"It's perfectly appropriate for state laws to complement federal laws. States are within their 10th Amendment powers to draft laws that deal with a huge, dangerous problem. States along the Southern border have faced war-like conditions triggered by the violence of drug cartels." -- Nathan Deal, former congressman and candidate for governor of Georgia.

People gathered in cities around the country recently to protest the new law passed in Arizona regarding immigration control.

The United States allows the legal immigration of people from other countries at a level that exceeds the legal immigration of the rest of the world's countries combined. In any given year, there are millions of people waiting to hear about their application for a visa to enter this country. We are not an anti-immigrant nation.

Ruth Malhotra, a conservative activist and victor in a free speech case against Georgia Tech, attended a recent protest at the Georgia Capitol against the Arizona law and said, "Many admitted to being illegal immigrants in Georgia."

She observed a large number of attendees were from a civil-rights center in Tennessee and were paid for their attendance for the day. This is common practice among left-wing protesters. The "rent-a-protesters" go where the money is.

In addition, Democratic Socialists of America, Communist Party USA and Revolutionary Worker groups were in attendance and selling and distributing materials. The Tea Parties are considered a threat to the nation's safety, but these groups are not?

When the speakers took the podium, many used Christianity as a defense, using scripture verses, out of context, and prayer. There was also a focus on the theme of family separation and protesters carried signs saying "the U. S. government wants to separate families." This is the tactic of stirring up emotion. 

The rally was rounded out with chants for government-paid college education for illegal immigrants and the desire for "no borders" and "free movement for all workers." They chanted "Si, Se Puede" (Yes, We Can), "It's still a crime to be brown in America" and "We must draw on the legacy of Che Guevara." It's clear that leftists, Socialists and Communists have taken over this movement. 

Now immigration has become an issue in the Georgia governor's race. Former Rep. Nathan Deal has been a champion of border security and ending birthright citizenship during his time in Congress and is taking that issue to his race for governor.

"The new Arizona law is called 'controversial' but 70% of Arizonans approve of it," Deal said. "I think there would be similar support in Georgia for such legislation. Our public services are stretched beyond their limits during these tough economic times, and our open borders result in our states and counties importing poverty. Local taxpayers foot the bill for these significant additional costs."

Deal continued: "We have a national immigration system that imposes high hurdles for the highly skilled workers we need, yet looks the other way on those who enter the country against the law. We need a guest-worker program that's both accountable and enforceable, but without granting a path to amnesty."

Deal says that problems currently on the border eventually will show up in non-border states in the United States. There might have been a time when states could afford benefits for "everyone," but this is not that time.

With all the controversy over the Arizona law, it's simply a restatement of federal law while giving authority to local law officers to enforce the law. The federal 287 (g) program is already on the books allowing local law enforcement to work hand in hand with the feds to enforce immigration laws. The key is to stem the flow of illegal immigrants and then come up with a common-sense program to deal with the illegal immigrants who are here without granting amnesty.

Arizona is acting on the needs of its people just as Georgia did several years ago when it passed legislation making it tougher for illegal immigrants to work and access the system in Georgia. GALEO (Georgia Association of Latino Elected Officials) said Georgia was inhospitable to immigrants. Not exactly, Georgia has become inhospitable to illegal immigrants, there is a difference.

Congress and the President need to do their jobs in regards to immigration. First, secure the border and then pass legislation that would include a guest-worker program with enforcement and penalties for employers hiring illegal immigrants. 
We can solve this problem, "yes, we can."