Connie Mack: Conservatives Should Oppose Arizona Immigration Measure

U.S. Rep. Connie Mack has an op-ed in todays Washington Post arguing that conservatives should oppose Arizonas new immigration restrictions.

The latest issue freedom-loving conservatives should be concerned about is the Arizona immigration law, wrote Mack. This law clearly challenges citizens' freedoms, and it does so by putting some Americans at risk of losing their freedoms while others stand little or no chance of being affected.

Mack argued that while illegal immigration is a problem that the federal government has failed to address, the law goes too far and infringes on basic liberties and rights.

Illegal immigration poses clear security risks to our nation and is a cancer on our economic well-being, wrote Mack. The Obama administration and previous administrations have failed to secure our border. While the announcement of additional National Guard troops at the border is a good first step, the federal government must do more to secure our borders -- both north and south -- now.

"But trampling on the rights of some Americans to protect the majority conflicts with the values our nation was founded upon, noted Mack. Our Constitution protects individual freedoms and liberties. Nowhere does this document speak of protecting the majority over the minority. Anger about the economy, increased crime and security concerns are fueling this law, not constitutional principles.

As the wise saying goes, he who sacrifices freedom for security ends up with neither, concluded Mack. I do not want to live in a nation where American citizens are asked "Where are your papers?" We are better than that.

Its a strong statement from a conservative Republican--and one who may be a candidate for higher office down the road.