Immigration Revisited

Clearly if there was ever an issue that cried out for more light than heat it is the issue of immigration. I recently heard a comment from someone on the radio that might perhaps shed a little of that light we need. This person pointed out that illegal immigrants from Mexico and Central America are not coming to this country to walk on the beach or live the good life. They are coming to eke out a slightly better living for themselves and their families under very difficult circumstances, but circumstances that are still a little better than what they currently have. This individual, however, went on to say that the solution is to pass legislation that would discourage immigrants from sneaking into the country for this purpose. In other words he advocates tougher and more punitive restrictions such as those that are part of Arizona's new immigration law.

The person mentioned is clearly right in his analysis of what is going on. Immigrants, many desperate to feed their families believe that despite the dangers, the United States offers the promise of a better life. They have no illusions. They know it will be tough, and they know it won't be a land flowing with milk and honey for them. Their desperation however, propels them to try the only solution available. What should we do to 'discourage' their coming as this commentator recommends? Well, maybe North Korea provides an example. Their border is truly closed. Anyone approaching the border will be shot. That's pretty effective discouragement. We have seen what hapens when unsuspecting travelers wander across their border accidentally. They have been quite effective in securing their border.

It's good that we have a dose of reality. Knowing why these people are coming is useful. Assuming we are not interested in the draconian solution I mentioned above, how about another dose of reality? The vast majority of these people who are coming to our country are not bad people. They are not out to do us harm. They are part of the same human family to which we belong. No law can change the fact that they are entitled to the same human rights as the rest of us. And the reality is that they are here. At least 12 million are currently in our country. Again, for the most part they are working hard, and providing services to the rest of us.

As far as being illegal, illegal covers a lot of ground. We break laws every time we drive 50 in a 35 mile per hour zone. Underage drinking is a phenomenon that is rampant on college campuses - and it is illegal. Some of the rhetoric portrays many of these hard working immigrants as hardened criminals, which is not exactly accurate. Those who have come here and are committing criminal or violent acts should of course be prosecuted and returned to their country. But there are also plenty of legal citizens who are committing criminal acts and need to be prosecuted as well. The issuse of illegal immigration needs to be dealt with, but all people need to be treated with respect and dignity and not lumped in with terrorists or other dangerous criminals. Whatever our political leanings I doubt that there are many of us who don't find something wrong with the separation of parents and their children because of their immigration status.

One notion that is also mentioned by those opposed to immigration reform is that these new immigrants are not interested in learning English. This notion makes no sense. Of course they want to learn English. How could it be that they don't want to look out for their own interests, be able to understand what's going on, or even be able to order a hamburger at a local restaurant. Those of us who have studied a language other that our own know this is not the easiest thing to do - especially for older people. I think, however, what is galling to some Americans is that these new immigrants may not want to be fully assimilated. They may not want to completly abandon their own culture. As an Italian American I went through the famous melting pot, and I melted. I can't speak Italian, I have no Italian culture to speak of other that eating Pizza and Spaghetti which is part of American culture. That is not a good thing. We should welcome the Hispanic culture and incorporate it into our own. Maybe more of us would actually be able to speak another language. What a great benefit that would be.

We are told that we must secure the border first. Some are disillusioned that when reform was tried many years ago the government failed to secure the border. All the more reason to work together to implement comprehensive reform that will be effective. Hopefully lessons have been learned and pitfalls can be avoided this time around. The missing link remains a willingness to work cooperatively to solve the problem. Too many want to use the problem to attack others, perhaps win elections, and maybe further their dislike of people different from themselves. The loudest voices seem to be winning the argument. They are winning so well that reasonable people, particularly those in the congress are afraid to even approach this hot potato issue.

Yet, these loudest voices are not voices of solution. They are only voices of anger, hatred, frustration, and distrust of any government solution. Some of their feelings may be justified. Their refusal to be willing to craft a compromise is not justified. Their way produces only more opportunity for continued heated rhetoric. It extends the time period for inflamed passions. It happened prior to the last election when they were able to shoot down the comprehensive plan proposed by President Bush and Senator McCain. They won. But we are no closer to a solution. The anger continues. Can that really be the goal? It is time to solve the problem. It is in fact the soluion of comprehensive reform that will help us identify and monitor those who are in our country, and this will provide greater protection for all of us. Let's take away one reason for the anger and destructive rhetoric in our midst. Let's craft comprehensive immigration reform that will work and that will remove one of the sources of disunity in our country. Opponents are correct that the federal government has failed to act. Yet many of these same opponents have worked hard to prevent the federal government from acting. You can't have it both ways. Congress, it's time. Step up to your responsibilities and solve this immigration crisis.