U.S. Justice Department drags Arizona to court over Anti-Immigration Law

The U.S. Justice Department has challenged the constitutionality of a  Misguided Immigration Law in Arizona, in a court of law. The immigration law requires people in the state to  carry immigration documents at all times, and  calls on the police to detain anyone - with "reasonable suspicion" - for evidence of legal status. The new law, which is scheduled to go into force at the end of this month, sparked protests from immigrants and immigrat rights advocates in the U.S. President Obama has criticized the law, branding it "misguided" and "unenforceable". Critics of the law argue that it would lead to civil rights violations and racial and ethnic profiling against Latinos in Arizona. This is the case because it is reasonably forseeable that under the law, Latinos in Arizona would be subject to unreasonable police stops and questioning. Mindful of the fact that Arizona is struggling to curb illegal immigration from Mexico, the residency status of many hispanics legally residing in the U.S. would be unduly questioned by the police - simply because they look like the many undocumented immigrants from Mexico. In a bid to stop this law from going into force on 29 July 2010, the U.S. Justice Department dragged Arizona to court on Tuesday - pleading for an injunction against the anti-immigration law.

The raison d'etre of the lawsuit is the fact that only the Federal government has the power to regulate immigration in the U.S. Lawyers for the Justice Department argue that the controversial immigration law in Arizona is unconstitutional - because under the U.S. Constitution, immigration law is under the jurisdiction of the federal government alone.

It goes without saying that the anti-immigration law in Arizona represents blatant disregard for the U.S. Constitution, and its enactment would set an unwanted precedent - other states would be emboldened to overstep their authority, and make U.S. immigration law a state affair.

The U.S. is arguably the "land of the free" - but Arizona apparently seeks to change this assertion, by requiring free U.S. citizens and lawful residents to carry documents to proof citizenship or legal residency.

Besides violating the U.S. Constitution, the anti-immigration law is a beacon of racial and ethnic profiling. The law exposes Latinos in Arizona to unreasonable police controls - backed by "reasonable suspicion" that they are living in the U.S. illegally. This is the case because the law seeks to curb illegal immgration from Mexico, and punish illegal immigrants in the state - many of whom are Latinos. It is fair to say the law threatens the fundamental freedoms and civil rights of the many Latinos legally residing in the U.S., as well as the rights of many American citizens.

It is true, that Arizona is trying to protect its borders, and it is also true that the anti-immigration law endorses racial and ethnic profiling, and, in the words of President Barack Obama, "has the potential of violating the rights of innocent American citizens and legal residents...".

It is therefore good news that the Justice Department has dragged Arizona to court over the anti-immigration law. Time will tell whether the honorable court will grant an injunction against this controversial immigration law.

Read a statement from the U.S. Justice Department, here.

*Photo of Robert F. Kennedy Department of Justice Building: Wikipedia.

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Robert Byrd: Lessons on Life from Ku Klux Klan to Civil Rights Advocate

"I shall never fight in the armed forces with a negro by my side... rather, I should die a thousand times, and see Old Glory trampled in the dirt never to rise again..."

These are the words of Robert Carlyle Byrd - a United States citizen who rose from the ranks of the Ku Klux Klan to a civil rights advocate. Senator Robert Byrd died on Monday 28 June 2010, at the age of 92. The story of Robert Byrd is a story worth telling; it's a story packed with lessons on a life from Ku Klux Klan to a civil rights advocate and guardian of the Constitution.

Last week, I came across the news of the death of a U.S. Senator - Robert Byrd - a man who opposed civil rights and equal rights at the time he ran for election into the United States House of Representatives in 1952. Reading further, I learned he later had a change of heart and became a fierce civil rights advocate, and carried the U.S Constitution in his chest pocket at all times.

In the 1940s, Robert Byrd joined the Ku Klux Klan. At the time, he was young - 23 or 24 years old. He later became disinterested in the movement and blamed his decision to join the organisation on the "Southern Atmosphere" in which he grew up and the "prejudices and its feelings". It is worth reiterating that according to Robert Byrd, the atmosphere in which he grew up engineered his opposition to equal rights.

CNN reports that according to Robert Byrd, the decision to join the Ku Klux Klan was "the greatest mistake" he ever made. As a Senator, his biggest regret was his opposition to the 1964 Civil Rights Act. In 1964, he voted against the civil rights bill that extended civil rights to African Americans. In 2005, he said if he had to do it again, he would change his vote for the 1964 Act. WATCH...



Without going into his political carreer, and what Senator Robert Byrd did and did not do as a Senator for West Virginia, the point of interest is - Robert Byrd is a man who made a grave mistake in his youth; a mistake that was corrected, but hunted him for the rest of his long life.

