Do Cry for Me, Arizona

It truly conflicts me to write this. Every progressive synapse in my body is rebelling as I reluctantly sidle up to Arizona's new illegal immigrants law.

I know. I know. There's a good chance this may have more to do with intimidation of Hispanic citizens to suppress the Latino-Democratic vote than protecting borders. Governor Jan Brewer, as Arizona secretary of state, and her claque have pulled such stunts previously.

I acknowledge the NAFTA-related root cause of much of the explosion in illegals; the insidious influence of American demand, money and guns in the cross-border drug wars; and the lack of political guts, right-wing demagoguery and political muscle of sectors like agriculture, construction and hospitality that have conspired to block rational immigration reform and a path to citizenship -- which hopefully may get a shot in the arm from this legislation.

And while I appreciate most supporters are not racist or xenophobic, I realize I've cast my lot with a considerable number who are.

Latino, civil rights and liberal activists are outraged, calling SB 1070 a blow to America's cherished values and claiming, probably correctly, it will impact on law-abiding Hispanic-Americans, many of whom are pillars of their communities tracing their American roots back generations. "Brown" profiling is a legitimate concern but surely the techniques used in behavioral, as opposed to racial, profiling by the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) can be adapted to this situation.

In any case, this is not about values or inconvenience. This is about 460,000 individuals living in Arizona illegally; taking jobs, overcrowding schools, swamping emergency rooms, stressing social services and, in many cases, doing violence. Let's be honest. If we were talking about green-skinned Martians no one would say "boo" about 1070.

Who among us hasn't been hassled post 9/11? Intrusive searches and interrogations at airports; new REAL ID requirements for driver's licenses; stringent passport rules to cross even our "open border" with Canada. We're no longer living in Kumbaya World, folks.

Arizona is merely joining the 60 nations, including Netherlands, Portugal and Brazil, that require citizens to carry proof of citizenship, and Canada, France, Sweden and soon Great Britain that issue de facto national ID cards. Incensed Mexican officials issued a travel warning for Arizona but let me tell you, you do not want to be caught in Mexico without papers.

Around the globe nations protect their borders, distinguish among citizens, foreign nationals and illegals and fine, jail and expel those without proper documentation. The ideas that it is some monumental ordeal for individuals to provide appropriate identification and that police shouldn't enforce the same law U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) does by nabbing illegal immigrants are simply bewildering to the rest of the world.