Posted on 01/22/2002 4:04:22 PM PST by usadave
Seven days a week, Carlos drives from Muskegon to a West Michigan dairy farm where he hooks up the milking machines and cleans the cows' udders for at least 10 1/2 hours per day. Every 15th day, Carlos is paid between $700 and $800.
Carlos doesn't mind the hard work and minimum-wage pay. It puts food on the table and a roof over the heads of his wife and their 2-year-old daughter. He's scared that soon he may no longer be able to provide for his family.
Two bills being considered by the Michigan House of Representatives Transportation Committee on Wednesday would stop illegal immigrants like Carlos, a native of Mexico, from being able to obtain a driver's license or personal identification card.
Under current law, Carlos, who asked that his full name not be published, can do both without worrying about being deported. The Michigan Secretary of State presently cannot refuse a driver's license merely because someone is an illegal alien, according to a 1995 attorney general's opinion that cites the 1952 Immigration and Naturalization Act.
The bills are currently in the transportation committee, which may vote on Wednesday to send to them to the full House. The bills would still have to be approved by the Senate.
But passage of the bills, which seemed like a sure thing back in December when they were first introduced, is now uncertain.
Rep. Gerald Van Woerkom, one of the initial co-sponsors of the driver's license bill said he's having second thoughts. And many other legislators also are questioning the repercussions passage would bring, he said.
Intended to deter would-be terrorists, the bills would also allow Secretary of State employees to report to the U.S. Department of Justice Immigration and Naturalization Service people they have "reasonable cause to believe" are illegal aliens .
Critics are concerned that the procedure could be used to harass and intimidate many ethnic minority groups, especially people with foreign-sounding names.
Critics of the bills include farmers and other agriculture-related employers, factory owners, Hispanic and other ethnic leaders and immigrant advocates.
Van Woerkom said he shares their concerns. "When you hear the word 'illegal,' it's easy to just vote yes," said Van Woerkom, R-Norton Shores, one of 48 co-sponsors for both of the bills. "When I first signed on, it was at the top of my head."
But Van Woerkom said he's beginning to have his doubts. In recent weeks he has spoken with a number of opponents from throughout West Michigan.
"In many ways, (employers) need these people," said Van Woerkom, who realizes that many illegal immigrants are willing to take low-paying jobs that most Americans refuse.
"A bill that appears to be a no-brainer on the surface turns out to be a lot more complicated when you hear some of the individual stories and how some of the people have become a part of the community and valuable employees. This is a complicated issue."
Most people don't realize how important undocumented laborers are to the state's economy, said David Cadena, a Hispanic leader in Muskegon. These workers often fill desperately needed roles at farms, factories, restaurants and hotels, said Cadena.
Carlos is more fortunate than most undocumented immigrant laborers because his employer also provides him with health insurance.
Many of these illegal immigrants have children who were born in the United States, which automatically makes them American citizens and eligible for public assistance such as food stamps and health care, said Cadena, who is a community outreach specialist for the Muskegon Community Health Project.
If these laborers lose their jobs because they can't drive, they will have to ask for welfare for their children, said Cadena.
Jim Miller, legislative counsel for the Michigan Farm Bureau, said his group has expressed concern about a portion of the bills that would give Secretary of State employees the go-ahead to report suspected undocumented residents.
"The responsibility for immigration enforcement is a federal power," said Miller. "For the state of Michigan to create it's own bureaucracy it's not a function we felt they should be doing."
Miller said he has been told, and Van Woerkom confirms, that Transportation Committee members will eliminate that portion of the bills before Wednesday.
More than 40 Hispanic, religious leaders and political activists from West Michigan are planning to attend a public hearing on the bills Wednesday in Lansing, said John Musick, state coordinator for the Michigan Organizing Project, a grass-roots political group. Some plan to speak in opposition of the bills.
Carlos said he too wishes he could attend the hearing so that he could tell the politicians about himself. He's not going to because if he was discovered he could be deported.
He said he earned a degree in agricultural engineering while in Mexico and once owned his own farm there. When he lost that business, he and his wife started working in a factory, but couldn't make enough money to survive.
Three years ago, the couple obtained legal visas to live and work in the U.S. The visas are good for 10 years, but according to the terms the family must return to Mexico every two years for at least four months before they can reapply to come back to the United States.
"Our initial dream was to stay two years," said Carlos. "But after three months, my wife became pregnant and that changed everything. I wanted my daughter to have more opportunities."
Carlos said prior to the Sept. 11 he was feeling optimistic because U.S. President George Bush and Mexican President Vicente Fox seemed to be nearing an agreement that would grant amnesty to undocumented immigrants already living in the U.S.
"That gave us hope," said Carlos. "Since Sept. 11 we've lost all hope."
The family's fear of being deported has intensified since the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center, Carlos said. A few days after the attacks, Carlos was in a car accident and he realized he was being looked at suspiciously by police.
"Thank goodness I had all my (insurance) papers," Carlos said. "But I was very scared."
"Since Sept. 11 I can understand the need to combat terrorism," said Carlos. "But what I don't understand is they're not attacking terrorism, they're attacking immigration.
"I came to the U.S. to just work and abide by all the laws. This isn't going to deter terrorism. They will just find another way. They are terrorists."
"I've always believed in abiding by the law," said Carlos. "I've always made sure that I've had car insurance and a driver's license.
"But if they pass (the bills), I will be forced to break the law. I need to provide for my family."
"But if they pass (the bills), I will be forced to break the law. I need to provide for my family."
Doesn't Carlos know that he has already broken the law by being in the United States illegally!!
If Carlos is so law abiding, why is he here illegally. Illegal aliens are not immigrants. Immigrants come here proudly through the front door to become part of the culture, learn the language, believe in Freedom. Illegal aliens sneak in through the sewer system to steal our welfare benefits. To ignore our culture, to become voting slaves to corrupt politicians.
WRONG!
If employers paid decent wages and benefits, Americans would not refuse the jobs. Employers are addicted to illegal labor. It means they can pay less and take advantage of their illegal status.
If we threw out all the illegals, employers would have to pay more and consumers would have to pay more. But wouldn't you pay a little more for milk in exchange for the privilege of living in a country that wasn't part of the Third World? Wouldn't you pay a little more to be able to speak to a store clerk without resorting to pidgin English and hand gestures? Wouldn't you pay a little more to not have to worry about your safety and the safety of your wife and daughters? Wouldn't you pay a little more so that a native born American could earn enough to raise a family and maintain his dignity?
Wouldn't you?
Damn right I would!!
Are there any other FREE things (courtesy of taxpayers no doubt) that Texas gives away to Illegal Aliens?
No, beeatch, we're attacking ILLEGAL immigration.
Yes, I would to that and the other questions you posed. I remember, during the welfare debate, a suggestion that welfare recipients might take these jobs and "activists" complained, saying that to do so would be like slavery.
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