Outside Phoenix store, border debate rages on (illegal aliens, laws, prison)

[ArizonaBear]

On East Thomas Road in Phoenix, the national shouting match over immigration unfolds week by week in a neighborhood that has changed in the same ways Arizona has.

Sheriff's deputies patrol the parking lot at M.D. Pruitt's Home Furnishings each Saturday, ensuring that no day laborers trespass on the property. Day-labor advocates mount protests nearby, blaring Mexican folk music while children dressed in traditional garb dance on the sidewalk.

Pruitt's opened 57 years ago, but only recently did day laborers gather in large numbers to seek work on the sidewalks and parking lots of nearby businesses. The subdivisions that stretch back from Thomas Road have seen more and more Hispanic families arrive, changing the character of the neighborhood.

Meanwhile, the country's roiling debate over immigration continues unabated.

Arizona Republic article (broken link)

More and more I think about it; I am in agreement with those who feel a fortified fence needs to installed along the USA/Mexico border.

Catch those multiple illegal immigrant border crossers and lock 'em up-------a Tent City patrolled by armed guards with 'shoot to kill' orders. That is how angry I am.

Yet; Washington does not have the 'backbone' to do what is right.

The saddest part is the criminal actions of the above imperil those Americans who look 'Mestizo'-----of any race/ethnicity due to possible vigilante style 'racial profiling'

[Bummer]

Originally Posted by ArizonaBear

More and more I think about it; I am in agreement with those who feel a fortified fence needs to installed along the USA/Mexico border.

Catch those multiple illegal immigrant border crossers and lock 'em up-------a Tent City patrolled by armed guards with 'shoot to kill' orders. That is how angry I am.

Yet; Washington does not have the 'backbone' to do what is right.

The saddest part is the criminal actions of the above imperil those Americans who look 'Mestizo'-----of any race/ethnicity due to possible vigilante style 'racial profiling'

This entire fiasco is both disgusting and shameful, Arizona Bear!

Here is a prosperous, law abiding business of many years being driven out of business because a gaggle of common criminals feel they have the right to intimidate and discourage customers by "hanging out" on the sidewalks and in the parking lot surrounding this business. Until the local media jump on this, Puritt's was being forced to hire their own police protection because the Mayor of Phoenix was endorsing and protecting "the rights" of the ILLEGALS while ignoring a healthy tax paying business. ! ! ! !

[TriMT7]

Originally Posted by ArizonaBear

Sheriff's deputies patrol the parking lot at M.D. Pruitt's Home Furnishings each Saturday, ensuring that no day laborers trespass on the property. Day-labor advocates mount protests nearby, blaring Mexican folk music while children dressed in traditional garb dance on the sidewalk.

God, somebody get these guys an "image coordinator" or PR rep ASAP.

[macmeal]

One of the saddest side-effects of this whole situation, it seems, is its corrosive effect on our society, when ALL of us--kids as well as adults--witness our own elected officials willingly and blatantly ignoring the well-established laws they swore to uphold. That ALONE is a tremendously harmful example, beyond any issues of the law's popularity. Illegal aliens ignoring the law is hardly shocking, nor is it "big news"...they're illegal, after all. The BIG news, and the really DISTURBING part of the story, is mayors, judges, and police officials ignoring the law. Now THAT hurts !

America is a nation of "laws", and that's really all we've ever had to keep us together. That's what keeps us out of "the jungle". Not ethnicity, not family ties, not the leader's "charisma", but the LAW. And we expect our officials to be very "stuffy" in adhering STRICTLY to the law, not ignoring it. They're supposed to be setting an example for ALL of us, by doing what the law stipulates, not what they happen to "feel like" at the moment.

Beyond everything else, it's this shabby example of mayors, judges, politicians, etc., simply choosing to IGNORE the law that is damaging our society. It opens the door to all forms of corruption, pressure groups, etc., and will probably be used from here on out as a "precedent". How can a judge or a police official administer ANY law, with a straight face, while he himself is busily ignoring the laws HE doesn't happen to like?. We've lost a lot of the "moral high ground" in all this, and are rapidly becoming ever more third-world in the way we're running our society. Laws that are more and more ignored, and officials who have lost their credibility, will create a situation in which "law enforcement" relies more and more on brute force, rather than reason or good example. And for those who've never BEEN to the "third world", take my word for it---when it finally gets here, and you're living in it, I don't think you'll find it very "exotic". I don't think you'll like it at ALL. But by then, sadly, it will be too late to go back.

