(no subject)

[wrenb]

I heard about this news story on NPR this morning. Prince William County in Virginia passed a resolution to prevent illegal immigrants from accessing any county services, and have authorized county police to check immigration status.

Leaving aside whether this is a good idea or not, I foresee major implementation issues. A person applying for a library card, arrested or entering a county health clinic may be asked for proof of immigration status/citizenship. I could prove my status (I carry a Resident Alien card) but my DH couldn't on a casual basis because he was born in the US. Are US citizens going to start carrying passports and birth certificates in their wallets?

This is likely to degrade into racial profiling. In order to beat that accusation they're going to have to ask *everyone* to document their citizenship/immigration status. That means not just Hispanics and other brown-skinned people but the 8th generation white American kid who has no passport. That's going to upset people.

Comments

[torrilin.livejournal.com]

This is not substantially more severe than the restrictions already in place. You can no longer fly, take a bus or the train across state lines without government issued ID. Your birth certificate is no longer good enough to go to Canada. And in many states, you must have your license on you to drive. The old provisions that allowed time for you to prove your identity are getting changed.

So yes, it's open season on brown people, but it's also open season on anyone odd looking, and on white people who are foolish enough to believe that being a citizen means something.

[ukelele.livejournal.com]

I have a coworker who's been desperately trying to get her green card for years.

There may be a raft of civil liberties issues at the moment, but don't jump from that to assuming that citizenship has lost all meaning. It carries tremendous benefits which are largely invisible to those of us who have always been citizens, because they have never been challenged.

[torrilin.livejournal.com]

Um, my citizenship gets challenged pretty regularly. I still can't get a bank account, and I was born here. I also can't get a passport, and the DMV can't tell me if I have sufficient documentation to transfer my driver's license.

So yes, I feel pretty justified in saying current restrictions are severe. I'm not entirely certain I'll be able to *vote*.

Nevermind little niceties like being able to travel.

[wrenb.livejournal.com]

I've never heard that. Usually I come across forms that have a check box: citizen or non-citizen. So Drew checks "citizen" and goes merrily on his way. I check "non" and then dig out my green card to fill in the number.