Posted on 04/10/2006 4:24:06 PM PDT by SJackson
| Si Se Puede! The undocumented speak up - and America should listen By Lydia Chavez -Guest Columnist- Updated Apr 10, 2006, 09:32 am |
At last, reality rears its lovely head. For months, the immigration debate has been hijacked by some of the nastiest, most jingoistic and dumbest politicians around. In the name of national security, the House of Representatives passed a bill in December that will turn the 12 million undocumented residents of the United States into felons and build a Berlin-like wall between the United States and Mexico.
But finally, the immigrant tormenters recently got a look at the men, women and children who live without papers in places like Charlotte, Atlanta and Phoenix, but feel strongly enough about their adopted country and friends to take to the streets. In numbers that surprised organizers in Los Angeles, more than half a million immigrants and their allies marched against the House bill and offered a spirited celebration of immigration.
Their message was clear. Senator Gilbert Cedillo, (D-L.A.) told reporters, “Immigrants want to work legally, drive legally, study legally.” And, “Yes they can” or “Si se puede!” the marchers proclaimed on signs that bobbed among American, Mexican and other national flags.
The rallies offer yet more proof that the punitive measures that some in Congress propose are completely out of touch with the reality of why we have 12 million undocumented people living within our borders and how they live in our midst.
While immigrant tormenters, like the former California governor Pete Wilson, Colorado Representative Tom Tancredo and their allies on talk radio, have spewed hate, American employers have opened their doors. Communities have too and in the last month, some have taken steps to declare their borders sanctuaries for the undocumented.
The Senate, which has begun its debate on its version of an immigration bill, must contend with reality, not the white noise of colleagues in the House. The undocumented are here to stay and the question that should be uppermost in the Senate debate is how best to incorporate the undocumented residents, who pick the food for our tables, build our cities, clean our houses and tend our gardens.
What do we risk by giving them a path to citizenship? Tormentors would answer that we are rewarding criminals. This simply isn’t true. American employers hired workers, not criminals. And if Rep. Tancredo wants to be taken seriously, then he will have to show a Colorado program that fines employers who hire the undocumented. Impossible to check? Ha. When California stupidly decided to deny a driver’s license to the undocumented, the state had little trouble verifying social security numbers to names. If Colorado or any other state wants to verify the status of its workers, it can. But Colorado doesn’t want to, because it needs the work force, and the communities where the undocumented live, need their buying power.
Do the undocumented crowd the schools? No, they fill the schools and offers jobs to American teachers and administrators. Do they cost taxpayers money? Studies show that undocumented immigration is a wash, but it might also be good for the bean counters to keep this in mind: In economic terms, the undocumented cost or contribute no more or less than any low-paid worker.
The arguments in favor of legalizing the 12 million already here and in establishing fair and rational rules to entering the United States are as clear as the buoyant chant of the demonstrators. Si se puede! By creating a path to citizenship, Congress would make heavily immigrant communities whole. California alone has 12 cities in which the majority of adult residents are non-citizens.
Twelve million residents denied the benefits of being an American will do the country little good and in the end, much harm. Will this encourage others to come? They will come regardless of what we do here. The Senate’s choice is to lead and fashion legislation that will regulate the flow, not pander to the knuckleheads in their midst. Americans deserve better.
I listened, saw, and am pissed!
This is going to end in civil war.
The bottom line is we cannot take in every human being on the planet who wants to come here. So, we have to have an orderly way to bring in those we choose. And we should mostly choose those who are of the most benefit to us. I sincerely doubt the current method does that.
susie
It's time to close our borders, send back all the "illegal" immigrants and enforce our immigration laws.
It's over! This was the last straw for me to think that this nation isn't on an unstoppable downhill spiral. Laws mean nothing for the most part.
The way this is heading it's gonna make getting into the US a free for all. Just wait.
I will say that the GOP/conservatives have squandered a major league advantage since they've held both houses of Congress and the WH. Seems that the second conservatives get into office they run to get neutered.
Works for me! I'll even help pay for it.
While it is clear that the current system is broken, I will fight against any attempt to reward the lawbreakers and make fools of those who complied with the law.
He's talking about illegal aliens.
What a stupid question. These illegal aliens are employing teachers. Building a wall will employ Americans.
The INS will need to expand their forces ten-fold to control the problem. That is good because it will employ more Americans.
Low wage workers exist now, why not have 20 million more?
(sarcasm)
Damn, beat me to it.
Right. Illegal aliens is too soft. Criminal aliens is better. They only deserve the word immigrants if and after they go through the immigration process legally.
This is going to end in civil war.
Funny you say this. How organized must this entire thing be for there not to have been a single Mexican flag. That scares me.
But you're right, something's gotta eventually give. Some of the excerpts from speeches given had strong implications of more handouts for illegals, presumably who would become "legal."
Meanwhile, hardly anyone that can make a difference has a set of onions strapped on.
At some point something's going to give out.
Me too!
susie
Public Policy Institute of California
"Will California’s population change much as it grows? The most striking changes will be in racial/ethnic diversity and age. The Latino and Asian populations will continue to grow, while the white population will either increase very slowly or decline. Today, less than half the state’s population is white. Projections suggest that Latinos will become the largest racial/ethnic group by 2011. Latinos are now the single largest racial/ethnic group of state residents under 30, and almost half of all births are to Latina mothers. The population will also be older. By 2025, the number of seniors will almost double and one in seven Californians will be over 65".
It may not be Reconquiste, but in just a few years, the Latinos will control CA at the ballot box. This both a fact and a result of uncontrolled illegal immigration.
Sissy poodle!
And, with amnesty most will be eligible to vote.
susie
Illegal immigration - not Iraq - is shaping up to be THE issue this November.
I know Bush likes Latinos, but he and the Republicans better get their act together SOON or they're gonna be wiped out in November, the way their current "do-nothing" strategy (if you can call it that) is ticking off their voting base right now!
And you know what that means .... impeachment and Hillary ....
I want positive action on my issues. I demand it, along with millions of other Republican activists and voters. I don't want footsie with the socialists! We control both houses and the White House and the Dems are still driving the agenda.
I am happy to lose control to have a party that once in power again can do something.
Politics isn't sports! It's not "my team" always and forever. Where is my balanced budget? Where is my welfare elimination? Where is the cut in the size of government? Where is the elimination of useless programs? Where is mention of the Constitution in signing new laws? Where is fiscal restraint? Where is cutting the number of Federal Workers?
Discipline and punnish. Specter should have been defeated, Bush saved him. Now Specter is a loose cannon rolling around on the deck of the ship of state, threatening to punch a hole in it. THIS is what savvy real-politique Rove-ism gets us? Idiots.
If I am going to get socialism anyway (drug benefit, legalized immigration) I woule MUCH rather have the Dems administer it. At least then I can say "look what THEY did and start (again) to build a valid opposition movement that actually opposes "A-Marx-ica".
Let Hillary pass the bad laws, sure! Why not? What's the difference?
Wrong about Colorado, and screw your tiny little urban piece of Cali, but more to the point,
what difference does it make?
OK.. I see your point.. We Still have the Power, though.. We can make sure that NO RINO wins the Primaries!
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