German Mercedes-Benz Executive Arrested Under Alabama's Immigration Law

Yeah, but you know damn well the Alabama legislature wasn't thinking of German automotive executives when they created this law.

What are you trying to imply douglasq?

He is implying that the law was a racist reaction to the Hispanic community. Do you disagree?

It's a law because of the rampant illegal immigration problem, the failure of the Federal Government to do anything about it.. and States getting overrun with the problem and having to spend billions and billions of tax payer dollars because of it. If the Federal Government is failing to enforce the law and deal with the illegal alien problem the States should have every right to protect there States. Illegals come from many countries around the World. This isn't a "Hispanic" thing although they are a huge part of the problem being how they have the easy access of being bordered with us on very long border. No wherein the law or any of these laws does it mention race, ethnic background, country of origin, etc. Illegal is illegal. Period. We have a right to know who is in this country illegally, who they are, and the right to kick them out. Not only for economic reasons for national security reasons as well.

Put it this way. If you lived in a neighborhood... and your homes kept getting broken into. The cops kept failing to stop it and protect you. You did what was right and asked and went to the authorities but they weren't holding up there end and putting a stop to it. Over and over. Would you not along with the other neighbors take a stand a protect your homes and each others because the police are failing to do so? Of course you would. Why the hell should it be any different for States?!?!

Except that the myth of illegals causing a lot of crime has been debunked:

http://www.reuters.com/article/2008/02/26/us-usa-immigration-crime-idUSN246261520080226

http://washingtonindependent.com/91520/violent-crime-is-down-in-arizona-up-in-sheriff-joe-arpaios-county

http://www.time.com/time/nation/article/0,8599,1717575,00.html

I also mentioned economic reasons as well. They broke the law coming here... and various others.. therefore they are all lawbreakers. Although I must agree the majority probably aren't hardcore criminals but there are many that are. How would you stand for people breaking into your home and living there and then asking for your contribution to help support them and their family. You'd go along with that right?

Douglasq

Their here illegally I dont care about their crime rate when they've already broken the law....LMAO

Apparently doing some things illegally are OKAY and NO BIG DEAL and costing legal citizens billions of dollars. That's duly noted.

It's a law because of the rampant illegal immigration problem

So you arrest the ones that come here legally, who have given the works jobs, sounds like a great law. /s

He is implying that the law was a racist reaction to the Hispanic community. Do you disagree?

Well this arrest kinda put the lie to that doesn't it?

Look even the FEDERAL immigration laws state that a person who is granted a "green card" needs to carry that card at all times.

Too bad, so sad for this dude, he'll get a fine and Mercedes will put out a company-wide memo to remind their employees to always keep their ID's with them. End of story.

So for all those screaming about this "racist" law, how do you reconcile your stand with this arrest, because I'm betting this executive was NOT "Hispanic"?

So you arrest the ones that come here legally, who have given the works jobs, sounds like a great law. /s

Had he followed the law and kept his passport on him and paperwork while visiting over here and driving on our nations highways... he would of been sent on his way without delay. He was only arrested for failure to provide required documents. Once it was brought to the police precinct and it was sorted out.. he was released without delay. So.. he brought this on himself. Not Alabama's new "law".

kazutam is correct. I have friends who are here on visas and have Green Cards. From Ukraine, Philippines, Vietnam, and even Austria. My Austrian friends work at Microsoft and Amazon in the Seattle Area. They still carry there documents on them and don't have any issues. An agreement visitors agree to by coming here to work and visit. Just like in any other nation on this planet when you go to visit there country! Duh. Same with driving on public roads. You agree as a responsible driver to have insurance, have a valid state issued license or for other things a valid state issued ID card. Driving is a privilege.. not a RIGHT. You agree to the rules and conditions when you get it.. same with those visiting from foreign nations. You abide by the rules. Just like you would visiting any other nation on this planet. What a shocker I know!

SR

An agreement visitors agree to by coming here to work and visit. Just like in any other nation on this planet when you go to visit there country!

While you, I, and most other actual thinking people get this, the "pro-illegal" folks simply skip over this fact.

After all it's inconvenient and doesn't allow them to sit and scream "racism" does it?

Had he followed the law and kept his passport on him and paperwork while visiting over here and driving on our nations highways... he would of been sent on his way without delay. He was only arrested for failure to provide required documents. Once it was brought to the police precinct and it was sorted out.. he was released without delay. So.. he brought this on himself. Not Alabama's new "law".

If that were the case then why is it stated in the artical that under prior law he would not have been arrested?

Apparently doing some things illegally are OKAY and NO BIG DEAL and costing legal citizens billions of dollars.

Hmmm, I would refer you to the farmers in communities where these laws have passed who suddenly have no one to pick their crops. Ask them how much it has cost them.

http://blog.al.com/wire/2011/10/chandler_mountain_farmers_comp.html

I would refer the farmers to jail cells for hiring illegal aliens.

I would refer the farmers to jail cells for hiring illegal aliens.

Meanwhile, you are wondering what happened to the prices in your local supermarket's produce section. Or meat section (they process meat, too).

And chances are, you've had lunch or dinner at a restaurant that employs illegals. Quite a few do.

so did the german bitch and cry that he is a victim of racism and complain that the police violated his rights, or did he have someone retrieve his passport and go on his way?

this guy was arrested, but he was not here illegally. he is a legal resident of the united states. i guess that he needs to carry his paperwork, but he is legal all the same. citizens, and legal residents, are being harassed. why was he suspected of being here illegally? why was he detained? he is a mercedes executive, and is more than likely here, legally.

So you arrest the ones that come here legally

He might have taken the legal steps to get here, but did not follow the law once he did by not having his passport on him.

If that were the case then why is it stated in the artical that under prior law he would not have been arrested?

Because under prior law it tied the State and its law enforcement officers from doing there job and upholding the laws and fact checking. In effect.. it helped create a blind eye to those here illegally. Which is wrong and has gotten out of control. Even under PRIOR LAW a Foreign national here on a visa or whatever is still required by Federal Laws to keep documentation with them. So this article is bias at its core. Something worth noting.

He might have taken the legal steps to get here, but did not follow the law once he did by not having his passport on him.

are legal residents, visa, or greencard holders, of the united states required to carry their passports at all times? they may be. i do not know. i think, yes, they probably are.

I remember in the cold war days, that asking for papers was the thing we in America laughed at, so we have become like them, but I am NOT laughing. Are we that scared of every little thing that doesn't fit our idea of what is 'American'. On the german dude, was it his accent/looks/clothes or just more of the good ol'boys down south mentality again.

Once again, fromthe article, it was that he was driving a rental car with no tag, did not have a driver's license or any other form of identification on him. Reading the article seems to clear up these little misunderstandings for most people.

are legal residents, visa, or greencard holders, of the united states required to carry their passports at all times? they may be. i do not know. i think, yes, they probably are.

I'm going to assume you don't know and are not trying to troll or derail the discussion.

Citizens are not required to carry "passports". Everyone else whether it be visas, work permits, Green Cards, whatever... are REQUIRED by current law to carry appropriate documentation with them for these very reasons. To want to ignore this or a turn a blind eye to this is not only irresponsible but a flagrant disregard to our laws and a slap in the face to the American People. How anyone can justify not giving a @!$%# about such laws says a great deal.

I know why he got stopped but why did that lead to an arrest, surely he had a cellphone to call his office to clear things up.

The man only had a German identification card, so he was arrested and taken to police headquarters, Anderson said.

it is a small point, but he did provide identification, according to the article, and i am sure that he gave them the correct story, so it seems odd to me, that they considered, or suspected him to be here illegally.

Actually Lee, the article specifically says that he showed his German ID - see, you must read ALL of the article yourself:

He had a German identification card but had left his passport and driver's license at his hotel.

According to Reuters, Detlev Hager was taken into custody for violating Alabama's immigration law, which has been called one of the toughest in the country. Under the new law, everyone must carry a valid ID, if not they are headed to jail. Previously, reports Reuters, the driver would have been given a citation and been let go.

