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Elizabeth Llorente from Fox News Latino on the battle between the states and the feds
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-- I wanna start with in my own home state Arizona.
Lay out what the argument is for me and and for and against not just -- -- -- seventy but any sort of immigration law that that tends to address the issue of.
Of illegals right.
Well the argument for a law such as SB 1070 is that.
The federal government has failed to enforce immigration.
Law and that the -- states especially states such as Arizona are bearing the brunt they're having to deal with the consequences they're having to deal with.
Providing services.
Two illegal in the -- -- education and health education is that is that.
Right right and also some people would argue job loss you know that -- there are jobs that are being done by illegal immigrants.
Who are willing to accept.
Less ideal working conditions and lower wages OK so then I'm -- the language of SB 1070.
Basically it says that.
That the federal government.
Needs help you know in enforcing the law and that day.
Want to cooperate you know they want to help.
They want to be.
Multiple fires you know as they say law enforcement's.
And add a layer which would be the local law enforcement later they want local police to help enforce immigration.
So when you put it that way it's -- hard for some people understand I mean.
This is ignited a difference between that State's governor.
Timber and our current president of the tarmac incident well yeah where everything I heard you with a fair and -- playing -- -- yes not happy with with something she wrote her book he says and so on and so forth and by.
When you put it so simply it if it's not that common.
-- now flip it for me comes on well look the other.
Side is the government and immigration an advocates who.
One.
More lenient policies for and you know and documents -- illegal immigrants can't turn it.
Well not -- on amnesty they say that there's certain conditions that you have to meet.
Which is -- didn't get up pathway to legalization but that's pretty good what the government is arguing the Obama administration.
Is arguing.
That immigration.
Is a federal matter it is the comp and you want the local people involved they say even if it's first of all they say that -- Arizona and other states have adopted these laws are overstepping their boundaries.
That and they are trying to formulate their own policies.
On something that is a federal responsibility.
And they say it's too complex.
For local law enforcement agents will local law enforcement officers.
To implement and to make decisions about because they say that immigration law.
Involves not just are you supposed to be here yes -- no but also foreign policy considerations.
Immigration is also about providing services to people.
Naturalization.
Immigration -- -- -- and then there's that.
Nugget that no one really talks of -- when you talk about entry into this country by those who want to kill us.
Militants.
-- it if our borders are porous.
They're gonna walk right across -- so now you're going to have to share some intelligence between defense.
And the local law enforcement and there until now has been a little bit of resistance for the government to do that well.
Normally normally when it.
Crosses a line like when there's a serious crime when there's -- talk I mean I think in terms of prevention bill now.
Can we invited to the national security meetings the local -- and a lot of guys know and if I was with us if you would with the president.
-- happen to -- is to -- to be fair they're always been as a reporter you know for now longer than I care to say.
They're only thing tensions between.
Local police and federal role.
Law enforcement you know whether it's local policeman in BI whether it's not nearly an -- terms of an emergency or whatever but this would be something this is a part of -- -- really hasn't been talked about.
-- would have to have a pretty concerted effort they're gonna it interject themselves into this.
-- SB seven iron up to seven in 1070.
Well here's the thing.
If they acted the Supreme Court house to make the decision.
To where they have to rule whether.
They will allow the expansion of state powers you know as far as enforcing immigration.
-- Or whether.
They're going to keep that bright line.
That's always been there.
As far as what a state can or cannot do and what the federal government and and -- if they do week.
They allow the expansion of state powers with regard to.
Immigration and not so simply and beautifully -- that -- precedent.
Obviously -- absolutely I mean there are many states there's several states already that have similar laws and those.
-- was -- have behaving talk blocking think.
Today in this whole discussion those -- state well not not only hearings and I had hearings but certainly.
Didn't the nation is watching the nation is watching these states are watching.
Officials who are who feel overwhelmed.
By illegal immigration.
Are watching and the people there are many legislatures.
In many states around the nation that have considered.
These bills but have decided not to act on them to cause.
But the overwhelming court challenges and -- -- waiting to see how this plays out of this -- quite well.
