Two things come to mind as to why I am writing about an issue that has been a thorn in the side of the United States as long as I can remember.
The dreaded subject is illegal immigration.
This story in the Riverside Press-Enterprise over this past weekend highlighted the plight of farm workers in one of the wealthiest areas of the United States.
Now, before you think your humble blogger has gone all bleeding-heart on you, read on.
In reading the article, I wondered if these people would be better off as seasonal workers that come to the United States, do the farm work, and return to Mexico. While they are here under a guest-worker program, they would be subject to the laws of the United States. Many of those laws would protect these people from the clear abuse they suffer in these so-called trailer parks. And one thing the article did not address is how many of the people were in fact illegal aliens.
I suppose to some people, it is not relevant.
But I strongly disagree.
Does anyone really think that if these people had a form of legal immigration status, this clear abuse would happen? I doubt that at the scale we see in this article.
Yet we have people such as conservative radio talker Michael Medved insisting that illegal immigration is not a big deal. That it is a side show, if you will. And the examples he cites in the way the Republicans have addressed the issue recently actually supports his case.
But instead of running away and ignoring the issue, hoping against hope that it will go away, I think that the newspaper article is a great starting point in how GOPers need to address the problem of illegal immigration.
For me, I will say this. There is a middle ground.
I have layed out a three-pronged plan that recognizes this reality.
One, there are a lot of bad people involved in illegal immigration. Including many illegals themselves. Clearly not a majority and not a large minority. But enough to cause problems in the United States.
Thus anyone here in the United States illegally five years or less, goodbye. Go back home. Never come back. Never think you will ever have a chance to become a citizen or anything of that nature.
That alone would deport a sizable number of illegal immigrants.
People that are here illegally six to ten years have to go back to the country of origin and begin an expedited process to become a guest worker, a green-card carrier or start the process under one of the two ways to become an American citizen. But they must go home.
Now there are illegal immigrants that have been here 10 plus years. These are the people that, more than likely, want to become citizens. While they should not be anywhere near the front of the line, they should be in the line. They should be given at the very least green cards and begin the process to become citizens.
Now, all of the above does several things.
One, there will be a lot of people here in the United States illegally deported. Pure and simple.
Two, those that are here will get some legal protection. What they do not have now. People like those living in the squalor of the "trailer parks" in these communities in Riverside county would have some real and legal recourse. And is that not a way to solve a problem with a sense of humanity yet provide a need for less expensive employment in the farm fields?
And really, does anyone really think that the majority of those that have been here illegally a decade or more are totally loyal to their country of origin? I do not. Overwhelmingly, the majority want to be Americans. And many are not just doing the jobs that Americans "won't" do.
But how do serious people running for president of the United States speak on this issue without deteriorating into bufoonishness?
That is the 64,000 peso question.
Well for one, do not make those of us who are seriously concerned about a very serious problem out to be whack jobs. We are worried about a nation that will allow laws to be flaunted and allowing people to not just be here illegally but suffering in many cases.
Two, do not promote anything that even appears to be something that gives illegals any appearance of a deal. The so-called DREAM act at the state and federal level is one such situation. States nor the federal government need to give an unfair advantage of students from illegal parents. They can go a college or university, just have to pay the out of state tuition. Especially in these tough economic times, that is not a wise thing to do.
Third, remember that these are human beings. Most are decent and good and do not want to come to the United States but for the reason of the thought of a better life.
Sorry but this article by Susan Straight is right. If we Americans were in the same dire straits that most Mexican and or Central American illegal aliens are in, we would be doing the same thing.
In talking about the subject of illegal immigration especially from Mexico, we need to pressure the politicians to make the kind of political and economic reforms that will move the poor into the middle class. If there is a strong middle class in Mexico, that will dramatically curtail illegal immigration.
Until the politicians figure out how to discuss the problem of illegal immigration, we will continue to see the situations in Riverside county. And have people basically cover their eyes to one of the most vexing long-term problems in the United States.
No comments:
Post a Comment