Self-deporting immigrants a fantasy (Ruben Navarette barf alert)

CNN.com ^ | 2 January 2008 | Ruben Navarrette

[Moose4]

For Christmas, nearly a dozen readers sent me the same gift, an article about goings on in the Southwest: "Illegal immigrants packing up and leaving Arizona."

According to the article, illegal immigrants are fleeing the Grand Canyon State because of an "oppressive environment" and the fear that the undocumented won't be able to find work after this week, when a tough employer-sanctions law takes effect. It's a restrictionist dream come true. Many of those who say they've had a bellyful of illegal immigration claim that, if we dried up the jobs, illegal immigrants would simply "self-deport."

I've written that this is the stupidest idea I've ever heard, which explains why readers couldn't wait to forward an article that would seem to prove me wrong.

[Moose4]

I searched a few different ways for this two-bagger, so if it's already been posted, my apologies, I couldn't find it. Have at it.

}:-)4

[Titus Quinctius Cincinnatus]

I was just in Arizona over Christmas. The word on the ground is that self-deportion is, in fact, happening.

[Vigilanteman]

It's wishful thinking to think that the solution to our immigration woes is to simply expect the condemned to carry out their own executions.

So this nimrod actually thinks Mexico is so bad as to liken it to suicide?

This begs the question: Why does he want to duplicate it here?

[Attention Surplus Disorder]

No, the stupidest idea I’ve ever heard is wasting time reading an article by this complete moron.

[Turbopilot]

‘’Restrictionists’’? That’s a new one. I suppose people who are for Jessica’s Law are ‘’child-molester restrictionists’’, or those who favor the death penalty are ‘’murderer restrictionists’’.

Maybe we should just start calling the pro-illegal alien propagandists ‘’law-abiding taxpaying American restrictionists’’. Nah...

[donna]

He has contempt for pampered Americans. How can we blame him?

But beyond that, this will destroy America. The new “illegal citizens” hate their new country and have contempt for the “legal citizens”.

Sounds like a civil war is coming.

He is right about the exit from Arizona. I haven’t seen any evidence of it.

[weegee]

Hmm. I suppose that he’s never heard of attrition in companies either. Things get bad enough and people leave without being told to get out.

[RJL]

Self-deporting immigrants a fantasy

Right Ruben, they all self deported from Mexico and wherever else they came from.

Why is it a fantasy to think they will again self deport?

[BohDaThone]

It's probably worth actually reading the article before dismissing it. Here's his key quote on policy:

Here's a policy: If people are in the country illegally, they should be deported. I wrote that several months ago when I applauded the removal of Elvira Arrellano, an illegal immigrant who taunted U.S. authorities before being deported to Mexico. The forcible removal of those who break immigration laws is the right of any sovereign nation, and it's a job that shouldn't be outsourced. For the record, I'm glad that Arizona is bearing down on employers.

Not much there for most of us to disagree with, is there??

He makes a factual assertion, which is an arguable point -- most illegals will not "self-deport" (especially if it is a "one-state" crackdown). Maybe right, maybe wrong, but not dismissible out of hand.

[heywoodubuzzoff]

Rube was basically laughed out of Dallas. He was so rah-rah La Raza that it was funny to read his columns.

[weegee]

Whether the new populace hate the US or not and have contempt for US citizens or not is a hurdle to cross. But they continue to consider Mexico “home” and vote there and send their paychecks “home”.

They will never embrace this land until they call it alone “home”.

[weegee]

Each state is accountable to its own citizens. If the illegal population immigrate to another state rather than return home, the net change is still the same for Arizona.

[BohDaThone]

I agree. I was just pointing out that the columnist is simply asserting that it is unlikely that the Arizona policy will lead to most illegals in arizona leaving the country — certainly a defensible position — albeit possibly wrong.

[Attention Surplus Disorder]

You’re right...I was in a hurry when I read this. If what you say is true (still haven’t read it!) it would be the first time I’ve read anything by RN that didn’t advocate the pure takedown of everything and anything we have in this country, or what’s left of it, by anyone and everyone in unlimited numbers coming and grabbing it reagrdless of legality.

[SeafoodGumbo]

He makes a factual assertion, which is an arguable point -- most illegals will not "self-deport" (especially if it is a "one-state" crackdown). Maybe right, maybe wrong, but not dismissible out of hand.

History proves that illegals will self-deport if there is a national program, like Operation Wetback in the 50's, to solve the problem:

Then on June 17, 1954, what was called "Operation Wetback" began. Because political resistance was lower in California and Arizona, the roundup of aliens began there. Some 750 agents swept northward through agricultural areas with a goal of 1,000 apprehensions a day. By the end of July, over 50,000 aliens were caught in the two states. Another 488,000, fearing arrest, had fled the country.

By mid-July, the crackdown extended northward into Utah, Nevada, and Idaho, and eastward to Texas.

By September, 80,000 had been taken into custody in Texas, and an estimated 500,000 to 700,000 illegals had left the Lone Star State voluntarily.

Unlike today, Mexicans caught in the roundup were not simply released at the border, where they could easily reenter the US. To discourage their return, Swing arranged for buses and trains to take many aliens deep within Mexico before being set free.

Tens of thousands more were put aboard two hired ships, the Emancipation and the Mercurio. The ships ferried the aliens from Port Isabel, Texas, to Vera Cruz, Mexico, more than 500 miles south.

[donna]

You’re right. That’s why this is invasion, not immigration.

[VeniVidiVici]

Of course, there is always the chance that Americans -- especially those in their teens and 20s -- will step in and fill the void by leaving their air-conditioned homes, video games, and $3 coffees and going to work in 110-degree weather.

Or maybe work as a guest commentator. Obviously the requirements are not that onerous.

[BohDaThone]

Your example seems to show that you get a 1:10 return for actual apprehensions. I don't doubt that for 1.2 milion apprehensions you might get 12 million "self-deports."

I have some doubts that the gov't would commit the resources for the 1.2 million apprehensions, or that current legal procedures would allow their removal to go as smoothly as in 1954.

I do think that most of the enthusiastic "self-deport" believers are claiming that just employer enforcement, or aprehensions of a lot less than 1 million, will do the trick. I could be wrong, but I don't think Ii have seen anyone who is a promoter of "self-deport will solve the problem" arguing that "self-deport" means 1 million + apprehensions.

[gubamyster]

ping

[dennisw]

Hundreds of thousands of self deportations would be a great gift for the New Year. Navarette is an activist, a triumphalist who likes to brag about Hispanic inevitability. As if “his people” cannot be stopped, are an irresistible force.

He’s not the only ethnic braggart who revels in swamping “the Anglos”