Dreams of this Mother: Immigration Reform

To me, the issue of "immigration" has always been personal.  When I hear about it referred to on the news, images of my family members and others pop up in my head. 

Last night, I celebrated mother's day with some of my best girl friends and their families. After dinner, one of the momma's had to excuse herself to go to another friend's house to attend a going away party -  a party for a friend who had been deported and this would be the last opportunity to see her off.  This of course started us all to think about immigration and how all of us at our mother's day celebration were immigrants - with the exception of our children and one dad, we were all born in another country and entered under different circumstances.

As the "adults" talked, one of my friend's daughter's, joined our conversation.  At 11, she is one of the most brilliant people I know and is wise beyond her years.  She asked us why our policies were what they were.  She knew what being "deported" meant and had friends for whom this was an issue they dealt with on a regular basis.  I told her about Momocrats and that I was writing a reflection on immigration.  This is what this smart 11 year-old had to add,

"I think that sending people away is not fair because,1 the USA was built on immigrants and 2 they are just trying to make a living.  I understand that some people think that they are taking jobs but they are taking some of the jobs many people do not even want.  The USA should let immigrants in because our country is or should be the land of opportunity."

Immigration reform is a tough nut to crack - with all its complexities of border patrol, HB-1 Visas, cracking down on people who employ undocumented workers, raids in neighborhoods and at schools and even how/who decides how many people may immigrate from which countries - oy veh!

What is this momma's dream when it comes to immigration? It is simple - national policies that make sense and are fair. Enforcement that does not incite abject fear and panic in families and their US born children.  Increased focus on employers who hire undocumented workers. Moreover, policies which acknowledge undocumented people's contributions, keep families together when possible and create a process so these individuals can apply to be here legally along with the countless already in line.

My dream is that people like my parents, me and my friends are given a fair chance to  enter the US and that we as a nation do not close the borders out of fear of a loss of jobs, terrorism and fear of "others" not like us. My dream is that others have the chance to have their dream of a better life in the US be a reality.

Sheila also writes at xiaolinmama and SV Moms Blog.

Comments

[Rachel]

Thanks for writing this. I'm an ESL teacher, and I work with immigrants, so this issue hits close to home for me. When people start going on about how they are taking our jobs, I always say, "Oh, you really want to scrub toilets for a living?" Or maybe you want to change old people's diapers, or work under the hot sun mowing lawns all day? I also think people fail to understand that our whole economy would collapse without their labor.

On the other hand, I think we do need to fix the system somehow. I think it's tragic that so many of them have to live thousands of miles away from their children in order to feed them.

[Gunfighter]

The laws are what they are... I wouldn't be so bothered about enforcing them vigorously if it weren't for the fact that our enforcement is racist to the core.

That isn't said out of emotion. It is a fact. Some of you know where I work... I see this shit regularly.

The majority of good "American" jobs taken by illegal aliens are taken by english speaking white people from CANADA and the United Kingdom. In America, we choose mnot to notice them becasue they look like "us"... well, like some of us. Not me.

The whole brouhaha about illegal immigration is about brown people. Brown people who, for the most part, speak Spanish... unless, of course, you happen to Cuban, then our arms are open to you, because we-don't-like-Fidel" (and our politicians looooove to court that particular voting block in Florida.

It's shameful.

[zeezil]

After careful review, anyone with a even a modicum of logic can come to no other conclusion: illegal immigration must be halted, illegal immigrants here now must be deported and legal immigration needs decreased from the approx. 2 million allowed in per year currently.

Please review the following report on the FISCAL COST OF IMMIGRATION by economist Edwin Rubenstein released in April 2008:
http://www.esrresearch.com/Rubensteinreport.pdf

A partial summary of the report:

The impact on 15 Federal Departments surveyed was: $346 billion in fiscal related costs in FY 2007.

Each immigrant cost taxpayers more than $9,000 per year.

An immigrant household (2 adults, 2 children) cost taxpayers $36,000 per year.

Legal immigrants were not separated out from illegal immigrants for the fiscal impact study, but if they had been, the fiscal cost per ILLEGAL immigrant would be even more shocking than the figures quoted above.

The most extensive and authoritative study, prior to economist Edwin Rubenstein's "The Fiscal Impact of Immigration" (April 2008) , is the National Research Council (NRC)’s The New Americans: Economic, Demographic and Fiscal Effects of Immigration (1997).

The NRC staff analyzed federal, state, and local government expenditures on programs such as Medicaid, AFDC (now TANF), and SSI, as well as the cost of educating immigrants’ foreign- and native-born children.

NRC found that the average immigrant household receives $13,326 in federal annual expenditures and pays $10,664 in federal taxes—that is, they generate a fiscal deficit of $2,682 (1996 dollars)per household.

In 2007 dollars this is a deficit of $3,408 per immigrant household.

With 9 million households currently headed by immigrants, more than $30 billion ($3,408 x 9 million) of the federal deficit represents money transferred from native taxpayers to immigrants.

Our national immigration policies have to work for the United States. While improving the plight of the world’s poor is a laudable goal, the finite resources we have available to fulfill that goal would be swamped if there wasn’t some orderly and manageable system in place to limit entry into the United States to what this nation can actually support. The more illegal aliens that are permitted to subvert the immigration system, the fewer immigrants we can accommodate who might actually produce a positive benefit for our country.

The more we become a nation of illegal immigrants, the deeper we fall into anarchy.

[zeezil]

First, let us remember the "illegal" part of being an illegal immigrant. Most Americans don't seem to have problems with legal immigration, however it only seems fair to question the value of any additions to our country who already show no regard for it's laws upon arrival.

