Posted on 04/16/2006 12:35:02 PM PDT by NormsRevenge
Hamid Khan stood out among the Hispanics he marched alongside at a recent immigration protest. When one demonstrator asked Khan where he was from and the reply was Pakistan, the man asked, "'Then what are you doing here?'"
Khan was surprised.
"I said, 'Look, there are non-Latino groups who are also suffering under these laws,'" said Khan, 49, a commercial pilot and director of an advocacy group called the South Asian Network.
Hispanics, the nation's largest immigrant group, are leading the movement to demand a path to citizenship for illegal immigrants and defeat legislation that would criminalize them.
Khan's experience provides a glimpse into the ambiguous role non-Hispanic immigrants play in a public debate that has yet to fully include them.
While some Asian, European and Middle Eastern immigrants support calls for sweeping immigration reform, most have been absent from the widespread protests that have captured the nation's attention.
The reasons are many. Some complain congressional debate overlooks the needs of their communities. Others fear a law granting amnesty would also bring stricter enforcement.
And many non-Hispanic illegal immigrants are hesitant to join undocumented Hispanic immigrants, who have been emboldened by the size of the protests.
While Hispanics make up the majority of immigrants, there are millions of others from all over the world.
Forty-eight percent of the 34 million foreign-born immigrants come from Asia, Africa, the Middle East and countries like Canada, with the rest coming from Latin America, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.
Of the estimated 11 million illegal immigrants, 78 percent come from Latin America, according to the Pew Hispanic Center. The next largest undocumented population comes from Asia, with 13 percent.
All illegal immigrants could benefit from proposals in Congress that would give them a chance at citizenship. But many non-Hispanic immigrants say lawmakers should take into account people's reasons for coming to the country illegally.
"In the Latino community, people come here illegally for jobs," said H. Chang, a 23-year-old Korean college student who asked her full name not be used because her parents are living in Los Angeles illegally. "For us, a whole family comes here for a student, and many stay illegally."
So far, discussions on increasing visas have focused on guest worker programs for low-skilled laborers, not people like Chang's parents.
For Vietnamese immigrants, a central complaint is the wait time for relatives to be allowed to come to the United States, which can take 10 years, said Duc Nguyen, a 31-year-old Vietnamese health worker who lives in Orange. He said he doesn't see Congress focusing on that.
"Why are they (lawmakers) only doing a half reform?" asked Nguyen, who said he went to a few protests, but only to observe.
Many non-Hispanic immigrants are simply weary of any new immigration law.
A bill passed by the Senate Judiciary Committee last month, which some Hispanic advocacy groups called a good compromise because it included steps to citizenship for illegal immigrants, would also fortify the borders, expand immigration detention centers and speed up deportation proceedings.
That sent shivers through communities of Middle Eastern immigrants, who already feel scrutinized after the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks.
"That's part of the reason why our community hasn't rushed out to protest," said Sabiha Khan, spokeswoman for the Council on American-Islamic Relations in Southern California. "They are afraid of what will happen to them with immigration reform."
Still, the council and numerous activist groups representing non-Hispanic immigrants have encouraged participation in the marches. They say it's a matter of immigrant solidarity and of ensuring non-Hispanic voices are heard.
"If we just look at the Latino community coming out, we are missing the bigger picture," said Eun-Sook Lee, director of the National Korean American Service and Education Consortium, an advocacy group that has helped plan Southern California demonstrations.
Hispanic groups also have been contacting other immigrant groups, and expect thousands to participate in the next national protest planned for May 1, said Nativo Lopez, president of the Mexican-American Political Association.
As the rallies continue, more non-Hispanics are showing up.
During nationwide rallies last Monday, dozens of Haitians, Filipinos, Indians and others participated in New York. In Los Angeles a Korean drum band lead about 7,000 protesters through the streets.
That hasn't convinced J. Park, a 17-year-old illegal immigrant from Korea, to start protesting. He fears authorities could learn about his immigration status if he protests.
