June 9, 2010
In Our Backyards
When debating the new immigration law, think about what Arizonans have to go through.
George Nethercutt

Imagine you live in Arizona, and you are an ordinary, law-abiding citizen. Your home is near the border of Mexico; your spouse and children reside in your home. Imagine that one day, you observe a group of 10 young men entering your backyard, rummaging through your patio furniture, trampling your flowerbeds, handling your garden tools, lawnmower or barbecue equipment. Or maybe the group is simply strolling through your yard. You may think, first, to call the police. You may just yell at them to leave your property.

Now imagine replaying that scene each day, each week for as long as Arizona has been battling illegal immigration. Imagine the thousands of illegal immigrants who enter Arizona unrestricted year after year.

It would be perfectly logical for you to be upset, afraid and angry wondering how you can somehow stop the illegal traffic you observe sneaking through your backyard.

According to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, Arizona was estimated to have more than 460,000 undocumented immigrants among a population of 6.5 million residents in 2009. Estimates vary for illegal immigrants residing in the United States from 13.9 million to 20 million. An estimated 78 illegal immigrants enter Arizona each day. California is by far the state with the highest number of undocumented immigrants residing within its borders an estimated 2.5 million of them.

Title 8 of the United States Code, the Immigration and Nationality Act and other amending statutes, require proper identification of legal immigrants. The Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency is charged with enforcing the laws that provide for the security of the U.S. border and combating criminal smuggling.

As you sit in your home watching illegal immigrants enter the United States each day for years without restriction, you might imagine that one day some illegal immigrant might knock on your door and frighten your family or enter your home when you’re not there. A recent report in Washington state documented illegal immigrants who committed crimes against Washington state residents and then were deported to Mexico only to return again to commit other crimes.

What steps might you take to safeguard your home and family? If you’re law-abiding, you have every right to assume the federal government will fulfill its responsibility to guard the U.S. border and stop the flow of illegal immigrants. If it doesn’t, you’ll probably call your congressman, senator or state officials, imploring them to “do something!â€