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We've got a war going on today. It's not in Iraq or Afghanistan; it's right here in America. It's not the War on Drugs or the War on Poverty. It's a war on North Americans, working in restaurants and factories around the corner and across the country.
August 4, 2008
We've got a war going on today. It's not in Iraq or Afghanistan; it's right here in America. It's not the War on Drugs or the War on Poverty. It's a war on North Americans, working in restaurants and factories around the corner and across the country.
The War on Immigration is creating new victims on a daily basis, both citizens and immigrants alike. Each arrest, each deportation puts at risk the life of the immigrant and the livelihood of the citizen counting on them for labor.
Take a look at the recent raid on Casa Fiesta, where 58 employees at eight restaurants throughout Ohio were arrested. You may call them what you like, but these immigrants are men and women, fathers and mothers looking for work and the hope of a better tomorrow. They're not so different from the immigrants who came by boat to populate Youngstown with Italians, Germans, Polish, Hungarians, and so many other ethnicities many years ago, except that they've come by land rather than sea.
They also missed out on a more liberal immigration policy. When President Ronald Reagan signed the Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986, the government had the brilliant idea that penalizing the employment of undocumented immigrants would reduce their opportunities and wages, thereby decreasing the amount of undesirable immigration. As we know, however, the numbers continue to grow. So do the problems.
Gravely troubling is the story of what happened in Iowa this May, when federal immigration agents raided a meatpacking plant after a long investigation into its workplace conditions. But, as the New York Times pointed out in an editorial last week, after amassing "evidence of rampant illegal hiring," "a videotape by an animal-rights group [showing] workers pulling the windpipes out of living cows," and "an ugly reputation for abusing animals and workers," "the government swoops in and arrests ... the workers, hundreds of them, for having false identity papers."
The workers are then charged with "aggravated identity theft," as if the workers' sole aim in visiting the United States was to defraud the government rather than earn what wages they can for their families, accepting whatever conditions they must in the process:
"Some said they worked shifts of 12 hours or more, wielding razor-edged knives and saws to slice freshly killed beef. Some worked through the night, sometimes six nights a week.
One, a Guatemalan named Elmer L. who said he was 16 when he started working on the plant’s killing floors, said he worked 17-hour shifts, six days a week. In an affidavit, he said he was constantly tired and did not have time to do anything but work and sleep. “I was very sad,” he said, “and I felt like I was a slave.”"
The progressive think-tank Center for American Progress has developed an in-depth report outlining the steps that must happen in concert for immigration reform to succeed:
What can you do to help? Start by connecting with those who are already making a difference: organizations like Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Youngstown. You don't have to be a Catholic—or even a believer—to believe in their mission: "helping meet basic human needs, strengthening families, building communities and empowering low-income people."
And even thought its Web site clearly states that the group provides "outreach and ministry to immigrant and migrant populations," when I met with Executive Director Brian Corbin recently, he explained that when he speaks up on immigration, he regularly gets calls from angry donors who want their money back.
Reach out to organizations like Catholic Charities to help fight poverty and racism in America and make a difference in Youngstown and Northeast Ohio.
Write to your congressperson, and insist on a fair immigration policy that follows the guidelines set forth above.
Keep your eyes and ears open and stay educated on the subject of immigration, and be prepared to confront issues as they surface in conversation. Don't let racism go unchallenged. By standing up to hatred and ignorance, you can set an example and change minds.
Love one another.
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Have a topic you'd like to read about? Or just want to give your feedback? E-mail me at reason -at- tylersclark.com
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"Keep your eyes and ears open and stay educated on the subject of immigration, and be prepared to confront issues as they surface in conversation. Don't let racism go unchallenged. By standing up to hatred and ignorance, you can set an example and change minds.
Love one another."
Beautiful, Tyler.
Thanks, Lucy! Always happy to have you here.
Nice essay, but illegal is still illegal. My grandparents came here LEGALLY about 100 years ago. They got NO breaks, no special cultural holidays, no English as a second language for my dad and his siblings, etc. I have no problem with LEGAL immigration and I'm not a selective anti-immigration person. If you're Irish, German, Mexican, Chinese, Somalian, or any others, if you're here illegally, you knowingly broke the US laws and you are fair game for arrest deportation, or imprisonment. There is now an automated process in place for employers to verify the legality of workers. It they don't use it, then they likewise should be severly fined or appropriately penalized. Mexico has one of the largest oil reserves in the world run by their government company PEMEX. Why aren't they investing in the improvement of their own country? Why don't the Mexican people fix their own problem? Why should the USA be their dormat and lunch ticket? GM and Delphi have opened many plants in Mexico. The Cobalt is going to move to a Mexican plant next year with the loss of jobs here. I support the hiring of thousands more ICE officers, expansion of the fence on the southern border, and likewise on the northern border where necessary. I would also cut off all Federal funding for sanctuary cities and prosecute public officials who espouse, allow, and support this situation. Like me, they took an oath to "support and defend the constitution of the United States of America." They also swore to uphold the laws of the state they are in, and the federal laws that take priority. As an opening shot, I'd arrest the mayor of San Francisco and the mayor of L.A. for the above violation of law. It's time to get serious.