And technically, he DID have a valid I.D. just not his passport. And having lived in ALA myself for most of the 90's, and being a legal alien with a "green card" I do know that if stopped you had a certain number of days to show valid identification at the nearest police station.

Douglasq,

"Except that the myth of illegals causing a lot of crime has been debunked"

Just the very fact that they are here illegally, the crime rate is 100%. Because they have broken the law.

derry,

well valid in this case probably refers to id that shows that he is in the country legally.

Now in my case, my drivers license would suffice as you have to be in the country legally to get one.

Actually Lee, the article specifically says that he showed his German ID - see, you must read ALL of the article yourself:

A German ID dosen't clear everything up. He could have been here way past his time allowed, etc, etc. and a German ID wouldn't say otherwise. Could of been faked.. or whatever. Which is why carrying a passport, etc is the law for foreigners visiting / living in this country. Same applies if you visited their country.

If I got pulled over in a car in ANY European country and simply presented my Washington Drivers license as ID. You don't think any more checks would be done?? Come back to reality.

I agree Jonathan, however this did take place near the Mercedes plant and probably everyone in that area would be familiar with the presence of visiting German [executives]. Saying he had no valid I.D. except his German I.D., and had to be arrested in accordance with the new illegal immigration law until he could prove his legal status, seems disingenuous.

Perhaps the officer was trying to prove a point by arresting a German business man!

Simplistic - I'm merely pointing out that the man DID have an I.D. and again, in an area where visiting Germans are likely to be, driving a rental car????????

OK, let me think here? Shall I ticket the German tourist and have him provide his papers to the nearest police station in order to escape paying the penalty, as was the standard until this LAW went into affect, or shall I arrest him immediately because he does not have his passport and therefore cannot prove that he is not working in Alabama ILLEGALLY???? Hmmmmm...

Just the very fact that they are here illegally, the crime rate is 100%. Because they have broken the law.

But that is not the kind of crime everyone refers to when they talk about illegals committing crimes. They are talking about theft, assault, murder, rape, burglary, etc. But the statistics do not bear that out.

If you speed, jaywalk or double park, you too are committing a crime. But it is not a violent crime. Simply being here illegally is not a violent crime.

Your splitting hairs and you know it. Do you think the same would apply to those who snuck into Government buildings or military installations? How is it any different. It's not. You have TRESPASSED where you are not legally or allowed permission to do so. A trespasser and lawbreaker is just that. Nobody applauds those who break the laws. Trying to pass it off as "No big deal its a minor infraction blah blah" is 90 percent of the PROBLEM. Violent crime or not.. its still a crime and shows the values and mentality of those who commited it. No respect for our laws especially if they are not LEGAL CITIZENS OF OUR NATION. Theft of lots of money might not be a "violent" crime but do you condone it?

DerryGirl, I did read all of the article and the original article the AP published. Yes, I left out the word "valid". Here, let me correct it. He did not have a valid ID.

He was in violation of the law and the officer enforced the law, exactly as he was required to do.

Agreed Lee, the word valid does change the context of your comment. And again, yes he was in violation of the CURRENT law.

douglasq,

I realize that and agree with you 'in principal'. But Simplistic Reality said it pretty good in the above post.

I was just commenting on the statement you put down. Its a bit nit-picky but when I read "kind of crime everyone refers to" and the operative word is 'everyone'. There are a lot of 'everyones' that feel that if someone is here illegally, they are a criminal.

Its just a good idea that if a person is out of their home, they should carry the proper identification. My wife and I are avid walkers to keep in shape. Unless we are walking in our neighborhood, we always carry our id.

Thanks for your comments.

DerryGirl, I did read all of the article and the original article the AP published. Yes, I left out the word "valid". Here, let me correct it. He did not have a valid ID.

He was in violation of the law and the officer enforced the law, exactly as he was required to do.

Common sense does prevail! :D

SR, far too rarely.

Simplistic Reality said

:Violent crime or not.. its still a crime and shows the values and mentality of those who commited it.

jackjack-712749 said:

I realize that and agree with you 'in principal'. But Simplistic Reality said it pretty good in the above post.

Simplistic was the one who erroneously tied illegal immigration to an increase in house burglaries when it has been proven to not be the case.

Simply being here illegally and committing violent crimes while being here illegally are two very different things. But you two seem to think there are no small crimes.

So if there are no small crimes, I am assuming you will both be turning yourselves in for the last time you exceeded the speed limit or forgot to signal before you changed lanes. Or maybe the last time you had a discreet beer at a park while grilling burgers with your friends. Or whatever small "crime" you committed because, well, as long as you get away with it...

are legal residents, visa, or greencard holders, of the united states required to carry their passports at all times

You are required to carry what ever ID pertains to your circumstance.

simplistic reality is doing the republican thing of feeling like something he wants to be true must be true and so he is going to bitch and post 1000 times that it is true.

IT IS NOT ILLEGAL IN THE US TO NOT HAVE YOUR PASSPORT ON YOU AT ALL TIMES, THAT IS PURE BULL@!$%# SR PULLED OUT OF HIS ASS AND THREW AT YOU.

He cant link to the law because there is none.

[you can see here in the UK](http://www.fco.gov.uk/en/travel-and-living-abroad/travel-advice-by-country/north-central-america/united-states#lawsCustoms), they warn people to carry their passports at all times, ONLY IF THEY GO TO ARIZONA.. IT IS NOT A FEDERAL LAW, WE ARE NOT A NATION OF REPUBLICAN BIGOTS.

Youa re making up @!$%# that doesnt exist, and that @!$%# gets @!$%#ing old right wingers.

douglasq,

The problem with your argument is that we know the illegals have broken our laws. You can assume that everyone else has (at times) broken the laws, but do you see the difference in those two situations?

1. We know for a fact someone has broken a law

2. We don't know for a fact that someone's broken a law, but we assume that they probably did

Which of those two situations is more deserving of further investigation and the application of our existing laws and punishments?

Smyth,

Unless you know who is illegal and who is not, how do you investigate that situation without violating the civil rights of individuals?

But your question sidesteps my point. Unless we are to concede that there are the legal equivalent of "white lies" -- laws that are minor infractions -- anyone who has jaywalked is a fugitive from justice and should be treated as such. See what I'm saying?

So when someone says that illegal aliens are accompanied by a rise in crime and then attributes that simply to their illegal status...when we all know that they meant (and even said) home break-ins and etc. -- that's just not being fair.

douglas,

Personally I think that jaywalking should be a capital offence, same thing with parking tickets. If we don't mete out appropriate justice, how are we going to retain a civilized society? /sarc

douglas,

Personally I think that jaywalking should be a capital offence, same thing with parking tickets. If we don't mete out appropriate justice, how are we going to retain a civilized society? /sarc

To quote Captain Jack Sparrow, "Clearly you've never been to Singapore."

it WAS ALABAMA - what did anyone expect - SANITY? Yes, that law was aimed at the HISPANICS.

WAS the gentleman in possession of a VALID DRIVER'S LICENSE?

Was it a LEGALLY RENTED CAR - did he have the RENTAL AGREEMENT?

How much BULLS hIT are we willing to overlook here - wouldn't it be too bad IF Daimler pulled their manufacturing out of ALABAMA and sent it somewhere "friendlier"?

The only state DUMBER than ALABAMA in this respect is ARIZONA...

8 USC Sec. 1304 01/05/2009

EXPCITE

TITLE 8 - ALIENS AND NATIONALITY CHAPTER 12 - IMMIGRATION AND NATIONALITY SUBCHAPTER II - IMMIGRATION Part VII - Registration of Aliens

HEAD

Sec. 1304. Forms for registration and fingerprinting

STATUTE

(a) Preparation; contents The Attorney General and the Secretary of State jointly are authorized and directed to prepare forms for the registration of aliens under section 1301 of this title, and the Attorney General is authorized and directed to prepare forms for the registration and fingerprinting of aliens under section 1302 of this title. Such forms shall contain inquiries with respect to (1) the date and place of entry of the alien into the United States; (2) activities in which he has been and intends to be engaged; (3) the length of time he expects to remain in the United States; (4) the police and criminal record, if any, of such alien; and (5) such additional matters as may be prescribed.