You look at the issue nationally and then there within Arizona.
It.
They decide if if the Supreme Court decides no we're not gonna allow the expansion of state powers with regard to illegal immigration.
-- do you see anything changing does the federal government suddenly step up and say.
But we hear you you push forward with SB 1070 we hear that you've got some -- so here's our backup plan is there anything on the table that you've heard about.
Well this is an election year.
So it has no class a I didn't want -- -- stop -- -- -- debate will intensify I think either way I think on whether I -- -- I mean what candidate Serwer will William.
-- the answer is that you know you need some content -- -- you need enforcement see people who support.
SB 1070.
And who wants stricter immigration enforcement say we don't really need new laws because the laws -- -- they need to be enforced.
And the other side says no local laws need to be improved because there are eleven million at least that we know of illegal immigrants in the United States.
And they're not all going to be deported and they're not all going to self deport him to use a phrase that's become very popular.
And so what do we do about them it doesn't help anybody self deport.
Some people -- yes -- in the morning and they say you know.
I'm here illegally and I'm gonna feel like I'm gonna do the right thing I'm -- How well they're not thinking I'm gonna do the right thing they're thinking it's getting harder to find the job.
You know the economy in the United States is not what it used to be.
Now I have to look over my shoulder more than I used to so.
You know life is just getting more difficult and and meanwhile.
You know there was a study just this week about how Mexico.
What Mexicans account for the largest.
Percentage of illegal immigrants in the United States.
How.
More Mexicans.
Are returning.
You know to Mexico.
And less of them are coming well.
That's a huge statement here because there's a word on down going on down there with the drug cartels and -- to to think that.
Many of those families would face that situation rather than be here jobless yeah -- -- Well and actually in the drug violence actually ahead also plays another.
Roll.
And that is that it's getting harder for many people to quit or more dangerous for them to cross the border the cause of the drug violence because of the cartel violence.
So that actually has been another to turn it.
Been very interesting you've written about -- on Fox -- Latina dot com can we put that up and -- tell me just a little bit about your article.
It's a nation divided because.
The it is it is divided everywhere everyone agrees -- there -- consensus -- so far as.
Is the system broken.
There's generally -- consensus that yes it is whether people want SB 1070 or they don't.
They do agree that something's gotta be done you've got the next governor in the -- law have helped put this on the map for it for the administration for the that'll I think it's good I -- I definitely think well if it wasn't a map -- two -- seven under bush.
It was definitely on the map and George Bush really really tried.
And -- Democrats and Republicans will both say that that George Bush really try to -- come up with an answer but.
Bipartisan bickering.
Then -- and have an app.
-- -- Not bipartisan bickering doom the bill and so it it was -- immigration has been on the map.
In one way or another but do what this is put on the map is that the local repercussion that's been you know and how.
You know how all politics is local well of immigration now is local because.
There are -- immigrant populations.
In almost every state now.
In the country and that includes.
You know an illegal immigrant population.
As they are no longer.
Just an Arizona -- just in Texas so you have places like you talk like Mississippi.
-- and Kansas.
Talking about what to do about.
Illegal immigrants.
Elizabeth.
Lawrence C senior reporter for Fox News Latino dot com -- you're talking about this all day having you know I I have experienced down.
On the line we don't call the border in Arizona we called those living across the line and there -- people argue that the economy the economies of this border states would change drastically if they didn't have.
Particularly -- workers coming across the the line right -- -- but at the same time there's the argument that they're taking jobs it's it's it's very difficult.
For someone in Washington to see that so it's interesting that the states want more power of their own destiny.
Yeah it is difficult but also many employers will rule who'll actually tried to do the right thing.
Say that they apply for guest worker visas and and that the sit -- in the process with some bureaucrat yes I know it's so frustrating yes.
And people don't trying to come.
You know the -- that -- I -- just to work.
And then go back to their country to also say that it's very typical -- -- you'll also get penalized when you try to do things the right way Elizabeth thank you come back any time.
Well thank you very American check out Fox News -- dot com.
