Mexican Immigration and Red Scare Tactics

A few days ago, Maricopa County in Arizona unveiled a "migrant hotline" in which concerned citizens can place anonymous phone tips to authorities regarding possible immigrants living illegally in their cities. A quick phone call and a person or family is marked for future investigation.

Like the actions taken by mayor Lou Barletta in Hazelton, Pennsylvania, to make American life hostile for illegal immigrants, supporters of the hotline believe that it will reduce drug activity, crime, and human smuggling. The intent is not for individuals to inform on their law abiding neighbors, but to alert authorities to possible illegals who are engaged in criminal activity.

County authorities hope that this will become a model and precursor to more hotlines nationwide, while critics fear that the hotlines will lead to racial profiling, the airing of petty grievances, and a loss of civil rights.

This hotline concept is nothing new. Anti-immigration groups have had such informant channels open for years, and a phone call to border patrol or the INS has led to many an investigation. But this is the first time that citizens are being called upon to take a personal vigilante approach to rooting out the nation's evils.

Or is it?

Hearken back 50 or 60 years. The stage is set in the capital of the United States. The players are government officials and the Communists that they believe are rapidly infiltrating all of their ranks. Tension increases. Mass hysteria spreads about the eminent downfall of the entire nation due to the Commies and their vast network of spies. Loyalties are questioned. People are viewed with suspicion. The government is at a loss. They cannot handle the problem amongst themselves. It is a political minefield.