Thread: Latinos promote dual Mexican-American citizenship

http://www.thestate.com/mld/thestate/ne ... 766627.htm

Posted on Sun, Oct. 15, 2006email thisprint this
Some Latinos promote dual Mexican-American citizenship
By Lennox Samuels

The Dallas Morning News


CHICAGO _The Mexican tricolor flaps on some verandas along Pulaski Road, while the U.S. flag takes pride of place on others. Ranchera music blares from the Happy Dollar Plus store as a vendor pushes his cart along 26th Street, selling mango-flavored frozen treats to parched customers.

The intersection of 26th and Pulaski is in the core of the Windy City, but by sights, sounds and smells, it could be in any town in Mexico. This is La Villita, "Little Village," where about 100,000 people live and work, maintaining the Spanish language, traditions and culture of Mexico.

As President Bush and others call for assimilation of Latino immigrants, some Hispanics in La Villita and other parts of the country, including North Texas, are on what could be a collision course, pushing to be fully binational, with equal rights in Mexico and the United States and grounded in both societies.

"We're never giving up our Mexican roots," said Maria Cantu-Dougala, assistant vice president of Second Federal Savings and an American citizen. "I still consider myself Mexican. That's where we're so different from other immigrants. We just can't give it up."

Such views complicate any efforts to change immigration policy to make it easier for Mexicans to live and work in the United States, and could even result in harsher migration measures, some analysts and lawmakers say.

The United States must avoid "balkanization" and has to maintain its national identity, common culture and common English language "or we will follow the path to the ash heap of history like the Roman Empire," said Rep. John Culberson, R-Texas.

"Arrogant nationalistic attitudes like this, which are blatant violations of American law, along with the uncontrolled mass migration and marching with Mexican flags have combined to push this country over the tipping point in favor of aggressive immigration law enforcement and strict border security," said Culberson, who has criticized White House immigration policy as lax.

Migration expert Jonathan Fox said there is a double standard on dual nationality in the United States.

"I don't see them worrying about U.S. citizens fighting in the Israeli army. I don't see any concerns when they're fast-tracking for citizenship those foreigners who join the (U.S.) military. I don't see them asking that they burn their (original) passports," said Fox, a political science professor at the University of California at Santa Cruz.

Fox calls the phenomenon of Mexicans striving to be members of both U.S. and Mexican societies "civic binationality." It is one of several practices that suggest immigrants are finding new ways to integrate into the U.S., he said.

Many Mexicans want to go from being "less than a full member of either society to a full member of both societies," he said.

There are an estimated 42 million Latinos in the U.S., almost 60 percent of them of Mexican descent. The Pew Hispanic Center in Washington estimates there are between 11.5 million and 12 million illegal immigrants in the country, a majority of them Mexican.

Under Mexican law, Mexicans naturalized in the U.S. may keep their Mexican citizenship. And for the first time this year, Mexico allowed its citizens abroad to vote in the country's presidential election.

In the U.S., the growth in the number and sophistication of associations that link immigrants to their hometowns in Mexico has helped the immigrants participate more fully in American civic life while maintaining close relationships with the mother country, experts said.

"The migrant organizations reflect broader changes in civic binationality and also drive them," Fox said.

Some of these groups, such as the Binational Front of Indigenous Organizations, have binational membership structures, according to a report co-edited by Fox.

In some municipalities, immigrants who are not citizens participate in civic affairs, including elections - though not as voters.

Fox noted that in Los Angeles, noncitizens work the phones in efforts to get citizens to vote in local and state elections.

Some critics have questioned why more legal permanent residents do not seek citizenship.

"That process already exists for legal immigrants who seek to be naturalized in the United States. However, if illegal aliens want this right, then I suggest they go back to their countries of origin and proceed through the lawful steps in order to reach that goal," said Rep. Tom Tancredo, R-Colo., chairman of the Congressional Immigration Reform Caucus.

Tancredo, a longtime immigration foe, said that even the notion of dual citizenship is "an oxymoron," and that being an American citizen means renouncing all prior allegiances and loyalties.

But the issue is not one of loyalty, said Paula Cruz Takash, a sociology professor at the University of California at Los Angeles.

"Anyone who understands that we have to be thinking about global citizenship will appreciate this notion of civic binationality," she said. "Any country that understands and encourages the acquisition of not just one other language but maybe others will be at an advantage as globalization goes ahead."

A majority of Latinos, 57 percent, believe immigrants have to speak English to be part of American society, according to Pew, while 41 percent say they do not.

Fox said many Mexicans do want to become citizens but added that American governments traditionally have done little to push naturalization. "If they cared, they would put billions of dollars on the table to help people get through the citizenship process," he said.

In North Texas, about 80 percent of the approximately 1.5 million Hispanics are of Mexican heritage, and there is no unanimity among them about keeping a foot in both the U.S. and Mexico.

Roberto Chavarria, 46, a Dallas businessman who arrived from Mexico when he was 14, says he has not really considered becoming a citizen.

