I don’t understand Mr. Greenberg’s argument against Arizona’s immigration law (June 10 Acorn letters, “Constitutionality of Arizona law called into question”).

He cites Arizona revised statute 11-1051 that identification needed to be carried by citizens are either an Arizona-issued driver’s license or identification card, a tribal identification card or any valid identification issued by any federal, state or local government but only if that government requires “proof of legal residence” to issue the identification.

What does he think this identification is for? Other forms of ID for foreign citizens visiting America, passports and visas for the purpose of attending school or working, must be carried at all times.

Try going to Mexico or any other foreign country without one.

Mr. Greenberg says many people go through their daily lives without identification. This may be true, but it doesn’t alter the fact that if you’re stopped by the authorities, you are required to produce valid ID.

And yes, Mr. Greenberg, I do carry identification everywhere I go, if for no other reason than in case of an accident where I may be rendered unconscious, authorities will know who I am and who to contact.

Mr. Greenberg further states the Arizona law criminalizes the status of being illegal. That’s right. The fact that someone has entered the country illegally means they’ve broken the law, whether it’s federal law, Arizona immigration law or California immigration law.

It does not, as he says, presume that everybody who’s stopped is illegal, because Arizona’s law requires probable cause.

This is something that’s not required in federal immigration laws.

Arizona’s immigration law is designed to stop the flood of illegal aliens into their state and protect its citizens and property, something the federal government is reluctant to do. It doesn’t try to control any other state.

California has its own immigration laws but doesn’t enforce them, putting all California officials entrusted with enforcement of them in violation of the laws themselves.

Just because Mr. Greenberg is an attorney and states the Arizona law is unconstitutional doesn’t make it so. That’s up to the courts to decide if it’s deemed worthy to be challenged.
Gordon Hayes
Thousand Oaks