In Arizona

 Happy May Day everyone! As an ESL teacher and citizen who fully supports immigration reform, it's a bit ironic that this May Day I am in, of all places, the most controversial state in the country right now. When we crossed the border from California to Arizona, we also ironically never noticed a "Welcome to Arizona" sign. We spent a night in Phoenix and now in Tucson, and I'm not sure what I expected to see on the streets, but I saw no unusual police activity or raids on businesses, hunting down possible illegal aliens.

I've been pleased and relieved to hear that such immediate and proactive steps are being taken to fight this legislation. Elected officials, law enforcement officers, and tourists alike are taking a stand against what might be the most unconstitutional law since the end of slavery, and what we can only hope will the be the darkest we will ever see in our lifetimes.

Regardless of your opinions on immigration, Arizona's decision is as dangerous to the individuals it sets out to prosecute as it is to every American protected by the Constitution. It sets a precedent that could make the land of the free as a relevant a statement to Nazi Germany.

When individuals in our country become the target of crime for fear of being prosecuted if they themselves report illegal activity, the system has put people in harm's way intentionally. That's just not American. Not to mention that the majority of these individuals enter the US seeking jobs Americans don't want and paying into a Social Security system they will never be able to collect on.

Hope everyone is safe and happy today, no matter where you are or where you're from.