(It didn’t used to be, anyway, but then again until recently we also expected some brakes on the govt.’s ability to eavesdrop on our phone calls and emails.)

In addition, most local police forces don’t consider themselves arms of Immigration Control. They have to deal with crimes that are actually violent, for one thing. A lot of people reflexively applaud publicity grabs like Sheriff Arpaio’s, but they don’t stop to count the costs of what does not get done while he’s scoring cheap political points.

Lots more in the East Valley Tribune for anybody interested.

Yes, in an ideal world we would have more control over immigration, but “build a wall” or “deport and displace millions” are just stupid. If you’re paranoically inclined (who, me?) you might even think the system is working the way it’s supposed to: An easily intimidated pool of cheap labor is the American way to some people.

anon: criminals in the eyes of the law, sure; and I expect most of them are well aware of it, not to mention the risks they run by become undocumented immigrants – not just from the law, but from some citizens of the countries where they end up. Which makes you wonder just how bad things are back in their home country, that they’re willing to accept a life of the fringe of the law rather than return… and how their home country got that way in the first place. Immigration – in the US, the UK and the EU – is the sound of chickens coming home to roost, an inevitable outcome of the old days of imperialism. If you really want to squash illegal immigration, push for greater enforcement of the minimum wage laws. If there weren’t exploitative employers willing to hire them, they’d soon return home.

Oh noes! FSM forbid we target criminals. I can’t understand what the big deal is when we arrest people who are here _illegally_.