Hunted by a dark past, Robert Byrd is quoted by Reuters to have asked former Senator Alan Simpson: "... do our colleagues fear me or respect me?"

Are you feared or respected? If you're feared, I am afraid there is a problem!

The story of Senator Robert Byrd is a lesson for the many young people who still have an opportunity to make the right choices, and refrain from going down the wrong road, in search of some sort of "excitement" - which would later become a burden. Senator Robert Byrd made this mistake, but reinvented himself and became a champion for civil rights and equality for all.

How would you be remembered?

Robert Byrd will be remembered  as the longest serving (as of today) Senator on Capitol Hill - a civil rights advocate and guardian of the U.S. Constitution. His life is full of lessons; lessons on a life from Ku Klux Klan to civil rights advocate. In his words, "it's a lesson to the young people of today, that once a major mistake has been made in one's life, it will always be there...".

It is worth mentioning that the Senator seized every opportunity to apologize:

"I know I was wrong. Intolerance had no place in America. I apologized a thousand times... and I don't mind apologizing over and over again. I can't erase what happened."

On the order of President Barack Obama, the flag of the U.S. shall be flown on half-staff "as a mark of respect for the memory and longstanding service of Senator Robert C. Byrd...". The flag shall be on half-staff from Wednesday, 30 June, with the exception of July 4 2010 (Independence Day), till the "great patriot" is laid to rest.

Once a member of the Ku Klux Klan, USA Today  notes that Senator Robert Byrd went on to endorse America's first black President.

Funeral service is scheduled for 6 July 2010.

You are encouraged to read the Senator's autobiography: "Robert C. Byrd: Child of the Appalachian Coalfieds.

It's 4 July - Permit me to seize this opportunity to say: Happy birthday to the Land of the Free and Home of the Brave!! Happy Independence Day to you - all Americans!!

*Photo: Reuters.

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2010 FIFA World Cup: Luis Suarez Robs Africa of a historic Victory

The FIFA World Cup has been in progress since 11 June 2010. Little did I know that I will be writing about the tournament, but the game of 2 July 2010, between Ghana and Uruguay, urged me to weigh in on a beautiful game gone bad. In the game between Uruguay and Ghana, Luis Suarez - striker for Uruguay, with what appeared to be an intentional handball, robbed Ghana of a well-deserved place in the semi-finals; Luis Suarez robbed Africa - of a historic victory.

On Sunday, Ghana went to Soccer City - bearing the weight of the whole continent of Africa - as Africans worldwide looked up to Ghana to break the glass ceiling and become the first African nation to qualify for the FIFA World Cup semi-finals. The Black Stars of Ghana understood their mission - to take African football to a new heights.

For the Black Stars, the road ahead was daunting - but possible. In Soccer City, they were the underdogs, but they were undeterred, and refused to be trampled upon. The Stars clearly dominated the game - they attacked Uruguay from all fronts - with all they got.

Pressurized, desperate and running out of time, with goalkeeper - Fernando Muslera completely displaced, Uruguay desperately needed a second goalkeeper to keep the Black Stars from scoring. At this point, in a blatant display of cheating, striker - Luis Suarez stepped in and played the role of second goalkeeper for the South American side. The consequence of this cheating was fatal! African hearts were broken, dreams shattered, and FIFA regulations put into question once more - as Luis Suarez robbed the last African team standing, of a victory in the neck of time.

In a display of "excellent" goalkeeping skills, the striker - Luis Suarez, made a controversial save for Uruguay. With both hands, Luis Suarez stopped the ball from making its way to the back of the net. The striker - turned goalkeeper - was sent off with a red card, but the damage had already been done.

It is immaterial to mention the fact that Ghana was awarded a penalty for this blatant display of unprofessional conduct, but with no time remaining, Ghana's Asamoah Gyan stepped up to the plate and lost the decisive penalty.

It is worth mentioning that the match proceeded to penalty shootout. At this stage, the demoralised Black Stars of Ghana - the youngest team in the FIFA World Cup 2010 tournament - lost to Uruguay. It is fair to say the better side lost!

As you would expect, many, including the coach of Uruguay - Oscar Tabarez, have justified this blatant display of cheating and unprofessional conduct.

Regardless of what you may think, Luis Suarez has gone down in history as the man who robbed Ghana of a historic place in the FIFA World Cup semi-finals, with a handball. He will be remembered as the man who robbed Africa of a historic victory at the FIFA World Cup 2010.

FIFA  should reform the rules applicable to such intentional fouls - fouls intended to prevent obvious goals. In such a case, a goal should be awarded, and the unscrupulous player sent off.

Photos: Courtesy Paul Fletcher's Blog and World Cup Blog

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