Examiner: "Arizona takes the cuffs off police"

Arizona is dealing with issues most of us will never know ... almost half a million illegal aliens living in the state, police murdered by illegals, citizens murdered by illegals, number two kidnapping capital in the world, drug cartel gangs, financial drain on emergency services and schools ... and the list goes on.

Well-known Arizona rancher Rob Krentz, whose family had owned their 35,000 acre ranch on the border with Mexico since 1907, was recently murdered by illegal aliens. Even the Minutemen, a kind of citizens watch group established five years ago to protect the border, have disbanded due to increased violence.

Are there any other countries in the world that are as lax in enforcing their immigration policies as America? Many countries are not as welcoming of outsiders as the U.S.; yet when the law of the land here is enforced, the immediate response is negative.

Arizona Gov. Jan Brewer and state lawmakers decided enough was enough. With the United States government failing to protect the southern border, Arizona's only recourse was to put stronger teeth in its laws to protect its citizens. They are putting a finger in the dam and, quite frankly, doing the rest of America a favor.

In fact, polls show most Americans and the majority of those in Arizona agree with the new law, as reported in the blog Wake Up America.

Mark Tapscott at the Washington Examiner editorialized Arizona takes cuffs off police:

An estimated 460,000 illegal immigrants reside in Arizona, which has become a main entry point for thousands of drug smugglers, human traffickers, potential terrorists, and others who often commit violent crimes against innocent people and their property. To its credit, Arizona made several previous attempts to deal with the growing problem, with limited success. In 2005, human smuggling became a state crime. In 2007, employers were prohibited from knowingly hiring illegal immigrants. But the invasion continued, and violent drug cartels have turned Phoenix into the kidnapping capital of the U.S.

Examiner columnist Cal Thomas writes Arizona takes off its "rainbow shades":

Arizona has decided that if the federal government will not live up to its responsibility to control the border, it will. Governor Jan Brewer, a Republican, signed a bill that allows police officers to inquire about a person's immigration status if there is reason to suspect that individual might be an illegal immigrant.

The governor correctly noted that the new law "represents another tool for our state to use as we work to solve a crisis we did not create and the federal government has refused to fix."

Not surprisingly, Mexico's president condemned the law. Mexico has enough issues of its own dealing with drug lords, crime, and poverty ... it appears hypocritical to criticize the U.S. for trying to protect her people.

Predictably, many in the MSM are on board with the naysayers. Media Research Center has been tracking media hypocrisy in their coverage of non-existent violence by tea party ralliers while ignoring actual violence by pro-illegal alien protesters in Arizona.

- CBS Again Focuses on Victims in Arizona: 'Many Feel the Sting of Racism in New Law'
- Lauer Confronts AZ Sheriff Joe Arpaio: Will Tough Immigration Law Affect 'Image of Your State?'
- ABC's Bill Weir to Sheriff Joe Arpaio: Will You 'Grab People on Street Corners?'
- ABC: 'Mostly Peaceful' Immigration Protests vs. 'Very Ugly' Tea Party Rallies
- 'Mostly Peacefully' Means 'Somewhat Violently' at the New York Times
- MSNBC News Flash: Arizona Law 'Makes it a Crime to be Illegal Immigrant'
- Matthews Urges James Cameron to Trash 'Dangerous' Global Warming Deniers in 'Right Wing Media'
- CBS's Smith: 'Will Anyone in GOP Break Ranks' on Financial Reform?

Please pardon, Mr. President

I'll be the first to admit I don't understand all the controversy surrounding Ignacio Ramos and Jose Compean, the U.S. Border Patrol agents who are in prison for apprehending a drug smuggler.

Am I missing something? The details I have read have me scratching my head and wondering how such an injustice could happen toward two men who were doing their jobs. And, therefore, is my confusion.

Surely there must be something else to this? The facts I have read are straight forward: Ramos and Compean put their lives on the line while apprehending and capturing an illegal alien smuggling drugs into this country and were arrested by the U.S. Government and sent to prison. They were doing their jobs. What am I missing?

From World Net Daily:

President Bush this week added a convicted methamphetamine dealer, a cocaine distributor and two marijuana suppliers to the list of drug operators he's pardoned while in office, bringing his total of drug suppliers who have been pardoned or had their sentences commuted to 36.

U.S. Border Patrol agents Ignacio Ramos and Jose Compean, meanwhile, are serving 11- and 12-year prison sentences, respectively, for shooting and wounding—in the line of duty—an illegal alien drug smuggler trying to bring over 720 pounds of marijuana across the border.

The drug smuggler received only minor injuries and was given full immunity from prosecution by the federal prosecutor in return for his testimony against the agents.

The clock is ticking.

If you agree Ramos and Compean should be pardoned, please contact President Bush.

Minutemen place American flags along border.

Working to protect America's borders.