TX does something rightish for a change?

[Ragnus]

http://radio.woai.com/cc-common/news...rticle=7811998

'Arizona Style' Immigration Law Proposed in Texas

conservative lawmaker files bill in first hour of filing period for 2011 session
By Jim Forsyth
Monday, November 8, 2010
Less than an hour after the period began for filing bills for consideration in the 2011 Legislative session, State Rep. Debbie Riddle (R-Tomball), a leader of the newly muscular conservatives in the Legislature, filed an 'Arizona style' measure that would crack down on illegal immigration, 1200 WOAI news reports.

Riddle says her measure is a response to what she says is the escalating violence caused by Mexican and Latin American gangs in Texas.

"It is absolutely out of control with the gang related crime, which is going through the roof, so, yes, we are addressing this, and quite frankly, I am not worried about political correctness," Riddle told 1200 WOAI news.

The measure would be similar to Arizona's controversial SB 1070, in that it would require that local police work with federal immigration officials in determining the legal status of a person who is in their custody.

"If that individual is already being detained, because of another crime, then that officer can inquire as to one's immigration status," Riddle said.

The Arizona law has been placed on hold pending a court challenge. Riddle says her measure would help it withstand similar legal challenges.

Republicans will hold 99 of the 150 seats in the Texas House when the biennial session is gaveled into order January 11th, the largest GOP majority in the Texas House in 140 years. The conservative landslide last week is expected to result in several measures on the conservative wish list which have been killed by Democrats and moderate Republicans being passed in the coming legislature.

Riddle's measure would also deny all state funds to any community which declares itself a 'sanctuary city' and refuses to aggressively enforce immigration laws.

"The gang related crime which does have a connect with the Mexican drug cartels has gone up 250 percent in this state," Riddle said. "People are sick and tired of political correctness. They want their communities safe."


In addition to the healthy majority in the Texas House, Republcians will still control almost 2/3 of the seats in the 31 member State Senate, as well as Republicans in control of all statewide elected offices.But despite their healthy majority, Democrats like State Rep. Mike Villarreal (D-San Antonio) say they'll fight Riddle's propsoal.

He tells 1200 WOAI news that every study which has been conducted on illegal immigration in Texas has found that stopping it would strangle the state's economy.

"All of the studies have calculated a net positive to our economy," Villarreal said. "Even considering any services which we provide to our own citizens that they may take advantage of."

I can see how the argument that racism can factor into who gets their background searched but overall it makes more sense that only people in active custody get checked instead of randomly pulled aside like in AZ.

[Andalusian girls]

Don't see much reasonable opposition to this, to actually hold someone in custody is a far more arduous process than stopping them for whatever reason real or imagined the officer can come up with. And it seems unlikely police will begin jailing random Mexicans just to check their immigration status with the attention the issue is getting and the potential lawsuit liability.

That Democrat arguing that the economy is more important than the rule of law might be on to something though.

[archibaldcrane]

Sounds significantly more reasonable than the Arizona law.

That Democrat arguing that the economy is more important than the rule of law might be on to something though.

It's a decent argument for not just "snatchin' yo people up" but for those already in police custody for being suspected of breaking another law...

[aurik]

Texan democrat, that's sort of like a California republican right?

Also, the definition of "detain" here is what may be objectionable. Checking the immigration status of someone who has been arrested? Sounds like a good thing. Forcing the local police to check papers of anyone they interact with? (ie, stop you for a traffic violation, required to check immigration status.) Bad thing.

Also re: cutting off illegal immigration, it would seriously, seriously harm most of the southern border states that rely on day laborers. Having to pay for labor at legal minimum wage (plus adherence to OSHA / etc) would push up costs so high there's no way that many local businesses could compete. Well established facts.

The main counterargument is that it's not particularly healthy to discourage police involvement in legitimate disputes, regardless of immigration status of the individuals involved. So, if you make it a habit of checking papers of anyone detained, what happens is that people stop calling the cops on domestic abuse and other such events (which are really what police intervention is best at defusing) because they're afraid that they or their loved ones will inadvertently get caught in the immigration net and deported.

[Andalusian girls]

Also re: cutting off illegal immigration, it would seriously, seriously harm most of the southern border states that rely on day laborers. Having to pay for labor at legal minimum wage (plus adherence to OSHA / etc) would push up costs so high there's no way that many local businesses could compete. Well established facts.

