AWC debate pits security against privacy

In the search for a balance between individual rights and keeping order, Arizona Western College hosted a debate to find the proper role of government in shaping everyday lives.

The debate, titled, "Competing Principles: Privacy versus Security" was held Tuesday at the Educational Services Building and moderated by Mohammed Bahramzadeh, political science professor ,and Scott McLean, speech communications professor.

Bahramzadeh, who commutes to AWC from Tucson, is routinely stopped at the Wellton Border Patrol station checkpoint. He is asked by agents if he is an American citizen and where is he going?

"My answer is, none of your business. Why should you care? I traveled all across Europe this summer and I was never questioned at any of the borders."

Bahramzadeh said border agents' questions raised a more important question: How much of their rights are Americans willing to relinquish in order to have security?

Robert Mead, field operations supervisor of Yuma Sector's Wellton Station, debated the need to maintain security. When he joined the Border Patrol 21 years ago, his primary assignments were to stop drug and human smuggling across the U.S.-Mexican border.

"We have 20,000 agents at 164 stations. So if you're on the southern border, you're going to see a lot of us."

Mead said smuggling is a problem that would not occur if there was not such a huge demand within the U.S. for the contraband it brings in. But educating the public is a big help to combat smuggling, he said.

Since the Sept. 11, 2001 attacks, the Border Patrol has been assigned with helping the FBI stop terrorists from entering the country.

"Why are we asked where are we going at checkpoints? A good question but another good question should be, what is your immigration status? And if an agent is satisfied, you have legal status that should be the end of it."

While there is no ethnic profiling by agents, certain "special interest" countries or certain actions of those crossing borders will lead agents to determine there is something going on that needs to stop, Mead said.
  "I know it's inconvenient but nobody is purposely detained without a reason. It's like walking a tightrope. Agents try to be very careful they don't violate anybody's freedom."

Howard Blitz, president of the Freedom Library and chairman of the Yuma County Libertarian Party, has debated in favor of privacy rights. Blitz said the real question is whether the government has the authority to determine who is allowed in the country.

"That's why the Constitution was created. The sole purpose of the government is to secure the right to life, liberty and pursuit of happiness."

Blitz went on to say that the founding fathers compared government to a fire that is very useful but, "like fire, government is a dangerous servant and a fearful master."

The force of government is extremely powerful, and at times can be deadly, he pointed out. An agent of the government has the authorization to use force and that is why the Founding Fathers developed the Constitution. Like a wall of rocks around a fire pit, it keeps it from getting out of hand, he said.

"The Bill of Rights is to restrain this power, that's the beauty of the Constitution."

Americans have a problem with immigration because they are fearful immigrants will take away their benefits, he noted. But the Constitution does not authorize the government to entitle anybody to benefits. The government cannot possibly provide for everyone in the country. Only people can create wealth, he said

Immigration is actually a good thing because it provides for more workers who can create wealth for everybody, Blitz said. Americans today are extremely fortunate to have inherited the legacy of the Constitution, and people from all over the world are literally risking their lives to come to the U.S. It is the Constitution, he said, that guarantees individuals the freedom to prosper.