While watching a television (TV) report alleging reports of racism, I almost forgot that I had to go to the bank. As I drove to the bank, I reflected on the TV report implying that many Americans believe a recently enacted Arizona Law (SB 1070) is racist. According to a New York Times article dated May 8, 2010:
“The measure requires police officers to ask for proof of legal status whenever they have a "reasonable suspicion'' that someone they have stopped for some other purpose is an illegal alien.”
Apparently, police are required to ask for forms of identification during a traffic stop that could either validate one’s citizenship or cause officials to question it.
What does that have to do with my trip to the bank? Well, as I entered the bank a nice lady asked me what I needed. I answered her question, completed some paperwork and proceeded to the teller. The teller asked me for guess what? Two forms of identification. I briefly joked with him comparing his request with the new Arizona law. We both laughed and I gladly showed him two forms of identification.
What do these two incidents illustrate?
Well, since I had the money in the bank, I did not mind showing two IDs to get it. If an ID was not required, anyone could claim to be me. Moreover, it even bothers me when a clerk does not ask for some form of ID when I do financial transactions. For example, I have the following statement written on my credit card: please ask for ID. The card could have been stolen. I feel the same way about illegal immigrants in our country.
If a person is a legal citizen, he or she need not fear this law. However, if the person stopped by Arizona authorities is not a legal citizen, they probably need to be concerned. After the passage of SB 1070, I read that many illegal immigrants were moving to other states such as Texas and California. One such person lamented ‘why should I have to move, I am not a criminal because I haven’t killed anyone.’ This person does not understand our legal system since they are here illegally. We should enforce our immigration laws or repeal them…seems simple to me. Also, what about the immigrants who came here and got their citizenship legally? Not checking IDs seems to be a slap in the faces of those naturalized citizens.
WHAT SAY YOU AMIGO?