Nice Tyler. Think of all the money spent to bust these people...the government has no better use of resources? I am sorry, but the fact is that alot of illegal immigrants are working jobs that others wouldnt. They are in the country illegally b/c our leaders cant muster the political courage to correct immigration standards. I have friends trying to start a company that would bring into the US educated foreign nurses as America has a dire nursing shortfall right now! And they are having problems getting visas for them!! And can someone tell me why there is a shortage of nursing in America? It used to be considered a good job to have. MANY illeagal immigrants are trying to live the American dream, like my grandparents did when they came here, but unfortunately Ellis Island has been replaced with antiquated ineptitude.
The problem is some towns will lose half their workforce is if we deport all the aliens and then what do you ahve,a bad ecnomy.
clarkkent, I recognize your passion on the subject and appreciate that you've taken the time to share your thoughts here. You say "illegal is still illegal." A friend of mine has a great perspective on this that I wanted to relate. He speaks about it more eloquently than I, and you can read more in full here: http://tinyurl.com/6hsjyv
The essential point is that immigration law is under the civil-administrative law, not under the criminal code. So, it's more in the same legal league with breaking the speeding limit than with robbing a liquor store. If you get a speeding ticket, are you branded an "illegal driver?" Or, worse, an "illegal person?"
These are merely convenient terms that help us dehumanize immigrants and cast them to the bottom of our discourse, so it's easier for us to forgive them their human rights. Sure, I wish Mexico was a more appealing place for its citizens. I also wish the U.S. took better care of its less fortunate. I wish a lot of things. Among those is a more humane immigration policy. Thanks again for your comments.
I'm disgusted with this illegal immigration problem as the next person; however, if there is any blame to go around it ought to be the employer. I hate when people say that Americans won't work these jobs that illegals are taking. Americans won't work these jobs because they won't be paid fairly and do not want to be exploited. But employers on the other hand know illegals won't complain because they're happy to have a job thus exploit them for bigger profits. It's easier to hire an illegal than an American citizen. So I blame the employers for this illegal immigration problem that has been going on now for decades. Yes, everyone is at fault but I place more blame on the employers degrading these illegal immigrants.
Ecran - In many cases you are right, the employers do degrade illegals. But I know many cases in which they do not as well. I live in New York, and many shops have illegal immigrants working. They get paid the same as an American and are under the same work conditions. But that is more in the service industry, not in manufacturing and hard-labor jobs, where you are most likely right. Ted Kennedy and McCain were the only 2 to get together to find common ground, I wish the rest of Congress would have followed suite.
Again, very nice article.
It's rare to find a group of so many commenters who will approach such a loaded topic with such thoughtfulness, restraint, and courtesy. Thanks for your comments and for respecting each other's views in your replies. This is how it should be!
I really dislike the rascism implication being used here for those who favor enforcement of immigration law.
I believe that most illegal immigrants, at least the ones I've met, are law-abiding (except for their illegal entry), hard-working, good people. I certainly understand why they would rather live here than where they came from. They are seeking a better life for themselves and their family.
I also believe that a soveriegn nation, particularly one fighting a GWOT, needs to restrict its immigrants to ones who are not criminals, drug traffickers, those carrying comunicable diseases, or who have nefarious intentions. It also can't allow all others who don't meet the above exclusion criteria to immigrate. All finite spaces have limited resources.
I don't know what you're suggesting...open borders, or if once they cross that they're home free? What an incentive that would be to try to cross. Is it really that cruel to arrest someone and return them to their country of origin?
I've seen other countries guard their borders with heavily armed soldiers, and it keeps the criminals out while the legal immigrants immigrate after a background check. What's wrong with that?
Nonsocialist, please note that I'm not saying you either agree with me or are a racist. But there are those whose attitudes against immigrants are colored by their skin. And I find we tend to see racism today in terms of merely black and white.
You'll note that we both agree there should be finite immigration controls and for qualified immigrants. I'm simply saying we should adjust our quotas to meet demand and ensure labor mobility keeps pace with today's mobile capital.
As for the border, I'm sure you know what's wrong with the heavily armed border you're proposing: our geography. It's simply not practical. If it were, it would be a less contentious issue. We have checkpoints, and they work as well as they can. Despite the beloved GWOT, our trillions can be better spent than on Middle Eastern wars and southern border fences.
Thanks for your comment.
Immigration & National Security:
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news...
Tugboat, instead of just posting a link, please cite what is especially relevant and noteworthy from this article to our discussion here and add your own commentary. That way we and the author aren't doing your work for you. Thank you.
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