.
.
.
I don't know if this Mercedes-Benz was actually manufactured in Alabama. It's just here to excite you.
I got the inspiration (and leads) for this delicious story from this piece in Alternet, but I’ll try to make it my own.
As you may (or may not) recall, half a year ago the great state of Alabama passed “the strongest immigration law in the country”, which went beyond even Arizona’s “Papers Please” effort. Here are some choice bits:
The crackdown will require public schools to determine the immigration status of students – an aspect not covered in an Arizona law that has been at the forefront of attempts by several US states to crack down on illegal immigrants.
Under the Alabama law, police must detain someone they suspect of being in the country illegally if the person cannot produce proper documentation when stopped for any reason.
It also will be a crime to knowingly transport or harbour someone who is in the country illegally. The law imposes penalties on businesses that knowingly employ someone without legal resident status, and business licences could be suspended or revoked.
What could go wrong? Let’s take another look at that second paragraph above.
As explained in this story, Alabama arrested a Mercedez-Benz executive when a local cop saw that the rental car he was driving lacked a tag. He had been asked for his ID, but all he had on him was a German ID card. No valid U.S. ID card? Boot to the head! (By the way, this provision applies to U.S. citizens too. Hence “Papers, please!” God help you if someone steals your wallet.)
While a U.S. apeals court blocked the provision requiring public schools to determine the legal residency of children who are enrolling, it said that “Alabama could authorize police to detain people suspected of being in the country illegally if they cannot produce proper documentation when stopped for any reason.” Previously one could get cited for that — which seems defensible. Now you also get arrested. This has had some curious unintended consequences.
“It is really ironic and showed the absurdity of this law. Here you have a foreign employer who has brought many workers jobs … caught in this web that is supposed to bring jobs,” said Mitch Ackerman, executive vice president of Service Employees International Union.
Alabama, though, defends its decision. Asked about the Mercedes exec’s arrest, the Director of the Alabama Development Office said: “In international travel, it is not uncommon to have to produce a passport.” Coming from the guy tasked with bringing business into the stat, this is … ironic:
Alabama was widely criticized when it offered massive tax benefits to lure Mercedes to Alabama to open its first U.S. plant. The factory was completed in 1996, and its suppliers have an economic impact estimated at $6.8 billion and 41,830 jobs, according to a report in 2006 Center for Business and Economic Research based at the University of Alabama for the Economic Partnership of Alabama.
So Alabama spends a mint to lure these jobs out of states like California, and then it arrests their “job creators.” Smart! At least this sort of fiasco would probably never happen again … wait, what’s that you say?
A judge has acted to put a Japanese employee of Honda Motor Company out of his misery by dismissing immigration charges against him, three days after he was booked under Alabama’s new immigration laws that have been billed as the most swingeing in America. Ichiro Yada is one of about 100 Japanese managers of the company on assignment in southern state. Yada was stopped in Leeds, Alabama, at a checkpoint set up by police to catch unlicenced drivers. He was ticketed on the spot, despite the fact that he showed an international driver’s licence, a valid passport and a US work permit.
… [A]ll drivers are required to carry a valid driver’s licence, either from a US state or from their native country if they are from abroad. The law is designed to trap undocumented immigrants – in practice, Hispanics largely from Mexico – who are no longer allowed to apply for driving licences.
Over the past two months thousands of undocumented Latinos have fled the state and many more have ceased driving for fear of being caught and incarcerated.
Yada is the second foreign car executive to fall foul of the new law. Last month police officers arrested a German director of Mercedes-Benz for failing to carry a valid driver’s licence. The move exposed Alabama to widespread criticism and ridicule.
The inadvertent discomfort of foreign car executives is no joke for Alabama, though. Mercedes-Benz, which opened a plant in Tuscaloosa in 1993, and Honda, which came to Lincoln in 1999, are major employers. Honda has 4,000 employees in Alabama with an investment of about $1.4bn.
Alabama is now involved in the arduous and painful process of “getting a clue”:
Faced with backlash over the detainment of two foreign auto employees, two architects of Alabama’s tough immigration law say they are having second thoughts about the law.