(b) Confidential nature

All registration and fingerprint records made under the provisions of this subchapter shall be confidential, and shall be made available only (1) pursuant to section 1357(f)(2) of this title, and (2) to such persons or agencies as may be designated by the Attorney General.

(c) Information under oath

Every person required to apply for the registration of himself or another under this subchapter shall submit under oath the information required for such registration. Any person authorized under regulations issued by the Attorney General to register aliens under this subchapter shall be authorized to administer oaths for such purpose.

(d) Certificate of alien registration or alien receipt card Every alien in the United States who has been registered and fingerprinted under the provisions of the Alien Registration Act, 1940, or under the provisions of this chapter shall be issued a certificate of alien registration or an alien registration receipt card in such form and manner and at such time as shall be prescribed under regulations issued by the Attorney General.

(e) Personal possession of registration or receipt card; penalties Every alien, eighteen years of age and over, shall at all times carry with him and have in his personal possession any certificate of alien registration or alien registration receipt card issued to him pursuant to subsection (d) of this section. Any alien who fails to comply with the provisions of this subsection shall be guilty of a misdemeanor and shall upon conviction for each offense be fined not to exceed $100 or be imprisoned not more than thirty days, or both.

Pretty much makes my case. Anyone 18 and over is required by Federal Law to carry proof of documents if he / she is here and not a legal citizen Naughtia.

First it common sense , then it's the law. Spin it any way you want. Its effect is to detain people legally.

I have traveled in other countries under a work visa. I carried an ID that allowed me to drive in other countries and had a code in it for my passport number. Caring your passport is not a wise move any time. It is a valuable document to criminals. Belief it or not other countries will not detain you for not having a passport. The republicans have always been hot on the law and order and punishment since nixon.

Arresting this guy just demonstrates how conservatives want to wheel out some nonproductive law to punish people . This law doesn't protect anyone. The conservatives law and order agenda is creepy . They always want to punish somebody.

Face it the anti immigration laws is in Alabama, Arizona , Texas , Mississippi is just status Que. Paranoia. Any time a group of white people claim that a brown group is the problem, well. That is nothing less then the Nazis or communist claiming that Jews are the problem....we know who won that fight.

The guy didn't get punished. Once he provided the proper documentation AKA proved who he said he was and was here legally.. the was released. It's a simple as that.

badchess

I would refer the farmers to jail cells for hiring illegal aliens.

I would refer you to the following clip from Heritage.org -- a tribute speech to Ronald Reagan, delivered by Arthur Laffer. That's the Laffer Curve, trickle-down guy, by the way...

Not only are these people the life's blood of America, they are, but let me just say to you tonight, on economic terms, the illegal immigrants are also the life's blood of this society. And I'm going to be hard core with you. They produce high quality labor at low cost and they cheat on their taxes. It doesn't get any better.

http://www.heritage.org/research/reports/2007/01/the-four-pillars-of-reaganomics

And here is the rest of that quote:

I'm having fun with you tonight as well, but let me just tell you that the California economy without immigrants would be a very different-you can't believe how much of what you buy and what you see and what you do is influenced by immigration in this wonderful, wonderful country of ours.

sr

Nobody applauds those who break the laws.

this is a false statement. i applaud some who break the law, and encourage everyone to steal from wal-mart. and i certainly applaud those who steal from wal-mart.

douglasq,

Unless you know who is illegal and who is not, how do you investigate that situation without violating the civil rights of individuals?

If an officer has stopped you for any infraction, and asks for your ID, we then know who you are (assuming you're able to provide a valid ID). From this point forward, we should be able to confirm whether you're illegal (and have undoubtedly broken at least one law), or whether you're legal.

If you jaywalked 2 weeks ago and were not caught doing so, there's no way the officer who pulls you over today is going to know you had done that. However, if you're here illegally, the officer will know. The officer can address the broken laws that we're aware of, not those we "assume" happened at some point.

The officer should address the laws that we know have been broken. If you're illegal, we have a punishment for that, we just need to apply it. If you're not illegal, you only have to deal with the punishment for the infraction that got you pulled over in the first place...

Alabama is a very strange place:

Alabama is also one families is among the nation's very highest.^[99]Alabama is the only state that levies income tax on a family of four with income as low as $4,600, which is barely one-quarter of the federal poverty line.^[99]Alabama's threshold is the lowest among the 41 states and the District of Columbiof the few remaining states that levies a tax on food and medicine.^[99]

The corporate income tax rate is currently 6.5%. The overall federal, state, and local tax burden in Alabama ranks the state as the second least tax-burdened state in the country.^[100]Property taxes are the lowest in the United States. The current state constitution requires a voter referendum to raise property taxes.

So they tax the hell out of the poor (which they have more than most states) but not the landowner and reward corporations for doing business in Alabama?

Also in a state with 4.7 million residents:

Alabama has 67 counties. Each county has its own elected legislative branch, usually called the County Commission, which usually also has executive authority in the county. Because of the restraints placed in the Alabama Constitution, all but seven counties (Jefferson, Lee, Mobile, Madison, Montgomery, Shelby, and Tuscaloosa) in the state have little to no home rule. Instead, most counties in the state must lobby the Local Legislation Committee of the state legislature to get simple local policies such as waste disposal to land use zoning.

So, they support by Alabamians taxes 67 mayors with correspondent offices and aids and 67 County Commissions with all their departments (police, fire, building, school, etc, etc) but they all do what the state legislature says. WTF?

Alabama is the "poster child" of what NOT to do with state politics.

And also, regardless of what some people say here, to put a person in handcuffs and shackles for not having in their possession their driver licence is NOT alright. US police departments all follow a standard way of arresting people which is suitable for dangerous criminals. Believe that most European and Latin American countries have different levels of detaining a person that varies with the circumstances of the detention and the crime committed.

And also, regardless of what some people say here, to put a person in handcuffs and shackles for not having in their possession their driver licence is NOT alright.

They aren't, i've been pulled over and didn't have my OL on me, officer ran my SS# and b-day seen it was valid and I was on my way? I don't think this practice is going on, just doomsayers trying to scare ppl

You people are getting on my nerves. I consider myself a liberal but defending our country against invasion and attrition is not racism! If the cost of fruit and vegetables has to go up, so be it! The cost of food has been steadily rising anyway, at least this is a good reason. And no, I am not just another racist, I don't want anymore legal immigration either. If we can't stay on top with our own minds then we no longer deserve to be at the top. If we import our educated work force and our unskilled labor force, what is left for us and our kids? We can't be consumers without jobs!

In my book you are the kind of citizen the country needs in these trouble times. I am glad that I am not the only one in the desert crying for help for the country against this invasion. Americans know it, they know that flooding the country with millions of Illegal Immigrants from all over the world cannot be good for the country in the long run and we have been running for a long time, they just don't give a #$& and it is too early to really feel the impact of that invasion.

You are not a racist, at least for me, not on that subject.

Importation of any kind of workers, educated or not is certainly profitable for some,but for the country it is like a weapon of mass destruction that will be felt for generation to come.

It says right in the article that the German executive would not have been arrested under the laws that existed previous to the immigration law in question.

Reading is fundamental.

Yes it is, so try reading and note that employment has risen in that state.

It says right in the article that the German executive would not have been arrested under the laws that existed previous to the immigration law in question.

And you seriously don't see a problem with that?!?!

These "papers please" laws are un American. So what if that's the way it is elsewhere. That's not here. that's not the USA. These "laws" are political, pandering to the tea party. The tea party: the most unAmerican entity since the KKK. These laws will never pass the Supreme Court. If they should, then that will be our deathknell as America the Beautiful.

