Mississippi has recently passed a bill aimed at expelling illegal immigrants from the state. The bill specifically voids contracts illegal immigrants signed illegally, bars state held organizations from any business transactions such as issuing drivers licenses and requires the police to check the immigration status of all detainees. It has so far been compared to similar laws in Arizona and Alabama.
The uproar about laws in Arizona and Alabama was about how Arizona was opening the door for police to racially profile people for immigration status and how Alabama was ripping apart families. Southern Poverty Law Center has already promised to sue the state, which may gain some concessions from the state in settlement. I am not holding my breath though.
I view these laws as reactionary to the recession of the economy. As growth stops and an economy shrinks, room for people to put down roots and start a life becomes limited. The space available becomes scarce and fierce competition for what is there starts. If there was growth and prosperity, I doubt these laws would ever be on the table unless there was a serious and threatening issue with criminal activity. However, in a move to protect their own jobs and income, the electorate has decided to start expelling those it can from even competing in a free market.
The Public Relations aspect of Southern Poverty's promise will put it on the wrong side of many in Mississippi who are struggling. They are looking for relief from a poor economy to save their homes and feed their families. People view illegal immigration as a serious contributing factor to their current situation and they are partly correct. Immigration increases competition for what is available on the Job Market.
However, the electorate still does not have the right to abuse illegal immigrants to preserve its own status. As the adage goes, Democracy is two wolves and a lamp deciding what's for dinner; Liberty is a well armed lamb. Southern Poverty in this case is on the side of liberty through law, a principle of our republic and I applaud them for protecting the liberty of the few.
The uproar about laws in Arizona and Alabama was about how Arizona was opening the door for police to racially profile people for immigration status and how Alabama was ripping apart families. Southern Poverty Law Center has already promised to sue the state, which may gain some concessions from the state in settlement. I am not holding my breath though.
I view these laws as reactionary to the recession of the economy. As growth stops and an economy shrinks, room for people to put down roots and start a life becomes limited. The space available becomes scarce and fierce competition for what is there starts. If there was growth and prosperity, I doubt these laws would ever be on the table unless there was a serious and threatening issue with criminal activity. However, in a move to protect their own jobs and income, the electorate has decided to start expelling those it can from even competing in a free market.
The Public Relations aspect of Southern Poverty's promise will put it on the wrong side of many in Mississippi who are struggling. They are looking for relief from a poor economy to save their homes and feed their families. People view illegal immigration as a serious contributing factor to their current situation and they are partly correct. Immigration increases competition for what is available on the Job Market.
However, the electorate still does not have the right to abuse illegal immigrants to preserve its own status. As the adage goes, Democracy is two wolves and a lamp deciding what's for dinner; Liberty is a well armed lamb. Southern Poverty in this case is on the side of liberty through law, a principle of our republic and I applaud them for protecting the liberty of the few.
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