Arizona Sheriff Calls New Law a 'Nightmare'

Estrada opposes Arizona's new "Papers, please" law, calling instead for a more realistic, compassionate response.

(WASHINGTON D.C. MSNBC) - The John McCain of 2005 sponsored comprehensive immigration reform that would have offered a path toward citizenship for people illegally in the country.

"No wall, no barrier, no sensor, no barbed wire will ever stop people from trying to do what is a basic yearning of human beings all over the world, and that is to have better lives for themselves and their families," the Republican senator from Arizona said.

Five years later, McCain faces a tough primary challenge from the right, from J.D. Hayworth, and he's now pushing an ad with an Arizona sheriff, Paul Babeu of Pinal County, which is not on the border. "[C]omplete the danged fence," McCain says.

But in that ad, McCain's actually standing in Santa Cruz County, which is on the border. Where Sheriff Antonio Estrada tells us the border fencing in place already has made illegal immigration much worse.

"I'm not a fan of fences at all," Estrada said. "As a matter of fact, you know, when they started setting the fence here in the urban area, what they did is they created more problems for us. The traffic, the activity, we never had as a sheriff's office. The rural areas, we started seeing problems as a result of that. People were being pushed into these areas. We started having people that were dying out there, that were assaulted out there....A fence, to us, is not a solution."

Estrada opposes Arizona's new "Papers, please" law, calling instead for a more realistic, compassionate response. "It's absurd," he tells us. "I'm totally against it, and I really hope it goes away. It's like a nightmare. I think it's something we cannot afford to be straddled with."

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Douglas Benson May 19, 2010 12:01 pm (Pacific time)

All I am asking for is that my constitutional right to equal enforcement of the law . If its fraud for me to use false ID to apply for loans ,services,ect.it should be the same for them period .If its a crime to give a false ID to an officer or use such to work, its a crime period . I am neither weak or scared and my opinion is my own as unpopular as it is . I have had a few confrontations on the job because I will say it right in front of whoever [ask my good hispanic friend Antonio ] .If the shoe fits wear it and if you dont like it too bad.I pull no punches and if I cant say it to your face I wont say it behind your back . It takes people aback when you are willing to stand behind what you say. By the way I dont believe in fairy tales like god or it will all work out in the end or any of that happy stuff. Holding hands and peace and love is for suckers .This world is mean ,heartless and unfair I should know . Come on if it was your job they were taking you would want action too .

Chris King (Dublin) May 19, 2010 11:19 am (Pacific time)

Editor, than you are free to move to Mexico. Being all these "White" people in America are so racist. On your way there, please pick up all the mounting trash along the way that has been left behind by those crossing out borders. You should be done in about 10 years. J. Chris King (RIP) Chris King

Douglas Benson May 19, 2010 5:44 am (Pacific time)

Really? The first thing any officer asks is lic.reg.ins. PAPERS please . No papers you face possible arrest untill ID is established . Brown white red ,whatever. If there was no reason for them to come here ,no jobs,no social services ,no release untill your deportation in a swift manner there would be less incentive to come here. Fact is they are too lazy to do thier job. Instead of arrest when they suspect a person is handing them false ID they say we cant enforce immigration law. What does that have to do with ID theft or false info to an officer? My friend was in an accident and the driver hands over ID that wasnt his but because he is hispanic the officer said his ID was fishy but he couldnt do anything because he cant enforce fedral law . If he was white it would be handcuff city. So when the bills came in the ins. companies said too bad so sad .He was the passenger and they called and called for any info he had on just who this guy was . Meanwhile Julio has a new ID and walks away clean. A simple detainment fingerprinting ect. would solve that but they are too lazy to do thier job. Oh my all that paperwork ,arrest ,INS hold ect.ect.

Editor: Can't you at least listen to this guy? He doesn't like it, that is total BS about brown red and white. It is racist garbage and the result of weak little people who are scared of others who are different. Also, it takes a lack of heart to stand against people over such things, that is not God's plan for us. I'd rather live next to 99% of these so-called illegal immigrants than a helluva lot of spoiled white people anyway.

People are citizens of the earth in my book and nothing more.

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