Andanh.com

One of the more surprising stories of the year came this week, as two of
the state's leading illegal immigration warriors -- Rep. Russell Pearce and
Don Goldwater -- failed to get the support needed to put their latest
battle plans on the ballot.

In an e-mail to supporters, Goldwater claimed money did them in. As in, not
enough of it to hire people to circulate petitions.

Illegal immigration activists are no doubt quietly rejoicing and hoping
this may be a turning point in Arizona's ongoing fistfight.

Me? I'd like to think that we've arrived the proverbial line over which
people don't think we should cross. One of these initiatives would have put
an employer out of business if he was caught knowingly hiring someone here
illegally. The other would required – rather than allowed – police to
enforce federal immigration law.

Like I said, I'd like to think we've arrived at that line. But I doubt it.

When it comes to illegal immigration, rationality was left behind long ago.
In April 2006, to be exact, when 100,000 illegal immigrants and their
supporters took the streets. Since then, we haven't been able to talk
honestly about the subject. Instead, we shout – not that anybody on either
side listens.

Last week, for example, I described the circus-like atmosphere at Sheriff
Joe Arpaio's crime sweep in Mesa. There were the deputies, nearly 200 of
them chasing all over town for two days to catch 28 illegal immigrants. And
there were Mesa Chief George Gascón's troops, 131 of them ready to quell
riots from 100 or so protesters.

To read the blog reaction, you would think I came down on the side of
rapists, murderers and all manner of hardened criminals.

Wrote RealAmerican: “Sheriff Joe is an American hero.”

Wrote Fridgeman: “The only people worried about the sheriff's office,
concerned and or spewing negative or derogatory remarks are all of the
trash of our society who fear him for some reason. Either way, they are
either wanted felons or illegal Mexican immigrant trash.”

Wrote Jozy: “Laurie Laurie Laurie, just when I thought you had some sense
you go and act as an Illegal Alien sympathizer. I thank Sheriff Joe Arpaio
for every effort he is making to help with the problem of crime and illegal
aliens. This negative story that you write leads me to believe that you
have some sort of motive. Could it be that you are employing an illegal?”

Or could it be that I just think it's ridiculous overkill to dispatch up to
200 deputies to catch 28 guys with broken taillights? (And to pay 131 Mesa
cops to stand around waiting for trouble.)

But no, it couldn't be that. We, after all, are a country entrenched and
from our respective foxholes we can see nothing other than noble immigrant
or alien criminal. One side thinks it's “anti immigrant” to complain about
the costs illegal immigration imposes upon us all. The other thinks it's
“anti American” to point out that we had hand in it. Neither side is
interested in a compromise that might allow us to actually do something
about that standing joke we call our immigration policy.

And so we are down 28 illegal immigrants, with 20 million to go. Meanwhile,
the border remains a sieve and oh yeah, the National Guard is due to depart
in 10 days. Not that it'll matter.

I talked to a guardsman at Arpaio's sweep, a 27-year-old who came out to
support the sheriff. He's done two tours in Iraq and Afghanistan and one
rather frustrating one at the border as part of Operation Jump Start.

“We weren't allowed to do anything,” he told me. “We were there for a show
of force, a presence and after the illegals realized that we weren't
allowed to apprehend them and cuff ‘em up, detain them until Border Patrol
got there, they would literally walk right by us.”

I'd ask if anybody thinks this makes sense, but really, who listens
anymore?

(Column published July 5, 2008, The Arizona Republic)