If you break the law the cops have a @!$%#ing right to know who the @!$%# you are. Period. They also have a right to check to see if your wanted for crimes or warrants and see if you ARE who you SAY you are. Why don't they have to a right to also see if your here illegally or not? What is so wrong with upholding the LAWS of the states and our nation?!! What is this attitude that illegal aliens should get a pass and that breaking immigration laws is NO BIG DEAL?! If that's the @!$%#ing attitude why not just open the @!$%#ing border for anyone and all to come. NO papers required or documentation! Have a @!$%#ing free for all. I'm sure that would make the USA a much better place huh? Also what gives anyone the right and arrogance to CUT IN FRONT OF THE LINE while countless thousands wait there turn and come here legally and within the law? That's a @!$%#ing slap in the face to them all to all those who followed the rule of law. Like respectable moral people. Not selfish idiots who think the laws of this nation DONT APPLY TO THEM.

*facepalm*

These "papers please" laws are un American.

Really?

So the FEDERAL immigration laws that state that "green card" holders are required to carry that card and present it on demand are ALSO "un-American"?

Yeah that was quite a perplexing statement wasn't it. The rule of law and enforcement of our laws is un-American? When did this happen?

So the FEDERAL immigration laws that state that "green card" holders are required to carry that card and present it on demand are ALSO "un-American"?

So you know for a fact that that he has a green card? If he is and Exec from Germany driving a rental car it sounds like he is here for a short while and dosen't need a green card. It dose sound like if forgot his wallet and passport in his hotel room, and only illegals do that? Right.

It dose sound like if forgot his wallet and passport in his hotel room, and only illegals do that? Right.

And the "results" of doing that?

The 46-year-old executive was charged with violating the immigration law for not having proper identification, but he was released after an associate retrieved his passport, visa and German driver’s license from the hotel where he was staying, Anderson said.

Charged and released. So he's gonna end up paying a fine.

Kinda like what would happen to ANYONE else here in this country LEGALLY.

You did catch the part there about passport and visa, right?

Those documents that FEDERAL LAW say you are supposed to have on you if you are LEGALLY visiting this country.

Why is everyone only focusing on the illegal immigrants ...And Not The Employers Who Hired THEM!!!! There is a Federal Law about THAT also! Alabama wants to enforce only one side of the laws while choosing to ignore the employers. Seems like the employers of Alabama are OK with making profits on the backs of illegal workers but rail against these workers.

^ With that we are in agreement. Employers need punished and cracked down on for knowingly and turning a blind eye to hiring illegals. Even more so with MILLIONS of legal Americans out of work and can't find work. There is a solution to this and many employers already use it. E-Verify. I was unemployed for almost 2 years and finally got a job at a big corporation. Georgia-Pacific. I not only had to consent to them using E-Verify to prove I wasn't faking my SS number and was in fact who I said I was... it only took the HR lady maybe 30 seconds to do. They also did a background check on me. If every employer did E-Verify and followed the law... this illegal epidemic wouldn't be where it is today. So yes I support the crackdown on employers who use and frankly exploit illegal labor for selfish personal gain. It also often times end up screwing the illegals as well. Its a loose / loose situation often.

The solution to illegals is simple. Enforce and crackdown on laws already on the books. Crackdown on employers who hire and often exploit illegal work... and take away the magnet of incentives in terms of free education, social services, welfare, whatever that is drawing them here. You take away the incentives... you take away the desire to come here illegally. Proof of that is already happening to States who are taking an aggressive approach to fix the problem. They are picking up and moving to states who are more lax and frankly don't give much a care to the laws. Then you have this bizarre phenomenon of "sanctuary" cities that brag and promote illegals to come there because they guarantee in away to protect them. WTF IS THAT?!

lose/lose.

I have visited many countries and nowhere do they have a law that states you have to carry your passport and visas on you all the time.

When i go to touristy places, i leave my documents in a secure location and roam all around without worrying about being picked up just because i look different.

This law is nuts !!! It restricts free movement of people who may be there on business or pleasure and it is a precursor to a draconian police state.

yellow:

I don't carry around my passports (I have 2, canada and the UK) either. My drivers license, according to my immigration lawyer, is enough to prove that I am here legally (you can't get one unless you have the documentation that proves that).

My drivers license also has the information required to contact me, namely my US address, so if further information is requested, it can easily be provided, within 48 hours. If I go away, obviously I take it with me. Carrying your passport around all the time creates a risk of loss which would create more problems than it solves in my opinion.

In addition to this, I really doubt that the typical police officer is trained in the details of US immigration law. The police officers that I have talked to have no clue what an E visa is for example, and wouldn't be able to verify that I am in the country legally anyways.

Actually mrindia many countries do require that.

In addition, in every state of the US:

many immigrants may not be aware of the fact that it is a legal requirement for Permanent Residents to carry their Permanent Resident Card with them at all times. If and only when a Permanent Residence chooses to become a naturalised citizen of America will they relinquish their Permanent Resident Card and no longer have to carry it with them.

http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/361724/are_immigrants_required_to_carry_their.html

ok.

Yes it is, so try reading and note that employment has risen in that state.

What does that have to do with anything. I didn't say it hadn't risen.

These "papers please" laws are un American

Tell you what, use that the next time you have to board a plane, try to withdraw money from your bank that exceeds the ATM limit, use a debt card in person, cash a check, try to get a passport, buy a car, buy a house, apply for a new job, or retrieve certified mail that requires proof that you are the addressee and see just how far you will get not producing ID.

Little Sure Shot don't confuse them with facts or reality! Clearly when it comes to illegals they are in a special category of there own and don't have to have the same standards of the rest of legal U.S. Citizens have! Let alone follow the laws like the rest of us do!! How dare you question that!< / s

Right now these "papers please" laws are targeting immigrants. What if everyone was required to produce his papers on demand, for no apparent reason? That is what makes it unAmerican. The green card is for legal immigrants to obtain work, legally but they have to be paid the minimum wage. Some laws should not be obeyed. That is called civil disobeidience. Many bad laws have been repealed through civil disobeidience.

Our freedoms are being eroded and some are OK with it. I don't know why a middleclass American would want to abridge freedom.

The jobs the immigrants have no one wants, not even them, The real jobs are overseas.

MrIndia,

While it is true that many countries don't require you to have your passport and visas with you at all times, it is illegal in Italy, Spain, Romania and many other countries to not have valid ID with you at all times.

redder,

no the green card is for landed immigrants, not workers. A visa is for allowing someone to work, but it does not give you the right to live in the US permanently. A green card does.

What if everyone was required to produce his papers on demand, for no apparent reason?

To be honest maybe we SHOULD go that direction.

It would make the stupid comments like "These laws are ONLY targeting immigrants/Hispanics" a thing of the past.

The FACT is that up until now these folks that you are trying so desperately to shelter have had MORE rights than a U.S. citizen has. Let a U.S. citizen get picked up for breaking one of this country's laws and see just how many are let go with a paper saying show up in court on this day.

And you seriously don't see a problem with that?!?!

you obviously do, you are making up laws that dont exist, pulling them out your ass and throwing that @!$%# at us.

Why do you do that? did you hear the law existed from some other misinformed right winger?

got to love when proven wrong, you lash out against the very fact that shows you are wrong.

I really wish you republicans wouldnt do that crap. Just feel like something must be true so you say it is, and scream it in a debate. I would be embarrassed if I was proven not only to be wrong, but to be so wrong as to say the opposite as many times as the right.

I'm guessing yall dont care.. corrections on page 11 right? as long as enough people believe the @!$%# you said SR.. it is all ok right?

What if everyone was required to produce his papers on demand, for no apparent reason?

Are you trying to say that driving a car without tags is "no apparent reason"? If you were stopped driving a car without tags you would be REQUIRED in ANY state to show your identification. Are you people being intentionally obtuse?

They're trying to turn it into some stupid racial issue when it's clearly NOT. This is a normal traffic stop that escalated because the driver was at fault.
So yes they are being willfully obtuse.

In the state I live in it has always been a violation of the law to be in public without I.D. And as far as I know it is illegal in all states to operate a vehicle without your license. What is so hard about this? I don't blame or hate anyone coming to this country looking for a better way of life but we just don't have enough to go around anymore and I do blame the government for turning a blind eye to millions of law breakers from other countries while filling the prisons with AMERICAN CITIZENS who have done nothing more than use unpopular substances. Drug laws are some of the most unjust laws around but, lets all spend our time protecting foreigners from the "unamerican" immigration laws that protect our kids and our jobs instead of pointing that anger in the right direction, Washington and wallstreet!

