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Columnist O. Ricardo Pimentel and the Journal Sentinel Editorial Board are afflicted with The Liberal Mind - a thought process that never ceases to amaze me ("Shall we add anti-Latino to the list," March 16). Let's tug at the heartstrings and then jump to some illogical conclusions. One has to question if they even read bills before they form an opinion and write their columns and editorials.

My bill on illegal immigration goes beyond Arizona's to protect citizens from racial profiling. Being here illegally is already a federal crime, but to come under the penalties of my bill, the person must also have committed a state or local crime. Not even the passenger of a vehicle driven by an illegal immigrant that happens to have a broken tail-light can be questioned about his or her legal status.

Ask any police officer what he/she is instructed to do when an arrest is made or a citation is issued to someone who provides no identification. The officer must establish identity. That usually means taking that person into custody and to the station to be fingerprinted. There is nothing unusual here and nothing different under my bill.

What is different is that after 48 hours of not being able to identify the person, he or she must be turned over to immigration authorities. It doesn't matter what nationality the person is or what he or she looks like. Everyone is treated the same, whether he or she is part of the Russian mob and crossed the Canadian border or a drug trafficker from Mexico who drove the wrong way down I-94 or a farm laborer from Ecuador who failed to yield the right of way.

What part of criminal behavior doesn't the Journal Sentinel understand? Or does it want those lawbreakers leaving Arizona for another state with generous entitlement programs, therefore picking Wisconsin because we have not established a law to deter them from coming here? Or do they look to Madison because it has sanctuary city status with a "don't ask, don't tell" policy? I'd rather they look elsewhere.

I believe the majority of law-abiding Wisconsin citizens of all nationalities agree. Come here legally. Obey our laws. Enjoy the opportunities Wisconsin provides.

Rep. Don Pridemore represents the 99th Assembly District.