Posted on 01/06/2011 9:22:56 PM PST by presidio9
As the new Congress convened, a group called State Legislators for Legal Immigration proposed two laws. One would declare that children of parents who immigrated here illegally are not born "subject to the jurisdiction" of the U.S. and so are not birthright citizens under the 14th Amendment. Under the other, states would issue two types of birth certificates, one for those born "subject to the jurisdiction" of the U.S. and one for everyone else.
The states have no power to pass the first proposed law. Congress may be able to, but it is a bad idea that will not halt illegal immigration. It also has no chance to pass the Senate or override President Obama's certain veto. If it were enacted, the courts would strike it down. It is symbolic politics expressing special hostility to Mexican immigrants, who comprise almost 60% of the nation's undocumented population.
This is a the opposite of how we should be making immigration policy. The U.S. owes more, not less, to Mexico and its immigrants than it does to other nations.
Why? Because the U.S. has treated Mexico in ways that it has treated no other nation, creating potent incentives for Mexicans to move north. Yet our immigration policy applies the same per-country cap to Mexico that it does to countries from which few wish to leave.
If the U.S. apportioned more of its overall legal immigration admissions to Mexicans, it would do far more to reduce its numbers of illegal aliens than any change in birthright citizenship would.
To suggest that the U.S. privilege Mexicans over other nationals is heresy in Washington - not to mention in Arizona.
But it is common sense if one studies history.
The story begins in 1846, when partly due to concerns that Mexico had abolished slavery, the U.S. provoked a war that resulted in America acquiring half of Mexico's territory, including the vast natural resources of California and Texas. No other nation has lost so much land to the U.S. except the Indian tribes, whose members now all have citizenship. Mexicans could stay on their conquered lands if they became American citizens. But few could provide land titles to American courts, so most lost their lands and had to work for U.S.-owned farms, mines and industries.
In the late 19th century, the modernizing Mexican dictator Porfirio Diaz drove many Mexican small farmers off their soil, turning the lands over to American-owned railroads and mining companies, who employed many of those they helped displace.
Patterns were set: Many Mexicans found they could make a living only by working for American companies, often moving to the resource-rich north to do so. Through the 20th century, American employers in farming, manufacturing and service industries often recruited Mexicans when cheap labor was needed - then callously supported mass deportations, even of Mexican-American citizens, when labor surpluses arose.
Meanwhile, many Mexicans in the U.S. suffered from severe discrimination, despite their desire to work hard and contribute to America. Many, therefore, had strong senses of their distinct cultural identities, developing a kind of cultural "dual nationality," American and Mexican.
In sum, U.S. policies have created to our south a large population that has strong kinship ties to Mexican-American communities and well-founded beliefs that they have better economic opportunities in northern areas, many once part of Mexico, than they do at home. They immigrate, more than any other nation's people - and most are then productive, peaceful residents who seek to retain their cultural identities, like many other Americans, but who are glad to become loyal citizens.
Not all Mexicans fit those descriptions. But if the U.S. altered its policies to expand opportunities for those who do, it would reduce illegal immigration and express the best American values.
The only way Mexicans are satisfied is the US is beaten in an humiliating war with Mexico, the territories are returned and all gringos are kicked out of it.
Simple Demographics. The fabian use of demographics will grant Mexico its victory. Mexico will have parts of the US very soon.
Please explain Mexican citizens whose ancestors game from Germany?
His points regarding US oppression of Mexicans are generally wrong, overblown, or at least highly disputable.
Mexico has a synthetic pride unsupportable by any facts.
As I recall, being a Californian, Spain left 23 missions up and down the great state of California. That had zero to do with Mexicans or Mexican sovereignty.
Mexico needs to focus on developing a real history and a system that favors every Mexican through honest exchange.
Guy is a homo.
Whatever did or didn’t happen, I don’t find any justification for literally hundreds of thousands of Mexicans to enter the US illegally each year. They’ve been compensated many times over for any past sins of the US when they come here and earn ten times what they could in the their own failed nation.
Were it not for US, Mexico and most of Central and South America would be little more prosperous and stable than sub-Saharan Africa. The US is the only thing that prevents Mexico from being one of the world’s poorest and most repressive nations.
I think that’s just aprerequisite for the job
Wow, talk about white guilt. So, when is this guy going to donate his income to some Mexicans? Maybe he can also give away his house to some illegals.
They aren’t mexicans, they are germans!
The spanish that rule Mexico don’t call them mexicans, they call them germans and let them have the same rights as the spanish, not the lower class mexican.
It’s so adhered to that if a spanish marries a mexican he is disowned by the family forever!!!
Ping!
A non-citizen coming to this country and having a child is essentially a mother giving birth to a non-citizen baby, nothing more.
Being here illegally, no matter how long, does not confer privileges such as a driver's license or social security number. If it did, why would a market for false IDs exist at all? The privilege of driving and working in the U.S. should only extend to citizens.(unless other arrangements have been made)
The billions in wages sent to Mexico each year may also indicate a condition of citizenship. The drain on local economies would seem to point to a loyalty directed somewhere else. The amount almost equals the oil-revenue from all of Mexico's output in any given year. Not trivial, yet very revealing.
Actually, technically that was Spain.
Then the Spanish descendants in Mexico need to lead the global way and make amends.
As I understand it, the birthright amendment was written to make sure children of slaves were citizens.
I do not believe the founders of this nation ever meant to condone that which is happening today.
vaudine
we owe them???
for breaking our laws???
What a pantload of Marxist racist BS.
Conservatives are not hostile to Mexicans...
just their babies.
This legislation could help the GOP garner the .5% that would have voted for Tancredo in 2010 if he hadn't dropped out from lack of funds.
It is sometimes a bad idea to alienate voters with unpassable legislation that energizes the opposition and is easily characterized as racist.
Latino advocate groups do not reflect the opinions of common Mexican people anymore than Now represents the opinions of women, or the AFLCIO represents the opinion of workers. Odds are common Mexican people are just as politically apathetic and ignorant of history as common American people.
Smith is a “useful p*ndejo”..
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