Well livinginthewoods I think that the "Occupy" movement is a very large finger pointing at the bankers and power brokers of this nation. LOL We simply could not get the job done at the ballot box (no viable choices Dem. or Rep.) so the only thing left is civil disobedience. I just hope that it does not degenerate into serious violence and possibly insurrection. If our leadership has a lick of intelligence they had better be paying attention to this.

Unless our Congressmen and women put down the pail and shovel, step out of the sand box, and start acting like adults I am afraid that the American public may just have to give them a serious time out. LOL Kidding aside I really don't know where we are headed as a nation. I really am beginning to think that no one is driving the bus and we are headed for a cliff. Many want to blame the current president but in truth nothing can happen no matter who resides in the White House unless Congress gets their collective heads out of their rectums and starts cooperating in the nation's best interests. That means that corporate America is just going to have to take a cold tater and wait.

We seriously need to restore our self dependence by restoring our agribusiness at the family farm level to insure a diverse and adequate food supply in the upcoming world wide famines. The corporate farms don't cut it because they put entirely too much control in the hands of a few and that is a recipe for corruption and disaster. Further we must restore our manufacturing capabilites from raw materials right through to finished products to a satisfactory level or we will be unable to sustain our sovereignty in the event of world wide chaos.

World wide chaos you say!!!! You bet your bippy. We know that global climate change is coming sooner rather than later. That means that growing seasons are going to change as are temperate zones where crops can be easily and reliably produced. If you rely entirely on other nations to supply all of your personal needs such as clothing, equipment, and even certain foods for example you limit your survivability as a nation because those countries who supply you may ultimately need what they make themselves or someone else might be willing to pay more that we can afford. I know that this sounds a bit appocalyptic but it really is just plain old common sense. My late father called such short sightedness "eating your seed corn." What that meant was once you abandon the source for your needs you cannot easily restore them once all is lost.

American agribusiness has come almost completely under corporate control which means that it is now like gasoline. Prices can be manipulated up or down to suit the whims of those in charge at any time. Manufacturing is all but gone and the people and infrastructure that once carried out this valuable function have laid idle for so long that they are no longer functional. So as my late grandmother used to say we will find ourselves "naked, hungry, and won't have a pot to pee in." Naked because all our clothes are made in China and they are mad at us, hungry because all our food is grown in Mexico and South America and they are mad at us, and don't have a pot to pee in because that is also made elsewhere and no one here remembers how to make a pot. Sad isn't it? LOL

Sad, but true my freind. Sad, but true.

Thank goodness they aren't real news reporters and only are in it for comedy, not any truth.

Can you give me one example when Stewart of Colbert were not accurate?

Can you give me one example when Stewart of Colbert were not accurate?

No they can't and that's what make it even more hilarious.

Hmmmm which would I watch for accurate news? Jon Stewart or Faux "news" - Jon Stewart wins handles down.

Hmmm, whose comment would be more valuable, someone who cannot spell "fox" or someone else?

badchess

Hmmm, whose comment would be more valuable, someone who cannot spell "fox" or someone else?

The one who realizes that FOX News isn't really "news"

Thank goodness they aren't real news reporters and only are in it for comedy, not any truth.

In this day and age, it sometimes takes comedians to show us the truth. Just the other night, my wife and I were crying we were laughing so hard at the truth according to Louis C.K.

paxildog, we aare talking jon stewart and colbert, not fox news.

[You do realize that fox news watchers have been proven to be less informed than people who do not watch the news at all?

You want to know who tops the list of informed people? Jon stewart/colbert watchers.

and this isnt one poll, one year, a one time thing. It is every time they do the poll. Fox watchers are near the bottom.

DOOOOOOOOOOOO YOU GET THE IRONY?

fuchs news is all for the rightwingnutters. Any resemblance to "fair and balanced" is coincidental, only

Let's pretend I am the head boss of Mercedes of largest stock holder. You put out a memo to try and make a multi million dollar move because you are pissed that you yourself don't follow that countries rules and laws.

The only one looking for a new job is you, in a flat second.

Let's pretend I am a this mercedes executive, further I am a grouchy old man.

Well unless you are the sole owner and therefore have full control of what the company does, it really doesn't matter now does it?

The plain and simple FACT is that you don't close a factory over something like this.

IF other states want to try and get those jobs, there is nothing stopping them from trying to entice this companies business away from Alabama, yet the plant is still there. What does THAT tell you?

Want to bet that Alabama's immigration laws will make a difference when Mercedes decides to expand or build new plants in the US?

Southern states like SC and AL are now becoming cheaper and more competitive to run business then the coastal areas of China. The tide is slowly changing. Hell Nike distro center in Wilsonville, OR just moved out of the unbuisness friendly Oregon and moved there entire distro operations to South Carolina or one of the neighboring states not to long ago.

Want to bet that Alabama's immigration laws will make a difference when Mercedes decides to expand or build new plants in the US?

No it won't. Unless the shareholders and executive board of Mercedes like and endorse illegals and lawbreakers. I don't see it as an issue. A total apples and oranges comparison.

The plain and simple FACT is that you don't close a factory over something like this.

My wife has worked for two German Companies, Deutsche Telekom and BASF and both have sent a great number of German Employees temporarily to work in the states. do you really thing they would want to send there workers to a state that just being from a different country is a problem?

That's B.S. and I think you know that. If they follow the rules there is no problem. Are you really trying to say that because Alabama might have some German workers they are going to be against that because they are German nationals? That's laughable considering one of the largest ethnic groups of American's is GERMAN.

German Americans are citizens of the United States of German ancestry and comprise about 51 million people, or 17% of the U.S. population, the country's largest self-reported ancestral group

simplistic,

that would depend on the visa's that the german companies use to transfer their workers. Most police officers wouldn't know what visa's are what as US immigration law is overly complex.

Well, the German Executive should be happy he wasn't in Texas. Perry would have him executed before he had the opportunity to get in touch with his consulate.

If that isn't an example of pure hyperbole I don't know what is........

I thought it was a good joke.

So you think MB will only build 1 plant in the states, do you think Alabama would be at the head of the list with this arrest. I think they would think again and behaps again.

If your using the arrest of one of its employees because he personally failed to follow our laws and regulations as reason why MB wouldn't build a plant in Alabama... the notion is not only absurd but laughable! Unless you think the German people / shareholders are pro law breaking I don't see any validity in your claim.

Glad to see so many agree with my post. :)

I do wonder what will happen next time mercedes needs to expand.

I am willing to bet, the fine republican governor of Alabama @!$%# his pants when he heard this guy had been arrested.

because you are pissed that you yourself don't follow that countries rules and laws.

another republican that pulls bull@!$%# out their ass and screams at everyone like it is true.

IT IS NOT ONE OF OUR COUNTRIES LAWS, IT IS ONE OF TWO REPUBLICAN STATES LAWS.

I'm starting to believe it isnt just fox news making people stupid, but republicans in general are making people stupid. They love to do this BS thing and scream and rant about @!$%# that isnt true at all.

They just make @!$%# up and call it true, no need for wikipedia, what ever they feel is true is true.

I think they are all insane and think they are that kid from the old twilight zone who could make anything true with his mind.

WELL REALITY DOESNT WORK THAT WAY.

just keep digging that simplistic hole - it just keeps getting deeper and deeper

That's B.S. and I think you know that. If they follow the rules there is no problem. Are you really trying to say that because Alabama might have some German workers they are going to be against that because they are German nationals? That's laughable considering one of the largest ethnic groups of American's is GERMAN.

German Americans are citizens of the United States of German ancestry and comprise about 51 million people, or 17% of the U.S. population, the country's largest self-reported ancestral group

Wow you missed my point completely, but being that you brought it up I am one of the 51 million, been here since the 1730's.

