Rep. Connie Mack (R-Fla.) ripped into the new Arizona immigration law today, comparing it to Nazi Germany.
"This law of 'frontier justice' – where law enforcement officials are required to stop anyone based on 'reasonable suspicion' that they may be in the country illegally – is reminiscent of a time during World War II when the Gestapo in Germany stopped people on the street and asked for their papers without probable cause," Mack said in a statement.
"This is not the America I grew up in and believe in, and it’s not the America I want my children to grow up in," he added.
The Arizona law would allow law enforcement officers who come into legal contact with individuals to demand proof of citizenship if there is a "reasonable suspicion" that person may be undocumented.
Considered a potential candidate for statewide office in Florida, Mack's position may help with the state's large Hispanic population.
Marco Rubio has also criticized the bill.
50 comments:
This new law is against everything America stands for. Demanding proof of citizenship based only on "reasonable suspicion" is absurd. It gives too much power to too many people. Now people who live in the United States legally and look "suspicious" must produce proof of their citizenship. Rep. Connie Mack is right when she compares this law to that of the Gestapo.
What is a "reasonable suspicion"? I don't think that I would be very happy if I was an Arizona resident and I was asked to provide proof of my citizenship. This law is going a little too far in trying to stop illegal immigration.
As I've commented in a previous post, this is simply leading to a MLK Jr. civil rights movement on behalf of the Hispanics. I agree with Mack's statement, for the demanding of identification led to the Jews wearing stars on their clothing. Unfortunately, this is still a problem in today's society, and one that needs to be addressed.
I think its pretty out of line for someone to be calling policy something close to nazism. This policy might be a little much but still, that is no reason for the harsh commenting.
This new policy allowing Arizona officials to demand proof of citizenship from "suspicious" individuals is not only shocking but uncalled for. The majority of undocumented workers and illegal immigrants pose minimal threat to the safety of the United States of America, a nation founded on the principles of personal and natural rights. It is deeply disturbing that state legislatures can so easily defy the very concepts that were the impetus for our independence movement.
Mack clearly against the law and like most americans have every right to be against the law.Unfortunately it targets the latino population rather than any other forgien population.
I agree with Mack, "reasonable suspicion" is not enough to stop a person to ask for their papers. Eventually "reasonable suspicion" will turn into racial profiling, which in turn will create many more problems for the state of Arizona.
This is wrong on so many levels. Its probably going to get worse. We have so many different nationalities here in the U.S., so if anyone look suspicious there Just gonna stop them? That's ridiculous.
This state law allows law enforcement officers to demand proof of citizenship from individuals based of if they are a "reasonable suspicion." This law is letting these officers judge people based on how they seem or look which I don't agree with.
Mack's comparing of the Arizona law to Nazi Germany is a bit of an over exaggeration. True, the law infringes upon the rights of citizens, but not to the extent of what had happened in Germany. Hopefully, however, Arizona will realize through all of these complaints that its new law should be amended.
i think this law is so stupid. they shouldn't be able to stop someone just because they look like an illegal immigrant, because you never know where someone is from.
The “Immigration Law” of Arizona and Representative Connie Mack’s comments are just the beginning of the challenges this law faces. Representative Mack is correct. Even if we do not like to discuss the painful persecution of Jews in Germany, this law reminds us of the treatment received by Jews. We are supposed to be more civil and believe in human rights, equality, and freedom. We should find better solution and not have a knee jerk reaction on the issue of immigration. Representative Mack and Marco Rubio may be trying to get political mileage in their district and state and get minority votes by opposing Arizona bill, but I hope their opposing voice helps innocent minority citizens and they are not made pawn in this chess game.
What exactly is criteria for a "reasonable suspicion"? Anyone who is hispanic? This law could dangerously open doors for profiling on the hispanic race. I think the comparison to a Nazi Germany was not unfounded in this case.
I think that is a very extreme comparison. We are obviously no where near the setting that surrounded World War 2.