The Republican attorney general is calling for some of the strictest parts of it to be repealed. Some Republican lawmakers say they now want to make changes in the law that was pushed quickly through the legislature.
Gov. Robert Bentley, who signed the law, said he’s contacting foreign executives to tell them they and their companies are still welcome in Alabama. The moves comes following backlash from big business after the embarrassing traffic stops of two foreign employees tied to the state’s prized Honda and Mercedes plants. …
Luther Strange, the attorney general who’s defending the law in court, this week recommended repealing sections that make it a crime for an undocumented immigrant to fail to carry registration documents and that require public schools to collect information on the immigration status of students.
I would say that “there’s a lesson here for California,” but I think it’s more than one lesson. One lesson is: don’t pass immigration laws aimed at Latinos and expect them not to be applied in a color-blind manner, because at least some law enforcement officers have been trained on the 14th Amendment’s Equal Protection Clause and aren’t afraid to do their job properly.
While I’m an immigration rights supporter, I’m not one of those who thinks that all criticism of legal and illegal immigrants is rooted in hate. (I think that it’s hard to dispute that some of it is, including some examples that you’re likely to see in the comments section of this very post, but not all of it.) Some of it is rooted in economic competition and in misguided beliefs that immigration costs our society money overall; some of it is even rooted in a general belief in law and order. (But let’s keep it real: passionate opponents of illegal immigration may want to consider that on my 100 mile drive back from Ventura County yesterday, the speed of traffic flow for much of the trip was around 75 or 80. So there’s some more lawbreaking for them to be agitated about, as I’m sure they must be.)
Regardless: I hope that we should all be able to agree that whatever laws are proposed should fit within the limits of our pretty-darn-swell Constitution and should not blow up in our collective face.
Immigration is a tough problem; I empathize with those who think that people (and corporate “people”) should not be able to get away with cavalierly breaking the law. But for those people who think that there is a quick and easy (let alone humane) fix for the problem, I have a suggestion: move to Alabama, while this law still exists in its present form, and live out your fondest anti-immigration dreams before they wise up.
Meanwhile, props to the State of Missouri, whose St. Louis Post-Dispatch published an open letter to foreign auto companies with this to say:
We are the Show Me State, not the Show Me Your Papers State. … You’ve got two choices. Either ask your executives to carry their immigration papers at all times, or move to a state that understands gemüchlichkeit.
Google Translate let me down on that last word, but my understanding is that it means something like “discomfort” or “inconvenience” or “not treating visitors like pieces of trash.”
(My favorite quote from my research for this post, by the way? It’s this statement from one Alabama mayor: “”We managed in the past without illegal immigrants to pick the tomatoes here, and I haven’t heard anyone say that if we sent them all home nobody would be left to do that work.” Those tomatoes are now rotting in the fields after Hispanic pickers fled. That’s another lesson for California to bear in mind.)
Now what would you do, if immigration was enforced and you lost your clients Mr. Diamond?
This is why Americans are despised by Mexico and Mexicans the most, they would sell out their own people to make a buck or save a buck. They are bye far stupid when it comes to their country men. But what the Mexicans don’t know, is the only people they interact with most are the corrupt, scumbags, and sheltered losers!
And of course American lawyers who just love to make an easy buck off a poor abused immigrant at the hands of their follow American or take thousands of dollars off a family that try to do come here the right way.
In Ireland and in Mexico they call them traitors, super grasses. I think that 20% of this country needs to learn that while they think they may be the hero, really they are nothing but the abusers and enablers!
What? Huh? My clients? Am I making an easy buck of poor abused immigrants? Does Mitey Quinn think that I practice immigration law? What about the story I posted? What is she talking about?
The mind reels. Not mine, and not yours, Dear Reader. Quinn’s.
Yeah, she’s got this weird habit of thinking she knows EXACTLY what you do for a living, what groups you’re involved with, and what you think on every conceivable issue. It’s truly bizarre.
I did not say you were an immigration lawyer. I said you would lose clients if immigration was enforced. You would not have any nasty Americans to sue again.
Umm… if “immigration were enforced” there would be no more nasty Americans?
Damn. I did it. I actually read and thought about something Quinn wrote.
Well now your not a virgin anymore!
Your comment was almost orgasmic; glad I did it for ya.