But the people I was talking about are not US citizens, the are German nationals that work here because as a German owned company they like to look after their company.

They just make @!$%# up and call it true, no need for wikipedia, what ever they feel is true is true.

The fact you think Wikipedia is all facts shows how little you really know about it. Lol. There is a reason why most schools don't allow that as a reference source being how anyone can edit and write any article. Just last week was reading an article about a town in Alaska and it was talking about a migration of Unicorns in the area.... XD

Your personal attack on me in a disgusting manner is noted and in violation of Newsvine COH.

Thanks, Sally! I don't care which wing the trolls come from, I just want them all to go away!

i wish i could vote this up more than once...

you libby, neocon, treehugging, caffeince loving, teaparty, ows, etc. etc. etc type, you. :)

By all means, let's just start basing our legislature on what foreign businesses want and what protects them, we've been doing it for american companys for decades. I for one don't see this as a party issue. I am as far from conservative as you can get but that doesn't mean that I am in favor of the invasion and attrition of America. Close the borders to legals and illegals and put the money we save in their welfare on education for our own kids so maybe the USA can make a comeback in the future cause we are sure on our way down now. You people should really stop making this political because the republicans do not really agree with their voters on this one. They TALK tough against immigration when they are running for election, but when they are in office they will seem like the biggest liberals when it comes down to actually implementing the reform and deportations. Their corporate masters LOVE the cheap slave labor. Both parties do this, lie while they are running for office and then do what makes them the most money while they are in office. Just like bush sr. did with taxes and gun control and just like obama did with healthcare and DEA reform. THEY ALL LIE!!!!!!!!!

They also have a type of National ID card system over there as well. My brother just visited his g/f over in Bremen, Germany. They as a nation has seen the complete failure of our immigration laws as well as most nations around the World and have adjusted there accordingly to help stop it. We are way behind the times.......... they also cracked down on there own version of anchor baby laws as well. Which benefited many GI who had kids on German soil. Now its not so easy or possible to get dual citizenship simply by being born there. That is another thing I think we need to change like they did. No defacto citizenship because your illegal parents gave birth to you on our soil. It should be changed to were at least one parent has to be a legal citizen of this nation before your child cane become one. That's not only REASONABLE but appropriate with the day and age we live in. It's been abused like no other and all other nations have adjusted there's accordingly. Again.. we are behind everyone else. Hell look at Mexico's immigration laws? They criticize ours but they have the most Xenophobic and down right RACIST immigration laws in the modern World. Hypocrite thy name is!

And a national ID card is something that the "teahadists" are totally against.

Your right and its something Ron Paul is against as well... and I'm a supporter of his. Although that does not negate the fact that I am for enforcing our laws and getting a handle on the illegal immigration problem that is costing the good people of this nation billions and billions every year. Especially when we are basically bankrupt and have MILLIONS of legal citizens out of work and have to compete with MILLIONS of illegals who have no problem breaking the laws to work and whatnot for a lower pay and standard. Its detrimental to our economy and to our laws and it isn't right nor fair.

I doubt the tea headsets are totally against a national id card

I would bet they are against a free pass to all illegals to get a national ID card without papers....

Just a guess.

you can cry all you want to about the laws for foriegnors coming to germany, this is a german coming to the US, and our laws are different. How many @!$%#ing americans do you think even know our laws for foreign visitors? Probably only people with relatives abroad, I can tell you one group that demonstrates that they are clueless when it comes to the law and that is republicans.

gee greg - you are full of @!$%#. Germans don't do an ID check unless you are arrested for some CRIME (and being on a bus is not a crime). I'll tell you about an incident I had where I was riding a bicycle (in GERMANY) and stopped at a red light only to proceed thru after stopping (riding the bike against the light) whereupon I was stopped by der Polizei and after he told me what I had done (auf Deutsch), I feigned "ignorance" and started looking into my wurterbuch (that's "dictionary") and haltingly speaking a few words of GERMAN (which at the time I was essentially capable of FLUENTLY speaking) until he told me "RED LIGHT - STOP! OK?" and left. No asking for "papers, show me your papers". Schengen has changed things to where they don't do passport checks except when someone enters the EU - so at least get your story STRAIGHT.

^ So your really saying if I got pulled over on the Autobahn for having bad tags on my car or doing a traffic in fraction.. and the only piece of ID I had on me... was a State drivers license from the USA.. der Polizei is going to just be a okay with that and let me go on my way without any more info? Now that is interesting!

Simplistic - when's the last time (if ever) you have been to Europe???

well, now - first off, generally you need an INTERNATIONAL D/L to drive in other than the US or Canada (eh!). The Mexicans enforce the law outside the border areas.

Secondly, the GERMANS expect everyone else to be as anal as they are - "You VILL do as you are TOLD because it is Vat is DONE!".

When I was there I was under "status of forces" and carried a military issued D/L for vehicle operation of my PRIVATE vehicle. That incident related happened in a small border town on the GERMAN side of the German-Austrian border. Yes, I took advantage of the culture for my own benefit - otherwise it was a 10 DM fine (gives you a rough time reference since Germany has been on the Euro for many years).

well, now - first off, generally you need an INTERNATIONAL D/L to drive in other than the US or Canada (eh!).

Not true. Most countries DO NOT require you have an international drivers permit, your current drivers license is valid. They are however recommended for identification purposes (U.S. divers licenses are in English, an officer in another country may not be able to read or understand it.) The IDP (International Drivers Permit) is written in multiple common languages. Contrary to your post, Mexico does NOT require an IDP.

IDPs may be required to rent a car as well, again because rental agents may not be able to read your Drivers License, not because of law.

that arrested the CEO

So now the guy is the CEO of Mercedes?

Good lard you simply can't wait to twist things around and make them seem worse than they actually are can you?

yeah him and this twisted reality guy sure know how to read a story.

And he swam the Atlantic to get here.

nah, he payed a Steppenwolf to bring him across in a van

Steppenwolf is an immigration violation unto itself, fronted by a Canadian of german descent who happened to have been born in what was East Germany. Damn commies.

That Nazi guy will now learn what is to be a Jew during Hitler. He had to come to Alabama to learn that. Alabama for Alabamians! The rest of you can stay out, more moonshine for us. ;o)

Seems odd some want to mimic Germany and Mexico

Well I guess that's better than their plan to "make our border secure", just like North Korea.

Comparing Germany's immigration laws and policy to that of Mexico's is about as extreme comparison as you can get... maybe except to those of China and North Korea. It's a total Apples and Oranges comparison that totally disingenuous.

comparison that totally disingenuous.

k

If you go to Germany you better have a passport with you. It is jail time if you do not. You better have it anywhere you travel outside of America. Try moving around Mexico without an ID and see how long you walk around.

#4 - Tue Nov 22, 2011 10:58 AM CST

Tell it to fifth horseman

Your comment makes no sense.

really, fifth horseman said you need to carry ID in Mexico and Germany

If you have a problem with a disingenuous comparison tell it to 5th Horsemen

Please tell me what country outside the USA that a U.S. Citizen doesn't need to carry ID / Passport / proper documentation. Let alone follow the laws of the land. Please enlighten me.

simplistic,

Canada. You need a passport to get in, but that is actually a US government requirement, not a Canadian one. (You need the passport to get back into the US, and Canadian immigration officials need proof that you can go home). Once in Canada though, you don't have to carry id.

Yes the USA and Canada have agreements on such matters. If I have a valid Washington Enhanced Drivers License I can travel on foot and via car to Canada with simply just that. Not all states have that agreement mind you. That is sufficient ID and proof between the current agreements between our two nations. If I travel by BOAT or by AIR I do have to have and present a valid Passport to Canadian Authorities to enter Canada. Also if I have any felonies or whatnot... even a simple DUI... Canada will and can refuse entry to me. I have been to Canada in the past.. British Columbia. (Victoria / Vancouver). Although I have not been since current changes in law have been passed. When I was a kid a simple birth certificate would suffice. Times have changed. Again this is an apples an oragnes comparison. We are not debating Canada / USA visiting laws. We are talking about USA laws on foreign nationals and the requirements therein.

