remained as the white man found it,leaving us to fill out forms,write resumes and order a double latte with two squirts of caramel and whipped cream on the side in one of the legion of tribal languages which were then the undisputed and official tongues of this nation .......................

"Regarding EastBeach's above post: While Robinson's academic credentials point out he has extensive knowledge in the happenings of countries south of the U.S., and while I can't comment on Hanson's knowledge of the area since I haven't read his book, one doesn't need to have gone to college in order to have a reasoned and informed point of view on the subject at hand."
-- billclausen

Had the words "a DIFFERENT professor's book" been omitted from maximum's sentence, I would not have bothered commenting. There is a significant difference in meaning and implication.

While I agree one doesn't necessarily need a college degree to have an understanding of any complex issue, its interesting how those (mostly on the right) have recently been using degreed spokesmen to discredit opponents when those spokesmen actually have no related academic qualifications (e.g. sociology, climate change, stem cell research, etc). In other words, personal opinion and/or ideology are being sold as technical knowledge/experience.

I agree with you on your above post EastBeach. People on both sides need to do their own research into this issue and stop hiding behind their appointed spokespeople.

If you need more reasons to secure the border:

DHS Warns Somali Terrorist May Cross U.S.-Mexico Border - The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has alerted Texas law enforcement agencies to be on the lookout for a suspected member of a Somali-based terrorist group. According to a DHS bulletin, which has not yet been released to the public, Mohamed Ali is currently believed to be in Mexico and is purportedly preparing to illegally cross the border into Texas. DHS officials believe that Ali has ties to Al Shabaab – a Somali terrorist organization which has aligned itself with Al Qaeda and has made statements about its intent to harm the United States.

FROM: www.fairus.org

I am against the Arizona law and think it is ironic that if you look at the history of Arizona, it was actually taken from Mexico by the US (karma is a b**ch). What I don't understand though is why protest in Santa Barbara? Santa Barbara has nothing to do with this law and civil obedience here is just a nuisance. Our police department and city government have enough on their plates with out having to deal with lazy protesters.
I believe if the protesters truly care they should stop being lazy and go protest in AZ, against those who put this law in to place.
my 2cents
Bob Bass

Bobbass: with your reference to karma, why should people who have done no wrong pay for the sins of others? One of the major causes of the rage you see in Arizona is the mentality that we should feel guilty because of the actions of people who died long ago.

No amount of apologizing for what happened in the past will ever atone for those sins. Simple recognition that slavery, what happened to the Indians and other injustices was wrong, is all we can do.

Telling people that they are reaping karma for what others have done will only push them further over the edge.