Since I live in Arizona, I have experienced immigration first hand. Because most of the recent press is about illegal immigrants from Mexico, those are the ones I will be referring to unless I state otherwise. I have worked with illegals side by side, I have been friends with some and I have eaten a TON of food they have prepared for me (delicious I might add).
I am sure all of you have heard somebody say “We are all immigrants aren’t we? I mean weren’t the Indians(*) here first?” While it is true that there were people (Indians) here before the white people showed up, that’s not what this debate is about. The first American settlers took over this land. Whether it was wrong or right, it happened and stuff like it happens all the time. This is how we (humans, not just Americans) function, we are territorial and we will lay down our lives for what we believe in. Don’t believe it? Study History.
In 1965 President Lyndon Johnson signed the Immigration Act of 1965. It dramatically changed the method by which immigrants were admitted to America. The significance of this bill was that future immigrants were to be welcomed because of their skills/professions, and not for their countries of origin. This happened partly because of the Civil Right Act and partly to strengthen America with hard working talented, individuals.
Immigrants granted residency in America were considered for admittance based on skill or for family reunification (at the time, this referred to children outside of the U.S born to American citizens). More specifically, immigrants were to be accepted according to following preferences: unmarried adults whose parents are American citizens, spouses and offspring of permanent residents, gifted professionals, scientists, and artists. The last preferences are the following: married offspring of American citizens, siblings of adult citizens, skilled/unskilled individuals of occupations lacking workers in America (examples would be if the food industry in America had no Americans interested in filling the jobs), and refugees from either communist (or communist-controlled) countries, or those from the Middle-East. The Immigration Act of 1965 became law on July 1, 1968.
The Immigration Act of 1990 states that to get a visa the immigrants must have a high school diploma or its equivalent. They must have at least 2 years of work experience along with 2 years of training at that job. The Secretary of State must keep track of the immigrants’ age, occupation, education, and what they consider important characteristics or information. The Secretary of State issues visas to the immigrants who meet all these qualifications using random selection (to promote diversity in America). The children and the spouses of the immigrants that are approved are also granted visas to obtain permanent residency.
I believe we have an Amazing country and I don’t blame people for wanting to come here. But we have rules. There are always reasons for rules. These rules are to strengthen our country and to keep it growing in the right direction. To be honest, Mexico’s economy sucks not because of the land, but because of the way its people have taken care of it (or not taken care of it). I’m not saying that every person in Mexico is to blame. They have had numerous setbacks that were unavoidable and because of the way these set backs were handled by their rulers, their economy sucks. If all the people in Mexico came here, and treated our economy and country the way they have treated theirs, how would that leave us? Much different than Mexico? Would they still want to come here if America had the same struggles as Mexico? I know this sounds dramatic but think about it…
If you want to come to America, follow the rules and do it right. We would love to experience what you have to offer (and I’m not just talking about your food). I have no problem with our state (Arizona) or even our country becoming predominantly Hispanic. I just don’t want it to become Mexico… America is an amazing country that has accomplished a large amount in a very little amount of time. Immigrants, you are more than welcome here (as far as I’m concerned) as long as you follow our laws, pay your taxes and play by the same rules as everyone else.
*This is now what the Native Americans in Arizona like to be called so don’t send me hate mail about using the word “Indians”… I checked my sources with an Indian Non-Profit in Phoenix. If it offends you, please forgive me.
Wasn’t Arizona actually part of Mexico originally? I know we were stronger and took it but that doesn’t really make it right does it? It’s kind of funny because now we run all over the world trying to stop other people from taking over other people’s countries.
Shorty (love the name by the way)-
Arizona was part of Mexico.
The U.S paid the newly founded Mexican Republic $15 million dollars (in the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo) for Arizona after forcing the sale in 1848. In 1853 the land below the Gila River was acquired from Mexico in the Gadsden Purchase. Although we did take it in a way, we ended up paying for it… Not that it makes it ok…
Good point about going all over the world to stop other people from taking over other countries. I don’t understand why we do that… If somebody would have done that to us, we would not have Arizona, or for that matter, most of the land and freedom that we have.
I think the Chinese Exclusion Act was the first stab at immigration reform in 1882. Actually that law was similar to the law passed in Arizona.
The circumstances were similar too. After the civil war our country needed cheap labor to build infrastructure. Railroads, mines and stuff like that. Then when the railroad bubble burst they looked around and said “How did all these ignorant Chinese folks get here?” So they passed laws that didn’t even bother to fake racial profiling. Those Chinese without immigration papers were declared illegal, jailed, and then deported. Sound familiar?
In the 1980′s Arizona had a big housing demand. The state welcomed cheap illegal labor and took full advantage. Then the real estate bubble burst and the state legislators looked around and said “How did all these Mexicans get here?”. They are not paying taxes, except for sales tax, property tax in their rent, and excise taxes when they buy gas. Plus they are sending their kids to our schools without paying taxes. The kids don’t know English so it is harder to teach them then ‘regular kids’. Even though quite a few of the offspring of ‘illegal’ immigrants are US Citizens. Plus their parents pay rent, included in that rent is real estate tax. That real estate tax is what funds our schools. Why should the state dodge their responsibility?
To my mind our government should protect the poor and ignorant, not exploit them. Changing the laws to make a entire race of poor ignorant folks illegal is not fair. Most of those folks cannot read or write English. Nor do they have any representation in our government. Currently there is no method for a poor family from Latin America to legally come to Arizona and make a better life for themselves. Visa’s are very hard to come by.
Furthermore if the onerous Arizona law does go into effect, and a illegal immigrant family gets burglarized, has a domestic dispute, or has a family member kidnapped they will not be able to call the local police. Because if they do the police are obligated to question them about their immigration status. How is that fair? How is the great state of Arizona fulfilling it’s obligations to the people? Should the legal citizens be forced to live near lawless ghettos?
Does the Constitution only apply to US Citizens? Or is it the Law our Our Land? To my mind it is a great document. It should apply to the prisoners in Guantanamo, and to people in Arizona whether they have a Visa or not.
Jerry-
I’m so glad you posted this! Thanks for the good information.
I was not saying that the Immigration Act of 1965 was the first Immigration Act in the U.S. The Chinese Exclusion Act is a great example of how the U.S viewed Immigration. They want it when it helps them, and they don’t want it when it does nothing (in their eyes) for them.
Here is the problem I have with all of this. I have a friend who used to grow weed in his closet. He lived in a really shady part of downtown Phoenix in a rundown apartment complex. He also was really into computer games and had two really nice computers. One night two guys came into his house, beat the crap out of him and took all the weed and his laptop.
Does he call 911? He can’t really hide all the evidence of his illegal garden while he is bleeding on the floor. He has to call 911 or he could bleed to death. He had to make the decision that if he wanted the governments help (with his wounds) that he was going to be found out. What happens when you are caught in a crime? You receive punishment.
Now I don’t think I am better than anyone because I am a legal citizen. I am just saying that the government services that are offered to me (health care services, police protection, social security and all the others) are paid for by my taxes. The government can’t afford to provide their services to the whole world right? They can only afford to provide them to the people who help pay into the system.
The visa thing sucks… There is only a certain amount of people from each country allowed to come here a year and I understand it is very hard to get one if you are from Mexico. What should we do about it? Should we up that number? How should all of this be resolved? What is the end result? (by the way, I am not being sarcastic, I would love to hear what you guys have to say…)