It is odd to complain when one back woods bigoted state doesnt have the same laws for foreigner as the rest of the country which is one of the main reasons our forefathers were wise enough to make that under the preview of the federal government?

Geeee I wonder why anyone would complain that it is hard to send their employees here cause some states want to make their own laws that are constitutionally under federal jurisdiction specifically to prevent @!$%# like this.

Simplistic:

How about London, Great Britain? When I was studying in London in 2000/2001*, not only were we not required to carry our passports with us at all times, we were actually told not to do so because of the risk of it being lost or stolen by pickpockets. Additionally, we were supposed to keep a photocopy of our passports hidden in our luggage to be used at the US Embassy in case it should get lost. It's a real hassle to get it replaced if you are overseas. One of my roommates in London almost lost hers when she took it to the office she was interning in and freaked out for a solid hour before we were able to locate it within the apartment.

Incidently, your response to Johnathan-1917156 (and probably mine as well) was very strange. You yourself asked in Post #12.7:

"Please tell me what country outside the USA that a U.S. Citizen doesn't need to carry ID / Passport / proper documentation. Let alone follows the laws of the land. Please enlighten me."

He responded with the example of Canada, to which you responded:

"Yes the USA and Canada have agreements on such matters. If I have a valid Washington Enhanced Drivers License I can travel on foot and via car to Canada with simply just that. Not all states have that agreement mind you. That is sufficient ID and proof between the current agreements between our two nations. If I travel by BOAT or by AIR I do have to have and present a valid Passport to Canadian Authorities to enter Canada. Also if I have any felonies or whatnot...even a simple DUI...Canada will and can refuse entry to me. I have been to Canada in the past..British Columbia (Victoria/Vancouver). Although I have not been since current changes in law have been passed. When I was a kid a simple birth certificate would suffice. Times have changed. Again this is an apples an oranges comparison. We are not debating Canada / US visiting laws. We are talking about the USA laws on foreign nationals and the requirements therein."

I read your posts several times and it seems to me (and probably others as well) that you aer the one comparing apples to oranges. Everyone knows that a valid passport is required when entering either this or any foreign country. THAT'S NOT THE ISSUE! The issue is whether or not you need the passport on your person at all times WITHIN THE COUNTRY. Johnathan-1917156 and I are simply responding to your request to show you a foreign country where carrying around a highly-important and extremely desirable identification document is not required. Next time, please reread your own posts before responding.

*Please note that I am not aware of any changes after 9/11/2001 or the July 2005 London bombing. If anyone has been to London recently, could you please comment on this?

The issue is whether or not you need the passport on your person at all times WITHIN THE COUNTRY.

Yes you do... especially if your going to DRIVE on our nations roads which is a privilege

(e) Personal possession of registration or receipt card; penalties
      Every alien, eighteen years of age and over, shall at all times
    carry with him and have in his personal possession any certificate
    of alien registration or alien registration receipt card issued to
    him pursuant to subsection (d) of this section. Any alien who fails
    to comply with the provisions of this subsection shall be guilty of
    a misdemeanor and shall upon conviction for each offense be fined
    not to exceed $100 or be imprisoned not more than thirty days, or
    both.

http://trac.syr.edu/laws/08/08USC01304.html

.

Please tell me what country outside the USA that a U.S. Citizen doesn't need to carry ID / Passport / proper documentation.

I would rather be a leader in freedom than a follower in oppression.

you were told Canada eh! (what part of CANADA (EH!) is beyond your comprehension?)

reddirthippy:

Because Homeland Security now has the INS department under its mandate.

Excellent point.

yup - Alabama is just as stupid about ANY person - regardless of national origin... (or political status) and I bet NO MERCEDES EMPLOYEE will EVER rent from THAT company again...

I bet NO MERCEDES EMPLOYEE will EVER rent from THAT company again...

Then mabe that company needs to makes sure they lease tagged vehicles so thier patrons don't get pulled over.

deep fried ignorance-staple of choice

Pretty much just summed up your entire comment.

Spot on SR.

ow, gee, that really hurts,

lol, wow you two are really exceptional examples of, awww forget it, neither of you are worth the time

I'm glad we are in agreement. If you want discussion worth either of our times try commenting in an intelligent manner.

with regards to alabamastan i did...

it is the nexus of ignorance in this country, if they could find a market for it they would own the world,

having lived there for far far far too long, leaving that state has been like the sun coming out and birds singing

You claim its the "nexus of ignorance in this country" yet your comments are a equally the same. I'm not sure how we on NV can take you seriously with comments like "Alabamastan". WTF is that?! If we need a translation into common English surely my point has been proven.

lol, don't call me surely,,

whether you are anyone else takes me seriously on NV doesn't concern me, if you are so dense as to have something as silly as alabamastan explained to you then yes a point has been made

keep trying to take me on Simplistic, I enjoy it,

and by the way, equally and the same in the same sentence is redundant, lol, too funny

you see if something is equal, then they are the same, and vice versa, but for just a moment you sounded real well there, no i mean good, no well, ah @!$%#...now you got me doing it

Forget it, SR. Hugh is a bigot, and you won't be able to reason with that sort of mindset.

lol, not a bigot at all, but again nice try

Maybe not a bigot,but probably an adolescent.

No, Dani has it correct, even adolescents aren't that far off in space.

as a visitor yes, but if you are in on a work visa, you don't have to. You should carry id, but that is for everyone.

I don't carry either of my passports around unless I go somewhere where my home would not be available for quick access. Most police officers don't know the different visa types, etc... so they wouldn't be able to determine whether or not I am here legally. My drivers license on the other hand IS evidence that I am here legally as you need to prove legal residence (have an SS Number, etc...) in order to get one.

My passport would complicate that issue because it just has a stamp that indicates when I enter and leave the country (I have two because sometimes I travel on my UK passport as it simplifies entry into europe when I go there).

And if you are a us citizen in Germany you are required to have ID as well.

badchess.

actually everyone in germany is required to have ID, regardless of citizenship.

A work visa just means you are visiting the US for work. Visiting requires a passport. And so what if he's a MB executive. Do you think the German police would care if a US executive did not have his passport with him ? Yes he would and with global terrorism they are checking everyone.

The GERMANS are interested in proof of the person (virtually any picture ID is enough). IF an infraction is serious enough, they might tell you to go get your passport (and yes,it is NOT necessary to carry the real document - a COPY is good enough - the nasty effect of LOSING a passport is why most people don't carry anything but a copy while they are out and about)

yeah, stupid rednecks, don't they know they are suppose to discriminate and thus fulfill the unthinking stereotypes of bigots like #18?

What do they think they are doing, applying laws equally to everybody?

Badchess

Were you trying to be cute and insulting at the same time.

If so you failed

Alabama is notorious and has a nearly 200 year old history of mistreating minorities under the color of law.

That German was just a minority of a different color and accent

You let your own understanding and prejudice get in the way.

What do they think they are doing, applying laws equally to everybody?

are they going to detain everyone who is here legally now? wow. he is here legally.

Was he detained for being here legally? Is that why he was stopped and arrested?

No. The law was applied equally, and he wasn't able to provide the documents required by the law, so regardless of his skin color or what language he spoke, he was taken into custody.

Yeah, but they make one hell of a strudel.

I thought when you married an American citizen you received citizenship?

You still have to apply for a Green Card...marriage to a US citizens allows you to "skip to the front of the line" for Green Cards (which normally takes several years)...and then you later become a US citizen.

magnoliaave,

Only if he is going to be away from home. He doesn't have to carry it with him if he goes to work.

Yellow:

Only after 9 years of residence can you apply for citizenship. You will first get a K visa, then after a few years, a green card, then you can apply for citizenship after a period of time.

Now I understand.

Well, the USCIS instructions....you MUST carry your passport with you at all times.

No, you do not automatically become a U.S. citizen and no, you do not go to the front of the line. It took us three years for him to enter the U.S. with the permanent resident visa. The last year he could not travel to the U.S.