"I don't want that to be known," said Park, who asked his full name not be used. "Going back to Korea is not an option."
He should have said."Uh not breaking the law." How arrogant of these hispanics.
Gees, it is not asking much to come legally. Sure it cost money and takes time. It beats the hell out of breaking the law.
I wonder why. A possible fugitive from the law there perhaps? If he is from South Korea, then there is no other reason why going back should be so objectionable.
It beats the hell out of breaking the law.
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Not really. Actually breaking the law gets you far more, than following the law -- our pandering pathetic excuse for a government is far more concerned about mobs of extortionists and anarchists in the streets, than the law abiding people in this country...
Sorry guys, but you didn't break the law in sufficient numbers for .gov to bother dropping trou and bending over for you.
I am really struck by this Korean's thinking and that of the Hispanics. This Korean knows he is here illegally and fears deportation. Even though he has broken immigration law, he believes that there really are negative consequences for doing so. The illegals from Mexico, on the other hand, do not believe that they are doing anything wrong and that nothing will happen to them if they protest. The Hispanic crowd is justified in their selfishness. After all, the U.S. isn't enforcing immigration laws against illegals. It's only being hard as nails on those seeking to immigrate legally.
It will be an even bigger outrage if the illegals get to stay while the spouse and children of a green card holder have to wait years, even decades, for an available visa number to be reached.
So, the mideastern "immigrants" shudder at the thought of closer scrutiny, eh? Tough!
"For Vietnamese immigrants, a central complaint is the wait time for relatives to be allowed to come to the United States, which can take 10 years"
That's good news at least- one of my main concerns about this pending amnesty is relatives being allowed to come. Maybe if the wait is 10 years now it will be 20 years with all the extra applicants after amnesty.
Tell me about it. A formerly British member of the health club I attend got her citizenship after five years because her husband was in the USAF.
Her sister has been waiting as a resident permanent alien for TWENTY FIVE YEARS to gain citizenship.
She is livid about the proposed amnesty.
Nothing like spitting in the faces of people who do it right and rewarding those who give our laws the middle finger.
Sadly you're right. Our government is too weak. We have plenty of good illegal immigrations laws, but never enforce them.
I wonder that too. South Korea has harsh laws for criminals. Hey, at least they got plenty of broadband access there. They are really crazy about online gaming there, which I am not crazy about, yet I am Korean.
At least the Koreans know how to stop race riots.
And there are hundreds of millions waiting to get here. But, hey I'm sure they don't want the jobs Mexicans are doing either.
ping
And yes, legalized citizens who did it the "hard way" are resentful of the free loaders.
And whole families coming over for one student? With relatives then staying illegally? That's outrageous.
This is invasion. Maybe not organized by a national gov't but it is certainly unlaw invasion and the political parties turn a blind eye hoping not to offend future potential voting blocks.
online gambling is not on my list of things to do either.
what part of the country are you and family from? I flew on a MAC flight into Taegu on r&r in '74 and took a busride to Seoul,, a pretty country and good people.
It was either there or Thailand, tough decision. Korea is a bit cooler. loved the om rice too, the beer was pretty good too,, I eventually married a hawaiian born filipino ex-US Army Reserve, she don't quite make the rice the same tho. darn.
Funny that the anti illegal side get's painted with the "Racist" label ...
But a little logic tell the truth of the real Racist....
Change the race of the illegal's.....
Who changes there tune?...the anti illegal side? ...no
... if this was 12 mil poor whites streaming across the border 99% of the anti illegal America's would still have the exacted same position ....
But of the pro illegal crowd, a major percentage would flip to the anti illegal position in a heart beat...
Just as, if it where 12 mil Non-Mexican illegals streaming in to Mexico, Fox and the La Raza crowd would be manning there border with machine guns
You and I and any one else that intellectually honest knows thats the truth of the matter so don't let ANYONE try to put this race crap guilt trip bs on on you for being anti illegal
South Korea.
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