Immigration: Arizona Wants to Change Its Image

For many months, Arizona has been living in shame. What is this state not guilty of? Its hysterical governor, Jan Brewer, villainous laws against its pregnant illegal immigrants, the silence of elected Republicans like John McCain and the Tucson tragedy have thrown a seemingly unstoppable disgrace on this state.

And then — one time won’t hurt — a bubble of fresh policy emerged that, whatever its fate or actual purity, is a taste of humanity. Whether a spontaneous initiative or a communications campaign chosen by the state itself, the result is quite successful. State residents will be able to raise their eyebrows. And half a million illegal immigrants will be able to breathe.

You will surely want to know why, if this baby is born tomorrow to a family of illegal immigrants, it will become a small American citizen and will have every chance of becoming the future president of the United States.

Arizona’s Senate has just delivered its future fellow beings from undue turpitude. Both SB 1070 laws, concocted by absolutist Republicans in 2010 to deprive children of illegal immigrants born in Arizona of automatic U.S. citizenship, were rejected by the Senate Republican majority by 12 to 18 and 11 to nine — the eight Democrats voting against, of course.

In addition to denying automatic citizenship, SB 1070 laws denied them access to health care, schools and universities where they are already paying higher fees. As a cherry on top, adults would not have the right to drive in the state.

Having become the horned beast of U.S. immigration, attacked by Obama, his administration and real national attention, the state of Arizona has chosen to “pause” and, following lobbying by the Phoenix Chamber of Commerce, has asked politicians to take into account the need that Arizona has for immigrant workers to run the economy and tourism in a very fragile situation. The Arizona Senate offered up a not-unuseful little fairy tale and a communications campaign in this plague-stricken state, which is slightly less so since the vote.