It takes five years of U.S. residency to apply for U.S. citizenship!

.

i thought they were only supposed to detain those who were here illegally, or who were suspected of being here illegally. this man was not here illegally, and i do not know that there was reason to suspect that he was.

800, he was driving a rental car with no tag, did not have a driver's license and had no other form of ID with him. It only takes about 1 minute to read the entire article. There is even a handy little green button at the top to get you there.

It's Alabama....what else would you expect. In most states if you're stopped without your drivers license...they write you a ticket...in Alabama they detain you and send you before homeland security magistrates...

800

he was driving a rental with no tags (how that happened I don't know) and didn't have any identification on him. I wonder if this was actually a stunt to try and humiliate the passing of this law as it just seems too made up.

I wonder if this was actually a stunt to try and humiliate the passing of this law as it just seems too made up.

Actually a good point.

When looked at a certain way it would be considered a win/win type of stunt.

IF as in this case he is pulled over and arrested for not having proper ID we have the feeding frenzy of folks against this law that we are seeing.

IF(driving a car with NO tags) he ISN'T pulled over and arrested then we would see a different article showing that because he wasn't pulled over and arrested it was "proof" that the law and the enforcement of it was "racist".

from the article (yes, that article):

The man only had a German identification card, so he was arrested and taken to police headquarters, Anderson said.

he showed them identification, and i am sure he told them who he was, and that he had a visa, and a passport. he is here legally, and they knew, at least who he was, and from where he had come. i suppose they could have suspected him of being here illegally, but i myself, find that slightly illogical. he could have been a citizen with an accent that forgot his license, as well. he still would have been arrested, essentially for having an accent.

i suppose they could have suspected him of being here illegally, but i myself, find that slightly illogical. he could have been a citizen with an accent that forgot his license, as well. he still would have been arrested, essentially for having an accent.

That was exactly my point...if you accidentally leave your drivers license at home in Alabama...they drag you before a homeland security magistrate until you can prove you're a citizen...most other states they write you a ticket.

The fact that he was a German citizen is irrelevant...they will apparently do this to anyone. Downright stupid.

After this happens to enough "good ole boys" the clowns who wrote this bill will get voted out just like that clown in Arizona got booted out of office!

Sorry, 800, I left out the word "valid" in describing the identification.

No, it was because he was in violation of the law. Further reading of the base article denotes that the issue was investigated to assure that it was in accordance with the law and best practices for enforcement of the law.

magnoliaave: you are incorrect when you say "the USCIS instructions....you MUST carry your passport with you at all times." It DOES NOT say passport, it says green card. Perhaps you and your husband should re-read the USCIS instructions for permanent residents, at least for your own clarity and understanding, and refrain from repeating incorrect information merely to support your argument here.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Permanent_residence_(United_States)

this man was not here illegally

The cop did not know that. He had NO ID on him.

Hello!!!! McFly!!!!!

LSS, he had no valid ID with him.

derrygirl...you are incorrect. Get your facts straight. My husband is recipient of said visa. Get on with your life!

People try to screw you one way or the other. The USCIS says, keep your passport with you at all times.

A visitor isn't a permanent residence. Big difference.

The USCIS says, keep your passport with you at all times.

Yeah. That's what law abiding people are suppose to do and a good idea.

It will all work out for the Great State of Alabama!

"showed" not "shone".

"shone" not "showed", duh!

KIA? Killed In Auto.

KIA not just your grandmas car anymore check out the K-9

Kind of interesting that an automobile executive would even need a rental in the first place.

I thought too. In other stories he is referred to as a manager.

"Executive" makes it sound more sensational. I believe that was the point.

According to the article, he was stopped in a rental car with no tag, no driver's license and no identification.

this is incorrect. he had id.

And many car rental agencies DO NOT have licence plates on their cars. When my brother visits he normally picks up a rental in Florida, and up until recently most of those cars, particularly from Payless, had nothing except an in-car 'registration' paper which was attached to the wind shield.

What kind of a rental company rents cars with no tags?

That was my question, which is why I think this was actually staged.

It happened to me once with "Enterprise"...there was only one plate on the vehicle...

Do you also think the Government is keeping aliens in Area 51?!?! Conspiracy!

We rented from Budget (ironically at the Anniston airport in Alabama) and it just had paper tags with the Budget logo only, and as I said earlier, most recently (probably about 3 years ago now) my brother rented a car from Payless with similar plastic plates.

So your really trying to say.. that the rental companies in Alabama.. have a conspiracy to break the law in such a fashion... that foreign nationals who rent there cars in there state... get pulled over for minor infractions by not having tags or other things up to date.... etc....

Is that really what your arguing?!?! LOL.

No Simplistic, what I am saying is that I rented a vehicle and my brother rented a vehicle and neither had state (or otherwise) issued license plates. No conspiracy. And while I didn't ask the rental company why it did not have a plate, I will hazard a guess that new vehicles come under a "fleet" license while they are being registered, and those generic "fleet" registrations are not affirmed to the rental vehicles for security purposes.

Similar to the cardboard temporary plates that you will find at the dealers when purchasing a new vehicle, the rental agencies are apparently authorized to attach their own tags as long as the lease agreement has the VIN number or whatever method they use internally to track it.

Too subtle an argument for you?

PS - it is "their cars in their state"

then how do the police, when observing cars, determine whether a car is a rental or someone driving a car without the necessary plates?

Jonathan - I can't be sure but I would assume it is the same as how they check that the temporary license plate on your car, issued from a dealer, is legitimate - they stop the vehicle and you produce the necessary paperwork. Of course, I am assuming!

Before Gov. Robert Bentley (R) signed HB 56, drivers who did not have a license were given a ticket and court summons, Collier said. If it were not for the immigration law, a person without a license in their possession wouldn't be arrested like this", he told the AP.

Let's review shall we. Forget the fact that he's a German citizen.

Let's say it's a 67 year old white woman with a perfect Alabama drawl and Granny forgot her DL.

Under this new Alabama law they are required to detain you until you prove you are "a US citizen".

You remember that clown that wrote the Arizona law...well he won't be writing any more laws in Arizona and I get the feeling the same thing is going to happen to the clowns that wrote this ridiculous bill in Alabama.

People are getting sick of these over-reaching politicians.

Let's review shall we. Forget the fact that he's a German citizen

Let's not, it's part of the issue

Let's say it's a 67 year old white woman with a perfect Alabama drawl and Granny forgot her DL

The officer would run her SS# and pull the photo on her OL to verify her being legal to drive if she did not have a valid OL to drive well i don't know about AL but in my state Granny would goto jail and probably be recieve an OR bond or would pay $175.00 to get out of the pokey... But remember this isn't Granny were talking about, it's someone from another country which you would rather forget who DOES NOT have a valid OL to drive in the state.

Under this new Alabama law they are required to detain you until you prove you are "a US citizen".

As it should be, if an officer has suspicion and you cannot identify yourself then you should be detained until you are. what if he was a fugative nazi war criminal /s

People are getting sick of these over-reaching politicians.

Yeah, next thing you know, they'll be making us to stop at stop signs and adhere to posted speed limits...

Only if you are a white male. all others get a free pass... NO profiling here.....

And the law state ;"if he officer has reasonable doubt the person is not american" he can check for citizenship ID.

Sorry the little old white lady with souther draw is safe...

he can check for citizenship ID

Officers don't ask for papers at first. They ask for ID; If the individual hands them something that isn't even in english there is reasonable doubt the person might not be american; if the individual doesn't have ID at all then the officer will continue to probe as he should; checking SS# has long been a alt method to ID someone. Officers CANNOT just let unknown individuals wander around unchallenged. Americans have rights but with those rights come responsibility, and every tom, dick or harry that walks inton this country is NOT an american and if they are inconvienced and have to learn to keep proper documentation on them then they will learn to keep it on hand; if i was in a foriegn country and broke even one of thier laws and coulnd't even identify myself, not only would i not be suprised to be arrested I would expect it. Cincinnasty on the cover of "Busted" Jailed for Stupidity.