First, I love Mexicans and diversity. I love Mexican food.
BUT BUT BUT Why are the Americans always being bullied by the illegal immigrants and their friends?

Darn! Why don't they protest in MEXICO and SHOUT. "GET RID OF CORRUPTION. We need jobs! We need a good life in MEXICO. JOBS for us. FREE EDUCATION for our children in MEXICO! JOBS, EDUCATION, HEALTHCARE, HOUSING in MEXICO. Stop the Corruption!!"

Instead in the US, it is "We are illegal immigrants and we HAVE RIGHTS! My illegal immigrant parents and friends have RIGHTS in the USA. You cannot look for us and ask us for papers. This law is race motivated. Boycott this and that."

I don't get it. The USA always has to provide for everyone while its own citizens are suffering. Look at all the budget deficits supporting every illegal and legal person. Scratching head.

Just make them all legal and open up the borders. They are going to win anyway. The USA loses every time. The USA always loses to the illegal immigrants. The illegal immigrants will always RULE and they are always right. The illegal immigrants will always play victim, play the race card and human rights card and will get what they want from the USA. They will win!!! It is a 100% guarantee. That is why they keep coming.

Republicans in general are just really losing control of their agenda and local Republicans, like Pat McDonough and Bob Ehrlich really look silly trying to keep up with the latest GOP folly.

That is just common sense. I saw a bumper sticker this morning that said "we are a nation of immigrants". And that is true and always will be true, but it does not mean that illegals are on the same level or should be accepted the same as legal immigrants. That is just not logical. The owner of the bumper sticker just doesn't get it.There are already laws on the books- let's see them enforced.

the worst viloence in mexcio history, because of the usa appetite for drugs. well baltimore should know first hand drugs destroys young men, women, kids, schools, neighborhoods, etc, etc. the illegal imgrants take our jobs, and plaease don't say thats the jobs ameriaca doesn't want, when your out of work with a family, and employment benefits run out you willl delivery pizza. anything. baltimore has been in ruins some parts because of drugs, now is the time to voice your oppioon , more then ever! english has always been what every american spoke, what gives, other then congress giving us away,,,,YOU THINK

I support such a bill but it will never pass here because all politicians must kiss CASA butt to save their careers. I have nothing against anyone - any nationality or race - but the system has been so lax for all kinds of Illegals now it is really causing an impact financially and other ways. Governments cannot afford to comp these people services when they are not paying taxes - maybe that was not a huge problem 10 years ago but now it is getting costly. If someone wants to come here from South America or anywhere, they need to come in legally like our grandparents did. What is wrong with asking people to respect our laws??

Spend some time in the southwestern border states. Its completely out of control. Trash, garbage and defacation all over the desert. Abandoned cars. A whole subculture exists in many places. Most second and third generation mexicans don't want them here either. Every state close to the border will have similar laws on the books before the summer is over. The real cause of this is the lack of federal enforcement of existing immigration laws. The politicians are afraid of the so called leaders of the latino communities and greedy employers looking for cheap labor. East Baltimore is already looking like a Barrio. Cheers for Arizona.

I personally love American food. I especailly enjoy pizza, spagetti, tacos, chinese food, & mcdonalds

I will not believe one single politician is serious about illegal immigration until they come out against NAFTA. That is why we are having such a huge flood of illegal immigrants over the last years. Businesses are able to move good paying jobs to lower costing Mexico while businesses here are allowed to hire at the lowest cost illegals from Cental and South America. Something is wrong with this picture. But make no mistake about it, the GOP offers no real solutions. At least the Dems are trying to work something out.

I'd be willing to bet that you would find many, many, many more (legal!) Maryland citizens than legislators willing to publically say they are 'for' a law, like Arizona's.
For the record...I am 'for' legal immigration and 'against' the criminal who violates our nation's sovereignty.

Wow, wasn't America originally started by immigrants to TOOK this land? I call it Karma.
C'mon.. God gave us the earth, learn to share so-called Christians.
Peace.

What is so controversial about enforcing the law? We shouldn't have to pass a law that lets us enforce the law. If you want to come here, get a visa like everyone else, or else don't.

