Recently, the country has seen a number of laws introduced to state and federal government which attempt to aggressively address the controversial subject of illegal immigration. We've seen lawmakers call for enforcing existing immigration laws and pass state laws that give state officers the same federal jurisdiction federal officers possess so for example, since immigration to the United States is a federal issue, state officers have no jurisdiction in enforcing immigration law. With the recent downturn in the economy, we've seen Americans and government once again scapegoat immigrants as being the culprit for high unemployment, crime and ballooning budget deficit. History shows time after time after time again immigrants will forever be demonized in times of economic hardships and embraced in times of economic expansion. Don't believe me? Read an American history book, pal.
- Take citizenship rights away from U.S. Born children of undocumented immigrants.
- Repeal the 14th amendment.
- Deny educational rights to the children of undocumented immigrants.
- Make "immigrant status" a probable cause for profiling (aka Racial profiling)
- Deny undocumented immigrants the ability to purchase insurance.
There are certain inalienable rights in our world; some would argue though, that education, health-care and social equality are not some of them. We've seen society scapegoat the most exploited groups for centuries. The fact is that our country hasn't seen this much emphasis on a person or group of people's legal status since the days of slavery. Once slavery was abolished, the super elite convinced Americans to hate runaway slaves. Now that formal segregation has been done away with, mainstream America is now being taught to despise "illegals" who illegally left their lands in search of better life (sound familiar?)
Of course, Slavery and immigration have their distinct differences, yet the principles of leaving one place to find better life in another is fundamental. When we talk about the logistics and resources to maintain current immigration policy, opponents of comprehensive immigration reform say that we must enforce current law. Funny thing though, is when they rant and rave about how government isn't handling the immigration issue effectively, aren't the immigration laws in place now the problem to begin with? We need immigration policy that is both comprehensive and enforceable. Can we make all undocumented immigrants legal citizens? No. Can we deport all undocumented immigrants back to their countries of origin? No. Can we be realistic and find middle ground; deport all convicted violent criminals who are in the country illegally and legalize the millions of families who peacefully live under the shadows American society; that sounds far more realistic.
Some spew hatred and mask it with their concern for their country... but as we all know..
When all else fails, "Patriotism is a bigot's last resort"
Whose country are you protecting, I ask. Yours or ours?
Stop the Hate,
David J. Solis
P.S. I expect this post to get a lot of heated feedback. I encourage it. Thanks.
The 14th amendment need NOT be repealed. It has lots of good stuff. Birthright citizenship should be given to children of legal residents, but denied to illegal residents.
ReplyDeleteThe Supreme Court has ruled children of legal immigrants, even if not citizens, must receive birthright citizenship.
1. All persons born or naturalized in the United States, and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens of the United States and of the State wherein they reside. No State shall make or enforce any law which shall abridge the privileges or immunities of citizens of the United States; nor shall any State deprive any person of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor deny to any person within its jurisdiction the equal protection of the laws.
Illegal residents are subject to the jurisdiction of their homeland, not the USA.
Illegal residents do not deserve birthright citizenship. All other LEGAL residents deserve it.
Residents, legal or illegal, are subject to the laws,rights and protections of the land of which they reside; not of which they come from. That's the one prevalent fact about the United States that differentiates itself from countries; it's a nation of universal and inalienable rights. If you read that last part you posted; it says "nor deny ANY person within ITS JURISDICTION the equal protection of the laws".
ReplyDeleteBy the way, amendments are designed to protect the very rights you believe should be denied; it dictates ALL people in the country to the same rights as anyone else. I'm sorry if you disagree with that or it upsets you; but that's just American democracy. Fortunately for you, more and more people are being deceived into believing otherwise.
There is a poster of the new Jim Crow, anti-immigrant laws which also addresses the issue of the imperiled 14th Amendment.
ReplyDeletePlease feel free to copy freely, modify at will, and distribute widely.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/cuauhtemoc-hidalgo_villa-zapata/