Sorry, was away the last couple days. I looked over most of the responses and here is the general consensus I got:
when was the last time you were stopped by a police officer? Don't they always ask for identification? And I don't mean only when driving. Does a company you apply for not ask for identification? Identification is ask for many things and these things can be denied if an identification can not be provided at the time. But let's be realistic here, you are not concerned with the whole "let me see your papers" issue, you are actually concerned with particular people being asked. In the end, this is nothing but a racial issue and another way to pin racism on Republicans and that is the reality
Now, this sums it up really well actually (thanks Chuck)
In my example I stated that when I go for a jog I don't carry any ID, just my house keys.
Now, the very correct assertion was made that if I happen to be passing through an area where a crime has just occurred, the police can and would detain me legally. I have no argument with this.
However, in the specific example I was using, there has been no crime. There has been no shooting, or rape, or robbery anywhere in the area. I don't even have to be going for a jog, let's say I'm walking two or three blocks away to pick up some milk from the corner store. There's quite literally nothing going on, other than the fact that I'm taking a casual stroll down the street.
The point I was going for is that under my present circumstances, a police officer -CAN NOT- just randomly stop me without reason and demand I prove my citizenship. If I'm driving a vehicle, that's a different matter. By law I'm required to have my driver's licence on me to prove that I'm not a hazard to society. Even if I do get stopped while driving and I don't have my license on me at the time (or let's say I'm a miscreant who's not actually licenced) I will end up having to pay a fine, perform community service or quite possibly do a month or two in jail. I will not, however, get deported.
Now, this law kind of turns things on it's head. You know that time honored phrase?
Innocent until proven guilty.
That's the whole basis of much of the legal system. The onus must be on the police/prosecutor to prove that you are guilty of something.
Now, however, the onus has been put on the average joe to prove that they are innocent. To prove that you belong, and you are not one of "them"
I find it really fascinating that this law is being championed by much of the right, who supposedly are against "big government" and continually chant that the government should be afraid of the people, not the other way around.
And Chuck is also absolutely right that this is not about race. This law is about keeping the growing underclass fractured and at each other's throats by making it about race.
At the end of the day, deporting millions of the poorest and dis-advantaged folks in your country is not only outright mean, it will not fix anything. It will not fix your economy, with a real unemployment rate creeping up on 20% that is still based entirely on financialized schemes and unsustainable debt. It will not lower the crime rate or 'break' the gangs as domestic groups will simply move in to fill any vacuum (if any) is created.
It -will- polarize your nation even more than it already is, creating even more fractures between the working poor, and keeping their attentions focused on the poor schmuck who breaks his back for minimum wage or less as a criminal simply for being there, and never, ever asking the tough questions about who the REAL criminals are.... like Goldman Sachs and BP, and why what they are doing is causing far more irreparable damage to send your country down the crapper! (no offense)
