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Limbaugh absurdly labels Arizona a "sanctuary state"

July 28, 2010 5:37 pm ET by Kate Conway

In an absurd (and false) attack on Judge Susan Bolton's decision to block of some of the more controversial provisions of the Arizona immigration law from taking effect, Rush Limbaugh stated that "apparently" Bolton "has made Arizona a sanctuary state." From today's broadcast of The Rush Limbaugh Show:

LIMBAUGH: I think the judge has also blocked the part of the rule that says illegals have to carry documentation. Now, I need to find out at the top of the hour when I have some time to look into it, but there is that report -- we have to carry documentation. We have to carry our drivers licenses. We have to prove who we are when we go in the bank. We have to prove who we are to buy an airline ticket. They don't. She has blocked -- apparently the judge has made Arizona a sanctuary state, not a sanctuary city.

In claiming that Judge Bolton made Arizona a "sanctuary state," Limbaugh ignored the fact that many parts of the law -- in particular, those that prohibit so-called "sanctuary" policies -- will still go into effect. From FoxNews.com:

A number of provisions will still go into effect as the case is litigated. Arizona will be able to block state officials from so-called "sanctuary city" policies limiting enforcement of federal law; require that state officials work with federal officials on illegal immigration; allow civil suits over sanctuary cities; and make it a crime to pick up day laborers. 

Furthermore, Arizona already cooperates with U.S. Immigrations and Customs Enforcement (ICE) on programs designed to enforce immigration law. A number of Arizona agencies have signed agreements with ICE that allow local and state law enforcement officers additional authority to enable them to "perform immigration law enforcement functions." According to ICE, the program allows local and state officers the "necessary resources and latitude to pursue investigations relating to violent crimes, human smuggling, gang/organized crime activity, sexual-related offenses, narcotics smuggling and money laundering" and provides them with "increased resources and support in more remote geographical locations." ICE says that "[t]he program is credited for identifying more than 70,000 (since January 2006) individuals, mostly in jails, who are suspected of being in the country illegally."

More than half of Arizona jurisdictions also participate in an ICE biometric information sharing program that helps "quickly and accurately identify aliens in law enforcement custody," which "has helped ICE identify and remove more than 30,000 convicted criminal aliens from the United States."

That doesn't exactly sound like a state that's going to provide "sanctuary" to those in the country without documents.

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    • Author by DellDolly (July 28, 2010 5:55 pm ET)
      3  
      Hey Rush,

      Citizens do not have to carry proof of their citizenship with them.

      If I'm going to the lake, and someone else is driving, I might not even bring my purse, and therefore I don't have any ID at all. If I'm walking my dog, I don't carry ID with me!

      Per the US Constitution, I don't have to prove that I'm a citizen.

      And a driver's license is not evidence of legal residence in any case. Proving identity at the bank or the airport is not the same as proving citizenship, doofus!

      A US citizen can't legally be forced to prove their citizenship within US borders simply because the cops want to find those who are here illegally! It's against the 14th and the 4th amendments.
      Report Abuse
    • Author by raddave43 (July 28, 2010 6:26 pm ET)
         
      Rush, we have to carry a drivers license when we drive, NOT when we aren't. You have to show ID at the bank and airport to prove you are who you say you are, not to prove your citizenship.
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    • Author by Verum Ad Potentia (July 29, 2010 2:34 pm ET)
         
      I am a Washington State citizen, & in Washington State, every person of the age of majority is required by law to have on their person a valid ID card or drivers licence issued by one of the 50 states of the Union, a valid passport, or valid work visa, & are required to present their Identification to Law Enforcement Officers upon demand when in public spaces. Further, if you do not have such identification, the Officer may lawfully detain you until such time as your identity may be reasonably confirmed, & I am led to believe by my very liberal brother (who is a Public Defender) that most if not all states have similar legislation on their books. If, in the process of identifying you, it is found that you have Wants or Warrants, or yes, are illegally in the United States, you may be arrested, prosecuted, & if present illegally, referred to INS for deportation.

      Truth To Power
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