It seems a very ridiculous as well as racist and unnecessary to stop people for assuming them illegal immigrants.
This new bill is not good for arizona to have. it feels like they are limiting freedom.
I think this law goes against everything america stands for. This nation was created to separate its people from unlawful persucution. I do agree that someething needs to be done about illegal immigration but this has taken an overly extreme path. This is not only unnecessary but morally wrong. I'm so glad that my state hasnt jumped to such hasty measures!
This is ridiculous. Based on what do law enforcement officials decide if a person is suspicious? This
could definitely be looked at as any kind of descrimination.
Maybe Connie Mack is overreacting...but then again- maybe not.
I highly agree with Connie Macks view on the bill. If this bill is to be passed we are putting us back in the time of racial stereotypes and taking away peoples basic rights. The United States should invite people into the country instead of running them out. We are known for being a multicultural country and that is something to be proud of.
i think the law is absolutely ridiculous. this country was built on immigrants and i think people need to take a step back and think what this law could lead to.
I agree with this article. This bill does discriminate an does not express the freedoms we have as u.s. citizens. Noone should be called out due to their race or if they "look" like an illegal immigrant.
This bill is ridiculous. For those immigrants who have gone through the process of obtaining citizenship this bill undermines all the hardships they had to face. Now, just because they may "look" suspicious they're forced to prove themselves.
I can understand the American view point on this law but I'm also starting to understand the immigrants view point. Americans see immigrants as people taking away job opportunities from other Americans but immigrants are just trying to survive. And yes it is similar to Nazi Germany. Jews in Germany were trying to get out to survive and immigrants are coming to America to survive. If Americans were in the situation where they would need to do anything to live, we would all have very different view points on all of this. Its just a matter of which view point you want to have to determine what this law means to immigration.
This is funny...um...I don't actually think this should be the first (nor any) step in the process of fixing this country's immigration law. We should secure our borders first!...and then possibly implement a section or two of this law into regions where there is a suspected high illegal immigration population. This action of hunting down the aliens at all cost is sort of drastic and radical, and I would think this would cost much more money in the long run than if we simply fixed the border with electric fences and stone columns and whatnot.
The wording "reasonable suspicion" is the only reason this law has been able to be passed. If it said what it implies (meaning anyone who is Mexican and doesn't look or talk the way the police officers think they should) there would be no way that it would be constitutional. What really insults me is that the people who passed this law are trying to reason away the severity of their actions. By allowing this bill to be enacted we are sacrificing the rights of our citizens who happen to be the wrong skin color. They should have the right to dress or talk however they please, without the fear of having to prove they are american citizens. I understand the need for immigration reform, but this bill is doing nothing to improve the problem and is only promoting more social inequality.
In an ideal world that is still incredibly concerned with illegal immigration and uses this law to put an end to it, the only people ever questioned by law enforcers would be illegal immigrants, and they would not have proof of citizenship. And everyone else could go on their merry way with only the illegal immigrants suffering consequences. But in the real world, which we unfortunately must live in, the words "reasonable suspicion" end up having a very loose definition, and a bunch of innocent people end up questioned. These people, most of them proud American citizens, end up being treated like criminals. What happened to innocent until proven guilty?
I think this could cause a lot of problems. It woudnt be right if they just looked at them and suspected they were illegal.
The comparison to Nazi Germany was pretty accurate. Arizona’s true reasons for this law where proved two other recent laws.
1.) Banned Arizona’s Ethnic studies programs. Calls the Ethnic studies programs to high treason.
2.) It’s now legal to fire English teachers for having foreign accents. Never mind that Southern accents are 100 times harder to understand, just saying, and “Darn’ tootin’” and “fixn’ to” are not proper grammer.
The comparison to the german Gestapo is hopefully a bit dramatic however I do believe the relationship is there. The law can only lead to racial profiling which is a root of the Nazi party. It's a step backwards and it shouldn't be allowed in today's society. Also the definition of "reasonable suspicion" should be made more clear.