(PSSSST! Vern, don’t tell her that that’s not what an orgasm is like!)
I suspect Quinn wouldn’t know an orgasm if it bit her you-know-where.
Just my theory, about people like her…
You only have to look at how much money we pump in to Education here in California (which a huge majority of the failing students who suck up the resources are the children of illegal immigrants or illegal themselves) or know that this state has over 35% of the welfare recipients that are over half hispanic or know that 80% of Caloptima enrolled are hispanic parents and their kids and also know that ALL but a few blacks and poor whites, hispanics get the free federal lunch program. What the 70% drop out rate in the colleges, most are hispanic….Shall I go on and on and on. Free clinics, free child seats. Mexico and central America has two types of people the rich and the poor, they have more poor and they want to get rid of them. I wonder why?
You can’t cover up facts that are obvious, no matter how you try!
I’d like sources for your assertions, Quinn, for obvious reasons.
Whats the point? Go look them up for yourself, and get back to me.
I always wonder how much alcohol MQ has to ingest to trigger these eruptions of hate, bitterness and bigotry, does it take a real bender or just a couple of beers?
Alcohol? I can smell the rocket fuel from here!
Having one are we, can’t sleep? Try a book instead of the liquor, not good for the heart or the waist.
Does the rocket fuel keep you up at night, MQ?
No the dishes, floors and laundry does, ya know the one your’re house cleaner does. Do you E verify?
wonder how much refer anoster has to toke to these eruptions of supporting law breakers
Only liberals need to be plastered to tell the truth:) Man to even think I’m plastered at 1pm says alot about you. I don’t tell the truth because I hate welfare recipients, I tell the truth because it’s the truth.
Watched a very stupid hero moment on CNN, hosted by copper. An Italian immigrant who owns a fancy I Tie resturaunt in Anaheim has been feeding poor kids in the area (of course mostly hispanic Pasta every day. Now the man means well, but a picture of he and the kids was shown and most of the kids were huge. Now the problem: the kids are not starving, no they are over fed, which will lead to all sorts of health problems. So the truth is stop feeding the kids pasta and end the federal lunch programs. The parents need to learn how to use those food stamps. That is the truth!
Right, right. You NEVER fail to lead with the judgementalism and moral superiority. What a self-righteous bore you are.
Oh, yes, knowing and pointing out that a high fat, carb content in your diet with little exercise makes you fat is sooooo morally superior? And pointing out the obvious fact that the kids that were supposed to be starving, are in fact over weight is judgmental?
Yes, I see that would be quite boring to someone who would rather watch an EXCITING CNN hero moment and forget about the obvious problems staring them in the face. TUT TUT.
Your simplistic analysis is your usual immigrant bashing (although, I’m an immigrant, and I hate immigrants, so I must hate myself) that ignores some basic tenets of nutrition.
The poor persons diet is usually at a caloric level below the norm and because they are eating empty calories with out the four key nutrients calcium, magnesium, potassium and phosphorus, their metabolic function is sub-par. Low metabolic rate = obesity.
” And pointing out the obvious fact that the kids that were supposed to be starving, are in fact over weight is judgmental?
No, it’s just stupid.
No love, the fact that most starving people are skinny not fat is an observation. When you are starving you might have an exstended abdomin, but you would not be fat! The poor persons diet is usually low caloric, that’s why they are thin? I swear, it’s like taking too the insane.
The problem is that there are too many people in this country that either eat crap or get it from the government directly. But it’s also cultural. Mexico has a high obesity rate as well does this country.
Would you please make up your feeble mind and decide if you think that the poor kids are fat or skinny.
For those of you interested in what is wrong with DAQ, look at the following link that defines wet-brain syndrome.
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wernicke–Korsakoff_syndrome
The poor in this world starve mostly to death. The poor in america are fat because the government feeds the poor with crap or gives the poor money so they can feed themselves crap. Bottom line is free choice of food is not good for the American poor and the government always ends up causing more problems. As far ad Mexico is concerned it had more problems than their fat population.
The average Food Stamp benefit works out to about $4 a day, not a lot of fruits and vegetables can be bought on that kind of budget.
