SORRY, JEFF, BUT YOU BLEW IT ON THIS ONE. I generally like Jeff Jacoby’s commentary, but on this one, he blew it:

It is remarkable how many Republicans and conservatives deplore the liberty-infringing perils of big government, yet applaud Arizona's draconian new immigration law, which empowers the police to interrogate anyone suspected of being in the country unlawfully. It is also perplexing. How can they brandish "Don't Tread On Me" signs at a Tea Party rally on Monday, then on Tuesday cheer a law making the failure to carry "an alien-registration document" a crime?

Uh, Jeff, first legal aliens are required to carry “an alien registration document” by federal law, not Arizona law. It’s been that way for years. Second, the police can’t “interrogate anyone suspected of being in the country illegally.” It must be in the context of a lawful stop for some other violation of the law – the same as for you or me.

With respect to the rest of Jacoby’s commentary, I tend to agree with him: once the borders are closed to illegal immigration, we should stop, take a deep breath, and eventually open our borders to all comers – legally.