Now the Mexican government is fighting to abolish a new Arizona law against human smuggling.

Human smuggling was already a federal crime, but as such could be enforced only by federal law enforcement.  This state law allows state and local law enforcement agencies to arrest suspected smugglers.

While illegal aliens captured by the Feds are released on their own recognizance into the American population, illegal aliens captured by Sheriff Joe’s posse may end up in jail, charged under a state law that makes human smuggling a state crime in Arizona. 

While it was intended for the prosecution of smugglers, a controversial interpretation by County Attorney Andrew Thomas argues that the law can be applied to the smuggled immigrants themselves.

Thomas maintains illegal immigrants who pay smugglers to enter the United States are committing conspiracy to smuggle and can therefore be prosecuted under the state law.  Thomas’ interpretation enables the law to be applied to the smuggled immigrants themselves, and it has been applied to over 100 illegal alien cases in Maricopa County so far this year.

The Maricopa County sheriff's office began arresting illegal immigrants under that interpretation in March.  The new posse, a combination of sworn deputies and unpaid volunteers picked from Sheriff Joe’s 3200 strong posse of volunteers, is now patrolling desert areas and main roadways in the southwestern part of the county.

It remains to be seen whether a judge will uphold the smuggling law as applicable to illegal immigrants. Lawyers for some arrested illegal immigrants, and the usual parade of apologists for those that disregard America’s sovereignty, have filed motions to have the charges dismissed.

But as a backup plan, a Los Angeles attorney, Peter Schey, has been brought into the case by the Mexican Consul General's Office in Phoenix.  On behalf of the Government of Mexico, he has filed a motion claiming Thomas and The Sheriff are violating state and federal law.  The Mexican government’s position is that this is a conspiracy to control illegal immigration, which is the federal government's job.

Sheriff Joe is not concerned about the motion.  He said "I get sued when I go to the toilet. You think I'm worried about it?  If they think I'm going to slow down because of these threats, I've got news for them _ I'm not going to slow down. I'll do more of it."  That’s our boy!!

Kris Kobach is the attorney defending Arizona's law against human smuggling from the aggressive depredations of the Mexican government.  And Thomas has asked the State Department to protest the Mexican government’s involvement in the case.

Isn’t it great to have our third world despotic neighbor, conveniently situated on our southern border, to guide us in the formulation and application of our nation’s laws?

One usually has to consider the source when our hometown blowhard Representative J. D. Hayworth makes a pronouncement.  But this time he is 100% correct when he says that “Mexico is hypocritical and arrogant.”

I have to agree.  If I had their crust, I would start a world class international bakery!!