"I don't think it is so easy to change to a citizenship one doesn't really feel," he said. "Very few do it with conviction; they do it for migratory reasons."

For Tereso Ortiz, an Oak Cliff, Texas, resident who became an American citizen 10 years ago, duality is normal.

"We should practice American culture but not forget where we come from," said Ortiz, 57, who works as a butler. "I feel American, but I don't stop feeling Mexican."

In Chicago, Cantu-Dougala's bank sits right on the corner of 26th and Pulaski, and its clientele is overwhelmingly Hispanic.

"Lots of people who come here have been in this country 20, 30, 40 years and are not interested in giving up their Mexican citizenship," she said. "Even a lot of the kids that were born here want to speak Spanish and keep that Mexican-ness."

Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas, said some in Mexico may "have visions of the North American Union . . . where borders become less important."

"But I see zero support for that in the United States. I think our history and traditions are so strong, and our identity as unique people would never allow that to happen."

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© 2006, The Dallas Morning News.

Visit The Dallas Morning News on the World Wide Web at http://www.dallasnews.com

Distributed by McClatchy-Tribune Information Services.


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Dallas Morning News staff writer Sudeep Reddy in Washington and Al Dia staff writer Gustavo Martinez in Dallas contributed to this report.

This just makes you sick! If they can't give up their loyalty to Mexico then they should not become citizens of the U.S. and if they have become citizens anyone that feels this way should have their citizenship taken away.

They do not want to assimilate. They want to take over and reconquesta!

Wake up America!!

You both need to understand the truth about the whole situation. First of all, these people are not to be held accountable. Why ? Because everybody has the right to seek a better life. Understand this. However, they are breaking the law by being in this country illegaly. They don't understand this. They don't leave their roots because they are afraid to do it. Be intelligent and open minded about the issue or else get out of this blog. You show me howto live on 20 dollars a week and I'll give you everything I own. 2 million dollars worth..I go right to the beginning, the enemy is Big Business and not these poor people. However, I do believe that by pressuring Washington and Mexico City something is bound to happen. Do not be stupid and blame the wrong object. Be smart because it's the only way to go. . I know they don't want to assimilate but neither have you.. You don't understand a thing about being an american my friend. You are a [No personal attacks allowed on this forum!-Mod Edit]

Many Mexicans want to go from being "less than a full member of either society to a full member of both societies," he said.

Sorry, it doesn't work that way. You cannot have your cake and eat it too, not in this case! These people could understand the true meaning of JFK's words: "Ask not what your country can do for you, but what you can do for your country." All these folks are interested in is what the United States can give them.

carsan956 wrote:

You both need to understand the truth about the whole situation. First of all, these people are not to be held accountable.

My dear friend, we are talking about adults here. Yes, they should most definitely be held accountable for their actions! Furthermore, an individuals financial status in life is no excuse to commit a crime(s).

You don't understand a thing about being an american my friend. You are a Moron..

It's true that everyone has a right to make a better life for themselves but no one has a right to make a better life for themselves by taking what is not rightfully theirs. American taxpayers are being taking advantage of. It is no different than any of us wanting a better life and breaking into a billionaire's house and moving into his mansion, eating his food and sleeping in his bed. None of us have a right to do that and this is no different. I also do not see it as socially acceptable to come on this forum and refer to anyone as a moron. Is this the best you can do to support your point? If the United States goes to war with Mexico are they going to fight for Mexico? If so they need to go back to Mexico.

carsan956, I am calling you out, you are dead wrong here, these poor people are breaking the law our law, have you like our government ,forgotten we have laws against breaking and entering into our country? Are you the kind who blame everyone else for things you do instead of putting the blame squarely where it belongs? Do you understand what Self-Responsibility means? It means accepting the consquences of your own actions when you have done wrong as in sneaking in the back door or our country illegally! I know some think this is the new age of being so tolerant and being politically correct, but that is pure bull hockey, saying all the blame if on the employers and not on the poor people wanting to make a better life for themselves.I for one won't let you get away with that. I suppose because a poor person wants to make a better life for themselves and their familym he robs a bank to get the money he needs to do that with, you would think it was not his fault for breaking that law since he was poor, but the fault of the bank for having all that money in the first place. Give me and the rest of us here a break, we did not fall off the turnip wagon, when someone breaks the laws any law, the fault is theirs alone and not anyone elses!

Hey Carson956,

While not all illegals are knowingly involved in Reconquesta, the Mexican government is active in this pursuit. I also don't buy into your statement that they don't realize their breaking the law. The statement, "ignorance is bliss" does'nt apply here. They know they are breaking the law. Why would they sneak across the border, why would they run from ICE and hide? The Mexicans are leaving their jobs to come here out of greed in some cases and some come on tourist visas. I also hear smuggler fees are in the thousands of dollars. They have money, I don't buy the argument. As far as assimilating, I was born here and my family goes back 200 years. I have family that have fought and died for this country as well. No need to assimilate dear. Defrauding and stealing from your neighbor is not excused because your supposedly poor.

I am not a moron and I take offense to your comment.

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