I thought I’d share this footage from a Tucson City Council meeting. The Council had pulled in a lawyer to give them legal advice about suing the state of Arizona over their new immigration law. But then a legal immigrant named Gabriella got up to speak her mind.

After having lived in Arizona for many, many of my childhood years, I have witnessed up close and personal the havoc wreaked throughout that state thanks to rampant illegal immigration. I would urge everyone to please let reason rule the day; avoid knee-jerk reactions, avoid hysteria whipped up by those with preexisting agendas, and instead think about the rule of law. Think not only about illegal immigrants, but legal immigrants like Gabriella. Think about those who have gone out of their way to follow – and therefore show respect for – our laws, by immigrating to our country the right way.

Think about the damage caused in Arizona by those who enter our country illegally who wish to do us harm. Criminals are coming across our borders, terrorists are coming across our borders; Phoenix has become the kidnap capital of the nation, second the world over, because of this! Our citizens are no longer safe! So please do not fall prey to the myth that every person who enters this country illegally is only doing so with the purist of motives. Not everyone who takes advantage of the weakness of our borders is only doing so to feed their families.
Besides, I’m sorry, but if their motives were truly pure, they would have enough respect for themselves and for us to wish to follow our laws. If they cannot do that, then I’m sorry, they are not innocent. No one who breaks a law knowingly and willingly is ever innocent, no matter who they are, where they came from, why they did it, or what color their skin is.
And please remember, not every illegal immigrant is from Mexico.

Please, above all, remember that this country was founded on the principle of equal justice. Whenever anyone, regardless of skin color, violates any law, they are required to face the consequences of justice. No one is above the law. No one. If anyone is afforded special status due to the color of their skin, or whatever sob story they can come up with, then none of us will be afforded equal protection under the law and our entire system of government will crumble. Indeed, in my opinion, that crumbling has already begun. But please, do not let it crumble any farther. Let us pick up the pieces and rebuild on a firm foundation of equal justice, rather than bringing a wrecking ball to make the demolition go faster.

I don’t necessarily agree that the Arizona law is perfect. But this situation is not perfect. The Federal government has failed to act. Arizona is falling apart at the seams because of it. Their entire government has been bankrupted by our failure to stem the tide of illegal immigration. They are attempting to enforce federal laws. As far as I’m aware, they have not written anything that differs from current federal law.
So please, let’s read the law before we jump to conclusions, before we call anyone Nazis. Let’s remember that only when there is equal justice, only when there is respect for the rule of law, will we ever be able to solve this problem.

And please, please remember, this rampant problem with illegal immigration is what’s slowing down the process for those who wish to immigrate here legally! America is a melting pot, I have no other intention but to preserve our beautiful melding of cultures; I have no other wish than to welcome anyone and everyone who wishes to join us and become a part of our American experiment.
But I can only welcome them with open arms when they respect the same laws that I do. When we finally solve the illegal immigration problem, only then can we finally make the legal immigration process faster and more efficient.

Please, the world is welcome on our doorstep, but only when they come with respect for and obedience to our laws.