Thread: NC - Anti-immigrant bills will do more harm than good

Mary Dickinson column: Anti-immigrant bills will do more harm than good
By MARY DICKINSON | Guest columnist
Published: July 10, 2011

Nothing shows the need for immigration reform at the federal level better than the litany of poorly thought-out anti-immigrant bills our own North Carolina GOP-controlled legislature put forth during the 2011 session.

Many may see these failed bills as heading in the right direction: denying undocumented immigrants education after high school; tracking all international students' attendance in college classes; insisting all non-citizens carry proof of identity with them at all times; refusing to have bilingual instructions at voting booths or at the DMV; requiring that all K-12 students show their status as citizens upon registering for school; or making the Department of Human Services reveal the status of their clients to local authorities. The list goes on. However, the inflammatory approach of these bills would engulf all immigrants, documented and undocumented alike.

I know this is not the message North Carolina wants to hand to the vast community of immigrants who live and work in our state. Regardless of their citizenship status, these immigrants remain a valuable resource that helps us all. The energy expended to put these bills forth when North Carolina has so many very real troubles is truly a waste of taxpayers' money.

Many of these bills are related to education. This is the one area of the GOP fixation on immigrants that I find most difficult to understand.

Children who were brought here by their undocumented parents face huge hurdles every day, once they become aware of their status. The first thing they discover is that they cannot get a driver's license or leave the country. In order to acquire work, they must hide their status. To go to college, they must pay three to four times more than their high-school classmates and wait until all citizens have had a chance to enroll in a class before they can register. Their lives are wrapped in fear. And these children had no say in where they live.

They view themselves as Americans in every way. Some have no memory of their country of origin, and some have never learned to read or write in their first language. The United States is often the only country they know. These children will stay, either out in the open or in the shadows of our society.

Denying the demographic changes of the United States today, where whites are getting older while African-American children continue to grow in number and Hispanic children are becoming our largest population, why would one look to the future and pretend that this is not significant data? When has a country ever progressed by putting down the children who inhabit its borders?

This direction of thought bears little resemblance to reality. Instead of throwing away the talents, determination and resilience of these children, we should recognize that they are part of what defines us as Americans. By embracing these young people, and allowing them to become one more component of what defines us as Americans, we may see some reason to be hopeful again.

Sen. Dick Durbin has reintroduced The DREAM Act in the U.S. Congress. After 10 years of using this bill as a political football, it is time to bring it home and to begin the process of serious immigration reform.

All over the United States, young undocumented immigrants are stepping out of the shadows. Their hope is unstoppable, and their courage is incredible. I, for one, see their valor as an astounding affirmation that they believe the country they call home can do better. I believe we must do better by them and by our own future as a nation. We need to reduce the hurdles that prevent them from becoming full-fledged citizens. This will only make us stronger.

This is our opportunity as a nation to become a true part of the 21st century. In truth, we are all immigrants, with our own histories of becoming a part of this country. No bill in the N.C. Legislature will change that. Let us accept a new definition of what it means to be an American. Urge your representatives to pass the DREAM Act, at last. Let us recommit our nation to the stirring words of Emma Lazarus' The New Colossus:

Give me your tired, your poor,

Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free,

The wretched refuse of your teeming shore.

Send these, the homeless, the tempest-tost to me,

I lift my lamp beside the golden door!

Mary Dickinson taught Spanish in the Winston-Salem/Forsyth County school system and English as a Second Language at Forsyth Technical Community College before retiring. She is a member of the Latino Coalition of C.H.A.N.G.E, a board member and officer of the Hispanic League and a member of the education committee of the Hispanic League.

http://www2.journalnow.com/news/opinion ... r-1191552/


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Hogwash - this is legislation against criminal illegal aliens who broke into our country, stole ID's, helped themselves to benefits and support from taxpayers that they were not entitled and then did not contribute to our tax base. They are NOT immigrants.

The recent execution of murderer and child rapist Leal Garcia is a prime example of the typical Dreamer - here since age 2, now in his 40's, career criminal and last words were Viva Mexico.

These are not the immigrants we want here - they are migrants and are unable to be self-sustaining in our society.

I love it how they always defend the poor children that had no choice, but they never address the ones that brought them here and violated the law. No thought of compromise here. You never hear them say the poor little helpless children can stay, but deport the parents that brought them here since they are the ones in violation of the law. NO, they want them ALL to stay just like nothing ever happened, and with the right to bring more if they so choose to do so. Would expect nothing less from a Liberal Educator who makes a living and who's job security depends on masses of illegals continuing to fill the schools with needy students.

Nor do DREAM Act advocates give any thought to their responsibility as adults. It is their parents fault they got brought here it is their fault tyhey are still here.

You can go to this article and comment if you register, which I did. We have to let these people know that we're not ignorant racists, that we are tired of paying for illegals and tired of them taking our jobs!

Originally Posted by imblest

You can go to this article and comment if you register, which I did. We have to let these people know that we're not ignorant racists, that we are tired of paying for illegals and tired of them taking our jobs!

I am going to register and comment there too! Thanks for the heads up!

ALIPACers are doing a great job commenting on this!!

Remember to vote up the good comments!!

Thanks for all the input on the story folks. Maybe it will somehow help a few of the misinformed normalize their positions a bit.

Of course we all know there will be no quarter given by the illegal alien activists and their supporters, but isn't it fun to deconstruct some of the many myths they generate?

Its sad that a newspaper would even publish trash like this. Anyone who supports illegals is also encouraging and supporting illegal activity.

Originally Posted by BillCunnane

Its sad that a newspaper would even publish trash like this. Anyone who supports illegals is also encouraging and supporting illegal activity.

It may be sad Bill, but you and I both know it is the status quo. Even a newspaper has to play to the society that feeds it.

Don't be surprised if many of those who survive the economic disaster currently in play rise from the ashes in bi-lingual form or joint editions.