[Hawkeye48]

America used to be a nation of laws, clearly they don't apply to those south of the border who sneak into this country. If the average American committed the violations that illegals do they would he or she would be spending a lot of time in prison for tax evasion, ID theft, and a host of other crimes.

For illegal aliens most of our laws simply don't apply. Even if they are caught, all most have to do is volunteer to self-deport and charges will be dropped. Then they can sneak back into the states the very next day.

Sheriff Joe Arpaio arrests six of these guys and there's an uproar. Meanwhile, millions of illegals have protested in our cities streets over the last few years. We need the military and the national guard to get involved. We have been invaded by a foreign army. And since we don't have the military on the border our nations police and sheriff's deputies are forced to clean up the mess and they are hopelessly understaffed for the job.

[Synopsis]

Originally Posted by macmeal

One of the saddest side-effects of this whole situation, it seems, is its corrosive effect on our society, when ALL of us--kids as well as adults--witness our own elected officials willingly and blatantly ignoring the well-established laws they swore to uphold. That ALONE is a tremendously harmful example, beyond any issues of the law's popularity. Illegal aliens ignoring the law is hardly shocking, nor is it "big news"...they're illegal, after all. The BIG news, and the really DISTURBING part of the story, is mayors, judges, and police officials ignoring the law. Now THAT hurts !

America is a nation of "laws", and that's really all we've ever had to keep us together. That's what keeps us out of "the jungle". Not ethnicity, not family ties, not the leader's "charisma", but the LAW. And we expect our officials to be very "stuffy" in adhering STRICTLY to the law, not ignoring it. They're supposed to be setting an example for ALL of us, by doing what the law stipulates, not what they happen to "feel like" at the moment.

Beyond everything else, it's this shabby example of mayors, judges, politicians, etc., simply choosing to IGNORE the law that is damaging our society. It opens the door to all forms of corruption, pressure groups, etc., and will probably be used from here on out as a "precedent". How can a judge or a police official administer ANY law, with a straight face, while he himself is busily ignoring the laws HE doesn't happen to like?. We've lost a lot of the "moral high ground" in all this, and are rapidly becoming ever more third-world in the way we're running our society. Laws that are more and more ignored, and officials who have lost their credibility, will create a situation in which "law enforcement" relies more and more on brute force, rather than reason or good example. And for those who've never BEEN to the "third world", take my word for it---when it finally gets here, and you're living in it, I don't think you'll find it very "exotic". I don't think you'll like it at ALL. But by then, sadly, it will be too late to go back.

I agree with everything you've said here macmeal. I think that is the bottom line on what is ruining this country. Too many people with some kind of subverted agenda. It's sad, really sad and I fear for what my child's life will be in the next 30 years +.

[andreabeth]

Reza, an immigrant-rights organizer with the nonprofit Tonatierra, said he organized protests initially in response to ongoing harassment of day laborers by local businesses. Laborers say Roger Sensing antagonized them, photographing them and chasing them away from businesses in the surrounding area. The Sensings deny this.

"He is a man with a mission," Reza said of Roger Sensing. "And the mission is to rid the whole place of jornaleros."

Reza said a day-labor center, like the one he runs at 25th Street and Bell Road, is the only long-term solution.

"The thing is, there's nobody willing to create a work center in the area," Reza said.

Reza takes pains to say he does not support illegal immigration. But he also notes with evident pride that of the 44 people Arpaio's deputies had deported from near Pruitt's as of last week, about half have already returned across the border illegally, some with friends.

Reza and his supporters share the sidewalks with counter-protesters.

I have to agree with whoever said that the Klan must be their PR firm. They deliberately do everything in their power to infuriate US citizens then act shocked when we get mad. We do not need any of the people doing this. I feel safe in saying none of them have enough to offer the US that would justify their being here. They are deliberately trying to bankrupt a legitimate US business. they deserve nothing more than a bus ticket back home.

[JesusisLord]

I see not to many of us have taken college economics, well you'll get a scary lesson come Jan.1

[TriMT7]

Originally Posted by JesusisLord

I see not to many of us have taken college economics, well you'll get a scary lesson come Jan.1

Wha? Like how businesses that cater to illegals will go out of business?

I STILL don't understand what part of, "We HAVE laws and procedures to be followed to come here to work in the event that legal workers "can't be found" people aren't getting?

Key words: LAWS TO BE FOLLOWED. PROCEDURES.

[Ozark-Baby]

The pro-illegal people really show their fear and prove that they are losing the fight. It is funny to watch the pro-illegal racists and bigots.