Maybe we should ask the Native Americans if the English, French, et al. came here legally. I wonder if they greeted their new illegal immigrants with "You're in America. Speak an Algonquian tongue!"

We need to deport all Illegal Aliens Period. You need to go to the Johns Hopkins Hospitals new job with about 200 Mexicans working there. I bet at least half are Illegal. Why isn't ICE going there.

I strongly support Governor Brewer in Arizona. First she gave every citizen in the state the right to bear arms. A permit to carry a weapon is no longer required there. Then a bill to allow the police to question, detain, and deport illegal immigrants was signed. Constitutionally this IS a state's right. The federal government has DONE NOTHING to stop the illegal border crossings.
As a Marylander, I support those same laws for Maryland. These ILLEGAL immigrants are a drain upon our economy, which we can ill afford now. Crime increases (especially in border states) because of these illegal immigrants. Maryland is riddled with these illegals as well.
I hope our Governor has the courage to enact those same laws. God help us enact those laws.

Maryland needs to pass a law as tough or tougher than Arizona's ILLEGALS ARE taking over Anne Arundel County. They live 10 people to an apartment, etc., etc. ILLEGALS DO NOT have the same rights as American citizens. They are not citizens. They ARE trespassers! They are here illegally! They overwhelm schools and hospitals and drive cars without having insurance coverage. Get them the HELL OUT of here! I guess that makes me a racist. I can accept that.

I fully support Arizona's law being implemented here in Maryland.

The Dems are going to debate the issue now to just shoot down all that oppose it. This is just a positioning tactic to draw attention to the Maryland Dems when Washington finally does decide that they have time to address the issue. Why is it that all Americans are willing to follow the rules when it comes to homeland security at the airports for the purpose of protecting our country, while the Mexicans scream racism when they are expected to carry ID on them like the rest of Americans. If your doing something illegal and you get caught this law would just make it easier to deport these people. The American public has had enough, from the politicians, Wall St, No jobs, and the issue of immigration that has been steadily building for the last 4 decades.

I don't understand why some people are so inclined to get rid of illegal immigrants. How are they affecting you?

Have you ever thought of who harvests the fruits and vegetables that you eat (the non-imported stuff)? Do you know who built the house/building where you live, or the building where you work?

Do you realize that if the USA closes its doors to immigrants, there will be a horrible crisis with farming, construction, and many other things that we take for granted? Many illegal immigrants do jobs that we don't even know exist because we can't imagine that someone would be willing do them. For many of them, these are humbling jobs, but they are willing to do them because it is the only way they can support their families. At least they are hard workers, and they too are helping America move forward!

Do you understand the magnitude of the crisis that the USA would undergo if all the illegal immigrants are gone? We would be, as we are now with oil, completely dependent on other countries to provide food for us, because we certainly wouldn't produce as much. If this happens, at least all the ignorant and racist people who support this law will learn from their mistake, but I would be very sad to see America decay in such a way.

Is it not completely ironic that the majority of the people supporting this law are the descendants of European immigrants who came to this country and invaded the land and property of the Native Americans? If your ancestors came to this land and had the opportunity to build a life here for themselves, and eventually you, be fair! Remember the history, and stand up for the rights of the new people who are trying to do the same for their families.

This isn't about having to carry your papers or deporting those who the government proves are here illegally. This is about whether you want to give police the power to stop people based on nothing more than un-articulated suspicion. You should especially consider that if this involves pulling over a car, the officer is basing the decision either on the race of the driver or the quality of the car(both supposedly prohibited as profiling based on race or socio-economic condition). Furthermore, this does nothing to help LEOs who pull over people who have committed some kind of driving violation, as the officers already have the right to ask for proof of citizenship. All this law, and any passed like it, does is to permit race-based law enforcement, something I thought we had moved beyond.

Maryland needs to seriously consider some legislation similar to that Arizona just passed. We are experiencing the same lack of federal immigration laws they are. If we don't get something done soon we could be in their position soon. An illegal immigrant can be anyone from any race. We are chuck full of illegals right now.

