Washington Times Op-Ed

In the run-up to voting in November, Arizonans sent their political leaders a message: Do something about illegal immigation, or we'll do it ourselves. The result was Proposition 200, a ballot initiative to tighten the receipt of public benefits by illegals and to make public employees report illegals to federal authorities. The measure passed, and late last month the state began implementing it. Some immigration authorities are viewing the move as an antidote to lax enforcement in Washington, and now that it's becoming a reality we'll see whether they're right. Immigration control is primarily a federal government responsibility. But if Congress and the Bush Administration won't solve the problem, there's no law saying the states can't take steps to protect their own interests when illegal immigration weighs heavily upon them.

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