Second, it seems far too easily forgotten that one must be an U.S. citizen in order to warrant the rights afforded to a citizen. That should be the end of discussion.

Third, legal immigrants working alongside native born citizens have made this country what it is. We have thrived on the contributions of immigrants and will usually need them, though to varying degrees, throughout most sectors of our economy. The problem is that we cannot afford to turn a blind eye to those who enter illegally, ignore our laws and seek to subvert our culture and national values. We welcome those who follow the rules, learn the English language, and respect our sovereignty. As illegal immigrants, it is not only offensive but also ridiculous to ask for rights, which they have not earned nor are entitled to.

Let's secure our borders by building the fence so we have an effective and controlled immigration system at the same time as we enforce our currently existing immigration laws. During this interval we encourage illegals to depart (attrition through enforcement). Once our borders are secured and we have a grip on a functional system of immigration, we move against those illegals that have refused to leave. We should never ever grant amnesty.

We tried 'comprehensive immigration reform' in 1986. We gave amnesty to 3 million illegal aliens in exchange for the government promising to secure the borders, conduct workplace enforcement and enforce immigration law. It didn't work because the government lied and did nothing other than process the amnesty paperwork. Due to that folly, we now have 20 Million or more illegal aliens here demanding amnesty.

Don't you think it is far beyond time that we engage in Comprehensive Immigration ENFORCEMENT rather than Comprehensive Immigration Reform?

[zeezil]

Liberals salivate at the prospect of 38 million new instant Democrats should amnesty be enacted.
Profit-driven corporations with little or no concern for U.S. homeland security, sovereignty, rule of law, and preservation of American language and culture, are also eager to legalize millions of people who will work for below-minimum wage and without benefits. Of course, elitist politicians and bureaucrats and their cronies in big business can dismiss concerns about the "Mexicanization" of America because their families will be isolated from the devastation. To insulated and out-of-touch elitists, the deterioration of America will be virtually invisible. Not so to America’s once thriving middle class and the smothered lower class as they compete even further for limited resources.
– J Lillpop

[zeezil]

It is not hate to be offended when someone breaks into your home. It is not hate to be concerned when those coming into your country not only spurn assimilation, but mock and ridicule your values and systems. It is not hate when we identify the root cause of the burden placed on the social infrastructure resulting in increases on the taxes of American citizens, closing of hospitals, crowding citizens out of a decent public schools education and the filling of our jails with criminals. It is not hate to protest the actions of illegals when they cause death and lifelong trauma to the citizens of this country. And it is not hate to care enough about one’s country to take a stand against a situation that is hellbent on tearing it apart.

It is not hate. It is not racism. It is not bigotry. It is not xenophobia. It is a desire for JUSTICE. It is the exercise of one’s right to protect their homes, their culture, their society and their country. It is recognition of the rule of law.

Those concepts may be foreign in countries like Mexico, but they are basic tenants of life in the US. That’s why we are not a third world (yet) country and Mexico is. Mexico so abhor’s illegal immigration into its own country that it has legislated draconian measures to discriminate against immigrants through laws and practices. Want to run a business in Mexico? You are required to employ Mexican citizens as managers. Want to own property in Mexico? You can’t do it as a foreigner unless you put the deed in trust with a Mexican trustee. And even if you become a Mexican citizen, you will never be able to hold elected office because you are not a citizen by birth. Sounds more than a little like life under Islamic rule than life under a democracy.

Yes, there is hate associated with the issue of illegal immigration. But the hate is not generated by US citizens - the hate is borne by citizens of countries like Mexico. Hate is borne by Hispanic supremacy groups like La Raza "The Race", MEChA, LULAC, MALDEF, CHIRLA, La Voz de Atzlan, Zapatista Army of National Liberation and Mexicanos Sin Fronteras (Mexicans Without Borders) that believe they are superior to the hodgepodge of other races that have melted together successfully in the US.
Their hate and racism should be kept outside of our border. When, and only when, they are forced to abide by our laws and enter America by LEGAL means ONLY then will they ever be worthy of residing here and be considered for citizenship.

[Daisy]

One third of my class consists of immigrants. Another significant group is first-generation USA-born. I don't know who is legal and who is not; I don't need to know. The children deserve an education, and that's my job.

[Glennia]

Zeezil, obviously, you have an axe to grind against illegal aliens, Mexicans in general, and anyone who is not like you. Kindly take your venom elsewhere. A little googling of your name shows you have been banned from other sites before, so you know the drill. If you want to respond to some particular point in Sheila's post that's one thing, but to hijack the comments for your own propaganda is another. Go create your own blog for that purpose, and leave your URL when you comment.

Consider yourself persona non grata in the Casa de MOMocrats.

[jen]

I've met hundreds of immigrants in my lifetime. Hardworking parents who work unbelievably hard to provide the basic needs for their children which is often impossible in impoverished and corrupt countries. I will never be able to understand the venom others have for folks who try to come here to give their children a better life because I know I would do whatever it takes to provide for my child.

I am an American solely by luck, being fortunate enough to have been born in the US has meant many things for me, but most of all it's meant I am eternally grateful and mindful that it was luck alone that brought me here. I am no more deserving than anyone else to have the opportunity to raise my child with clean water, a home, and education. To think otherwise is to completely ignore the reality of the suffering in this world.

[Lawyer Mama]

I vote for disemvoweling Zeezil.

[Debbie]

Zeezil makes me sad.

Really. Sad.