Martin Omalley is the reason so many illegal aliens are in maryland. He became the mayor in 1999 and you could count the mexicans on 1 hand and still had fingers left. By 2000 the whole state of maryland was crawling with salvis and mexicans thanks to Omalley. Baltimore and the whole state of maryland became sactuires under omally although most marylanders don't know for the exception of illegals.

I doubt that any such law will be given serious consideration in this state. Maryland is not Arizona, Alabama, Arkansas, Alaska, Utah, Oklahoma, Kansas, and other states I might have missed to list.

This is an election year, so some Republicans, and their cousins, the Tea Party are kicking up their usual dust cloud. "This will happen .... that will happen .... and they roll out the usual trigger words: taxes, illegal immigrants, freedom, liberty, abortion, and slap the Christian label on the flag.

This shape-shifter group of politicians and their followers don't want anyone to have the right to make decisions about their own lives unless they agree with their narrow view of the world. According to their way of thinking, we (women, people of color, gays, Jews, the poor, Muslims) should allow them to guide us. They think we are dumb, lazy, misguided and dangerous. Especially dangerous.

We know their targets, but who will they come for next? And will we recognize them because they'll be waving guns and thumping Bibles?

Patricia,
Actually you are dumb, and constitue whatt is known as a "useful idiot." You will do as Obama commands, and you will love him for it. while medicine becomes socialized, while we hire an additional 14,000 IRS agents (which the Dems don't count as adding to the deficit, which is something a brillian person like you could believe), as the banks are being dismantled and the end of American financial hegemony is near, avow your love for Obama as we ride into his utopian socialist dictatorship dream

You see, foolish one, as our banks are precluded from using derivatives and hedges at arms length, and while even the EU balks at this, the US will no longer be the fulcrum of the financial world. And when that happens, the Chinese and the other major powers quit buying our bonds. And then, when the currency crashes, and hyyperinflation ensues, and blood runs in the street, and martial law is declared, you can swear your allegiance to Obama, and say "We do not deserve freedom. Jus the love of Obama."

When WWII broke out, our government rounded up all Japanese-Americans and confined them to camps. America feared we'd be attacked from within our own borders by anyone with almond-shaped eyes, including children. Poor judgment then, and an embarrassment now, considering they were citizens of our country....not illegals.

Text for the day on immigration:

Leviticus 19:33-34 (NIV)

When an alien lives with you in your land, do not mistreat him. The alien living with you must be treated as one of your native-born. Love him as yourself, for you were aliens in Egypt.

The other side of this lesson is that I hope all who support an Arizona style law are prepared to carry papers with them at all time that prove their own legal residency or citizenship. Or do they think they will never need it --- that they will never be stopped because they do not look "like one of them?"

I unilaterally oppose raced-based legislation. I moved to Maryland from New York, two progressive, diversity-accepting states. Let's hold our heads high and be proud of the people in our states. Let's also put an end to the term "illegal immigrant". Humans are not illegal, certain humans' actions are.

Why do people always swing this as a Republican or Democrat issue? I would assume neither party wants illegals to infest our state and take up actual tax payers resources. I am for this bill. Maybe it's against our countries original principals, but times have changed since then.

I, personally am very grateful that there are elected officials in our state legislature that are willing to observe their oaths and act responsibly for and on behalf of US and MD citizens. The federal law has been in place for many years. Neither party has been willing to enforce it. However, states can step up and make it work. This is what responsible legislators in Arizona have done. For many years our Maryland Officials, particularly this Administration have made Maryland a Sanctuary state, A report prepared in 2009 advised Maryland’s illegal immigrant population costs the state’s taxpayers more than $1.4 billion per year for education, medical care and incarceration. The annual fiscal burden amounts to about $790 per Maryland household headed by a native-born resident. In addition taxpayer funds are regularly allocated to the Central American Solidarity Association (CASA) to assist the IA population ($250,000 this year).

The General Assembly had the opportunity this year to join with the Federal Government ICE Programs to Protect Maryland Citizens from Criminal Aliens and Protect Jobs in Maryland going to Maryland (US) citizens. They have elected instead to support not only the overall costs illegal aliens, but even including those who are being arrested through access and legal counsel in the courts and into our jails. They then assure these Criminal Aliens were not identified for deportation , but rather released back into Maryland communities when their sentences have been served. With the recession, the high joblessness and ever increasing drug and crime problems, this failure is a travesty. All evidently in hopes of garnering illegal votes and more "stash" from alternative and derelict federal sources.

