Immigration In South Carolina

http://www.ibtimes.com/articles/242060/20111102/south-carolina-immigration-law-lawsuit-obama.htm

http://thehill.com/blogs/blog-briefing-room/news/191045-gingrich-blasts-obama-challenge-of-south-carolina-immigration-law

http://www.thenewamerican.com/usnews/constitution/9601-obama-administration-challenges-south-carolina-immigration-law (really neat history..even if they don’t give sources)

This issue has perplexed me and I have started to seriously consider it more by the day.  There have been two things that have come to mind in my consideration.  The first being a disconnect from the legislature in South Carolina to the needs of it citizens. 

If I were residing in South Carolina (or Alabama for that matter), I would give serious deliberation into the theory of displacement of any legislator that voted to pass S.B. 20 due to a gross misunderstanding of the serious needs of the people.  According to the South Carolina Department of Agriculture

“Row crops are generally produced on over 1.3 million acres of crop land in South Carolina each year. These crops account for millions of dollars in annual cash receipts. Traditional crops include corn, cotton, hay, oats, peanuts, soybeans, tobacco, and wheat.”

$1,014,582,000 was turned in to the department last in revenue from crops that require harvesting.   In my humbled opinion that is a large sum of money, and even more so of poundage in crops.  All of these figures beg a simple question.  Who harvests these crops?  It certainly is not Anglo or African Americans.  Immigrants (despite what Republican scare mongers would have you believe) are not, simply not taking jobs away from Americans.  They are taking jobs that native-born Americans will not take.  Ask any large farmer, who turns out for picking work and you will find this out. 

If ever there was a case of not understanding the impact of legislation it would have to be this. What ever the General Assembly of South Carolina was thinking when passing a law making it harder to be an immigrant in their state, they were thinking incorrectly. In a time when economic growth is either stagnate or declining, what governing body would take measures to make it harder on the one business that is propping up that state’s economy. 

Understandably this is not a new line of thought on this issue, but it has come to my attention more in my looking at it from a Constitutional standpoint.  The Tenth Amendment does state that all issues not enumerated in the Constitution are left to the discernment of the states, but the Fourteen Amendment states that no person living within any states jurisdictions be denied rights granted to them in the Constitution.  Immigration is not enumerated in the Constitution, neither is education.  However the U.S. Constitution supersedes states Constitutions. 

This issue also fails to recognize, or at least places a considerable question in regards to education.  What is to be done about students in South Carolina that are illegal and in the school system?  State mandates require services to students no matter their citizenship status.  Are bus drivers now committing a crime if the transport a immigrant to and from school, even though by state law they have to? 

There are implications that have not been explored in South Carolina, and even more when you consider the rest of the United States.  What about apartment owners who rent to immigrants?  Is the state of South Carolina going to arrest the hard working farmers who depend on the labor of immigrants in order to make ends meet?

It is obvious that many people do not understand that we need immigrant labor as much or more than immigrants need us.  It’s a simple fact.  I have my opinions of immigration.  See my previous posts about the subject and you will understand what/why I believe.

In closing, too, I would like to know about those of you who are reading this blog.  Why are you reading it? How are you finding it?  What do you think of it?  What do you think about the subjects I am writing about?  I’ve tried to get this out to more places by posting links on my Facebook, and my LinkedIn pages.  I’ve even tried commenting on other blogs in an attempt to raise discussions.  I’m curious, and more than willing to debate, talking or simply argue (though I prefer civil discussions) any and all points of consideration.  Let me know, leave a comment, or even subscribe.