"Reasonable suspicion" isn't anything like asking someone for their documentation randomly on the street. If an officer pulls someone over and they don't have any papers, they will be detained until they can prove that they are here legally, and if they can't, only then will they be deported. This isn't anything like hunting for people, it's deporting people who officers come in legal contact with who are suspicious of being here illegally.
i think this law is a waste of time because a lot people will get stopped over and over just because they look suspicious
I think the reference is very appropriate for actions this allows state officials. As long as it is at polic disgretion then there leaves room for biased judgement. I think the bill should have specific and legitimate guidelines for who they choose to question and ask papers from. Otherwise it's being negligable to give that power without any limits
I totally agree with this. I want to know what the cops will look for to have reasonable suspicion. This essentially comes down to what the person looks like. This is huge stereotype law. If you look and act a certain way, you will be assumed a illegal immagrant. Lame!
It's not fair to compare the whle thing to such an extent as being part of the Nazi regime. Yea the law is unjust but it's not to be taken into such an extreme as that.
With the danger in Mexico, specifically in the boarder areas, increasing rapidly the level of security needs to adjust with it. Arizona is know for having fairly hardcore policies when it comes to the safety of its citizens (the sheriff of maricopa county), and I can't deny that I see merits in this new procedure.
Is safety worth some annoyance?
The law is too general in it's current form and can easily be abused. At the same time the Florida representative is also trying to appeal to his constituents and appease the Hispanic voting population of Florida.
I personally find this hilarious. For one you cant get all illegal immigrants out of the U.S. it is impossible. For every one person that gets sent back three more get in. I also disagree with the comment that it makes the U.S. like Nazi Germany, these people have no rights here. I dont mind being asked for my I.D. and i dont think it is harassment either so i say go for it, but it will never work.
I agree with Mack. Requiring police to stop everyone who they may think is not in the country legally is like the Nazis. Police have better things to do than to antagonize everyday people driving through Arizona.
Just a random thought that has nothing to do with my view or opinion on the topic of illegal immigration, but I wonder if Mack's motives are truly what this statement makes them sound like. He does live in Florida, and I am guessing that they have many,many illegal immigrants that come from Cuba...... this might help him come election time if "used-to-be" illegal immigrants are voting. I am not sure but it seems like a good tactic on the part of a politician. All opinions aside, I am just curious.
Really? This is being compared to the Nazi's in Germany? We are trying to get a handle on this whole illegal immigration thing and they want to find every little excuse to find something wrong with it. I'll go to Arizona myself and take them back!
I almost agree. I mean, stopping anyone who is "reasonably suspicious"? Thats bullshit.
I find it frustrating that a cop in any other country can ask for your papers and if you don't have them, you are in serious trouble. Why can't the US have the same thing?
Also, anytime i write a check i get asked to see my ID. Would it not be easier to require ID on a essential item? It's fair because everyone has to do it, and people with ID's would only be held up for 5 more seconds.
Seeing all the political disturbance created by this law, I don't see it staying very long. Many many people are angry with this law, more importantly people of Congress as Mack says the frontier law "is reminiscent of a time during World War II when the Gestapo in Germany stopped people on the street and asked for their papers without probable cause". He does have a point...
This isn't "racial profiling" it just so happens that most of the illegals are Hispanic...that's no stereotype, that's a fact.
Wow....racism anyone? Immigration laws...ok...this...not ok. There are fine lines. This crosses them.
I think that the new Arizona immigration bill is totally racist and evil. It goes against everything America should stand for. Hopefully it won't last long.
I don't think law enforcement officers should have the power to ask random US citizens for their papers just because they think they could be illegal immigrants.
This law is pretty ruthless and messed up, I agree that it goes against the free nature of our country.
This definitely is not comparable to Nazis in Germany. The safety of our country and citizens is at stake, and this would just be protecting them. While I dont think the government officials should be given complete free reign over the searches, I do think that they should be able to search those who are suspicious.
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