Who Wants to Do the Work?

I’m glad the High Court overturned
Three-fourths of Arizona’s law
That Constitution buffs discerned
As giving states the right to draw
Exclusive foreign policies
On immigration deportees.

The other fourth, though, gives me pause;
It governs what’s been most misused.
The so-called show-the-papers clause
Allows a lawman unamused
By lack of proper documents
To jail someone on slim pretense.

The worst is Sheriff Arpaio
Of Maricopa County fame.
He senses no imbroglio
In estimating as fair game
Pedestrians of Latin tone
Who aren’t within the crossing zone.

In other states cops also stop
Hispanos just for how they look,
While in the fields a rotting crop
Awaits their toil. But by the book
Their trek ends home where it began.
I think it’s un-American.

We’ve still got lots of room for those
Who—like our forebears—do the work
Which might just keep their kids in clothes
And most of us prefer to shirk.
Once, Ellis Island let such through.
Today, don't we need many, too?