Any political candidate that does not guarantee to uphold their obligation to Maryland citizens and taxpayers will not get my support and should not get any other thinking voter's support either!

I, personally am very grateful that there are elected officials in our state legislature that are willing to observe their oaths and act responsibly for and on behalf of US and MD citizens. The federal law has been in place for many years. Neither party has been willing to enforce it. However, states can step up and make it work. This is what responsible legislators in Arizona have done. For many years our Maryland Officials, particularly this Administration have made Maryland a Sanctuary state, A report prepared in 2009 advised Maryland’s illegal immigrant population costs the state’s taxpayers more than $1.4 billion per year for education, medical care and incarceration. The annual fiscal burden amounts to about $790 per Maryland household headed by a native-born resident. In addition taxpayer funds are regularly allocated to the Central American Solidarity Association (CASA) to assist the IA population ($250,000 this year).

The General Assembly had the opportunity this year to join with the Federal Government ICE Programs to Protect Maryland Citizens from Criminal Aliens and Protect Jobs in Maryland going to Maryland (US) citizens. They have elected instead to support not only the overall costs illegal aliens, but even including those who are being arrested through access and legal counsel in the courts and into our jails. They then assure these Criminal Aliens were not identified for deportation , but rather released back into Maryland communities when their sentences have been served. With the recession, the high joblessness and ever increasing drug and crime problems, this failure is a travesty. All evidently in hopes of garnering illegal votes and more "stash" from alternative and derelict federal sources.

Any political candidate that does not guarantee to uphold their obligation to Maryland citizens and taxpayers will not get my support and should not get any other thinking voter's support either!

LOLOL....thank you with providing me with the best laugh I've had in a while...O'Malleys' fault?
Wow, talk about desperation, Martin is going to win again, but I digress.
The new law in Arizona is a disgrace, and I applaud Bud Seligs' decision to pull tha All-star Game from the state, good for you Bud.

An Arizona type immigration law is right up Bob Ehrlich's alley. Excessive government power, infringements on personal privacy, limiting freedom of expression, and profiling are all part of Ehrlich's arsenal from when he was Governor. Remember how he had the State Police infiltrate and spy at poetry readings? If he doesn't get on board with this, he's a liar.

Bob Ehrlich says he'll help with illegals, but I bet he won't do anything. Last time I held out strong hope for him as a republican, and he let us all down. Why should this time be any different?

For those who think the AZ immigration law is what's needed in Maryland, you are sadly mistaken. I live in Arizona and who do you think does most of the hard work here? Like all the construction jobs, building roads and bridges, janitors, fruit prickers etc. Do you really think most gringos would do these types of jobs! And where was your outcry when Bush was president. He did nothing for 8 years regarding immigration. Is it because we have a black man as president now that upsets you so.

It's clear that the country is torn apart because the Federal Government refuses to take the responsibility to reform immigration process. I think a lot of people assume that illegal immigrants are here just kinda cruising along purposefully breaking the law just to bring the United States to ruin. Consider that these are human beings here trying to survive and provide for their families. Most people do not realize the high cost of becoming legal( http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/263898/official_becoming_a_us_citizen_or_permanent.html)
and how difficult that is for, say a family of four, in this economy. Also consider why these people might be here - do a little research into history. El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua were all devastated by civil wars in the 1980's - wars that the US government had more than some hand in prolonging and influencing. This is just one example. As an immigrant I would love nothing better than to be able to work and live in the country of my birth. Those of us who still think of our homelands as home would like to see prosperity there as well. I have lived here most of my life and am a U.S. Citizen. I know what it's like to walk between worlds. Immigration is a security issue - isolating one group of people because they are of a certain ethnic group (let's not kid ourselves - this law is clearly driven by prejudice and racism) is not the way to keep our state safe. We, all immigrants, are not "infesting" (to quote a previous comment) this land. We're all human - made in God's image - trying to survive. To see another human being as anything less is dangerously satanic and it is a spirit that threatens to destroy the very core of this nation.