But I wouldn’t expect a bitter, angry, bigot to let facts get in the way of her wanting to deny poor children food. I pity your kids.
Then why do they call it cal fresh? Spin heads!
When it comes to food and exercise my children learn well! Don’t pity them for being fit and healthy, pity those who have no food, no choice, no $4’s that to most will bye them a feast.
I pity your children because of their mother’s ignorance, bigotry and small petty heart, that’s a lot for a child to overcome.
I dont pity your kids, because kids become aldults. Dont worry about my kids, they are are very lucky.
Hey, monster
Thanks bye the way for asking Vern not to delete my comments. 🙂
As long as liberals keep promoting modern day slavery of Mexicans and other foreign nationals the immigration laws will not be changed or enforced.
Give me a freakin’ break. Conservatives have been just as culpable as huge industries like agri-business, meat processing, food services and textiles have imported this low-wage workforce. They all know we like our lettuce to be cheap.
Grow your own lettuce, cut your own lawn, flip your own buger, wash your own car.
And you are right about Conservatives being culpable too.
Americans are not gonna live like that, you ancient eccentric.
You hate cars anyway, don’t you?
The rich are usually liberal, as was Steve jobs, and most of the wall street bankers. Most conservatives are small business people and the working class of this country. But there are a lot of RINO”S like Bill Campbell who indeed have businesses and uses mostly illegal immigrants.
The problem is not that illegal immigrants work in this country, the problem is, that they are a drain on the country finanically because while they may have a job, they most likely have a low paying job, without benefits, and they and their children will become a burden on the social system as they are now in hugh numbers. Most work under the table and do not pay taxes as far as federal, state and if they do they are getting the money back, plus some for their children.
There should be a work program but what should be taken away, is the welfare and the fact that their Mexican/central American child should not get citizenship by simply being born on American soil, that is ridiculous.
“The rich are usually liberal, as was Steve jobs, and most of the wall street bankers.”
Are you on glue ?
No, are clueless?
Alcohol, weed now glue…man, now we know why liberals are as dumb as rocks, fried brain:)
So: any comments on the story, rather than on Quinn’s “theories”?
This digression seems like MQ’s equivalent of a distracting $10,000 bet.
A necessary evil my friend (a car). Hope you had a good time at the library.
LA Times – Supreme Court may weigh in on Arizona immigration law
At issue is not only who can enforce immigration laws but also what the policy should be for the millions of illegal immigrants living and working in the country. President Obama’s team has targeted for deportation illegal immigrants who are criminals, smugglers and repeat border crossers, not those who obey the criminal laws.
http://www.latimes.com/health/la-na-court-immigration-20111211,0,7097472.story
Good story, makes one think.
(not most, as most people don’t think at all, just follow a well trodden path of the Lemurs)
Maybe you can explain the reason why the legal profession, the ACLU, has allowed children who are required by law to be treated as legal residents, and (in my opinion) are legal residents of the USA, can be turned into a non-resident alien on their 18th birthday?
“Maybe you can explain the reason why .. children who are required by law to be treated as legal residents, (can) ..be turned into a non-resident alien on their 18th birthday?”
It must be by the magic of the Good Witch of the North cook.
I’m not sure that I buy the premise of your question. You’re talking about ones born abroad, I assume, not ones born here (i.e., citizens), right? In many ways, children who are present without authorization are entitled to the same benefits as those here legally, but I don’t think that they are “treated as legal residents” for all purposes; similarly, an adult here without authorization can’t be described as “being treated like a legal resident” overall just because, like everyone else, they are entitled to emergency room care.
I don’t think that the ACLU “allows” such laws to be as they are. Either you’re joking around or you massively overestimate the ACLU’s power.
I assume, not ones born here (i.e., citizens), right?
Yes. The adult parents have their own problem, but as they establish residence for themselves and their foreign born children. Questions on application of law does arise.
“children who are present without authorization are entitled to the same benefits as those here legally, but I don’t think that they are “treated as legal residents” for all purposes” (GD)
Do you know of any benefits of US residence that are denied (those children)? I don’t.
I find it strange that the USA would apply one standard to those within the borders of the State’s, and then have the Dept of State scream human rights violations at other countries for doing the exact same thing.