It would, but the low operating costs result from the severe exploitation day laborers endure, a level of worker abuse that has been outlawed in this country for a hundred years. The center cannot hold one way or the other, the maltreatment of these workers must end and it will raise costs but so be it.

[aurik]

Yes but neither political party wants to be known as "them assholes that wrecked ar economy"!

[Correction]

Riddle's measure would also deny all state funds to any community which declares itself a 'sanctuary city' and refuses to aggressively enforce immigration laws.

This is probably the most grating part of the proposed law. Is the state providing the required funding and training to municipalities who have never had to check immigration status on folks that get pulled over for speeding? No? Then welcome to Abuse of Power City, Racial Profiling County, Texas for cities that would otherwise get starved out of community college/infrastructure funding because they aren't gettin' tuff with the immigents.

[Kuya]

Riddle says her measure is a response to what she says is the escalating violence caused by Mexican and Latin American gangs in Texas.

"It is absolutely out of control with the gang related crime, which is going through the roof, so, yes, we are addressing this, and quite frankly, I am not worried about political correctness," Riddle told 1200 WOAI news.

Is this accurate, or is she exaggerating?

[Kerberoz]

Wait... so they were detaining people and not identifying them, before?

[aurik]

Is this accurate, or is she exaggerating?

About the rise of gang and drug related violence? Nope. There's practically a civil war in north Mexico right now, mainly driven by the drug business, and it spills over into Texas / New Mexico from time to time.

About "we are addressing this", I have doubts whether the legislation will be effective.

Kerb: this legislation would REQUIRE local police to check immigration status on anyone they "detain". Right now it's not required, although they probably do for serious offenses. It's the small things, like traffic citations, and minor things like being thrown in the drunk tank if you get too boozed, that would automatically trigger a status check under this bill where they didn't before.

This is probably the most grating part of the proposed law. Is the state providing the required funding and training to municipalities who have never had to check immigration status on folks that get pulled over for speeding? No? Then welcome to Abuse of Power City, Racial Profiling County, Texas for cities that would otherwise get starved out of community college/infrastructure funding because they aren't gettin' tuff with the immigents.

It's an easy way to pass a law and claim "we did sumfin about the problem and it didn't cost us a cent!". And also why I think ultimately this legislation will be generally toothless and generally only used as a method by which the police can blackmail mexicans into giving up their civil rights.

[Kuya]

This seems like a feel good measure. Something you do when you want your constituents to think you're doing something about the problem, but you probably aren't addressing it in any meaningful way.

[Korietsu]

Lol, like we need an immigration law. We already issue tickets for DWB and DWH because of corrupt cops, and often watch people scatter when ICE shows up at a public place.

[Atreides]

I, for one, support this ridiculously divisive law because conservative dickbags completely alienating latino voters with overt racism got Harry Reid elected with a 5 point margin after people had long written his political obituaries. What we really need is to implement it all along the south so Republicans and Tea party politicians can talk about how much they like it and make sure the latino electorate re-elects Obama in 2012 by a huge majority.

[Rhinox]

I wonder if Headless bodies are popping up in the Texas Desert.

[Yugl]

The title is misleading. Texas, within recent years and aside from Houston and small enclaves, always supports the right. Also, I can't understand why Texas would oppose gangs or even use the legal system to deal with social problems. Isn't that what guns are for?!

[Rhinox]

I assumed the OP meant Rightish as in something he agrees with.

Could be wrong though.

[Ragnus]

Sorry for the ambiguity. Yes, the title refers to the way I feel rather than politically "right".

[Woozie]

Uh, wasn't he joking? That's what I assumed, especially because of his last two sentences.

[Olo401]

This is just further evidence that Republicans are fucking clueless, and the ones in Texas are the idiot kings. Immigration status of ANYONE who's been arrested should automatically been checked by otherwise competent law enforcement officers, with any follow-up being referred directly to ICE. The only two possible reasons they would have to pass this kind of legislation would be either invocation of states rights (which doesn't work because the Federal government is granted power over immigration matters by the Constitution) or if they planned to make good on Rick Perry's secessionist ambitions at some point.

[Max™]

Texas does something right?



Oh, I think we can do more than just one thing right, that kid just pulled off a "haters gonna hate" walk for a TD.