Thread: Your taxes pay for "assimilation classes" for IA's

Funny, millions of immigrant families (legal) have successfully assimilated w/o the need for government intervention, including mine. Here's a hint, English by immersion, no bilingual classes, turn off the damn Univsion and Telemundo. If you must watch TV, do it in English, same goes for the radio. Don't live in "immigrant" enclaves......that's definitely a hindrance to assimilation and its been proven. Mix with your neighbors, keep a clean home, look at the nice neighborhoods and be a nice, respectful neighbor. When in Rome, do as the Romans. Otherwise, you'll be treated like an invader.

oops sorry forgot to post the story......

Making for easier assimilation
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Through a task force, a booklet and a website, the U.S. government is helping immigrants learn English and integrate into society.
By Anna Gorman, Los Angeles Times Staff Writer
February 7, 2008
In her heart, Sonia Galdamez is Salvadoran. She speaks Spanish at home and cooks Salvadoran food for her family.

But since arriving in Los Angeles nearly two years ago, she has been sworn in as a U.S. citizen and is studying English at L.A. City College.

Galdamez said she doesn't have to sacrifice her traditions, roots or language to become American.

"But in this country, really, they speak English," she said. "If I want to find a good job, I have to learn it."

Galdamez is a model for the federal government's massive assimilation campaign, which the Bush administration launched in 2006 and is continuing to expand. This spring, the government will offer a free Web-based English class to immigrants on its new site, www.WelcometoUSA.gov.

Alfonso Aguilar, chief of the U.S. Office of Citizenship, said the goal is to help immigrants integrate into U.S. society, learn English and identify with common civic values and a shared sense of history.

"We cannot become a country of enclaves -- that's a recipe for disaster," he said. "There has to be a sense of community, a solidarity. . . . In the end, it's about political and social cohesion."

In the past, such assimilation efforts have been undertaken by churches, libraries and community organizations. But the sheer number of immigrants, coupled with the migration patterns that have scattered them across the country, has prompted the federal government to get involved.

Not everyone agrees that's a good idea. Some say that community groups are better equipped to lead integration efforts because they are on a grass-roots level and can tailor programs to particular immigrant communities. Others say that the U.S. should limit the number of legal immigrants it admits rather than spend taxpayer money on assimilation programs.

"The current levels of immigration are about five times higher than our tradition," said Rosemary Jenks, director of government relations for NumbersUSA, an anti-illegal immigration group. "In our view, the best way to assure assimilation is to reduce the numbers. . . . That means more resources per capita for new immigrants coming in."

Experts and groups on both sides of the immigration debate have praised the government's assimilation efforts because they can help bridge gaps and reduce tensions that occur between newly arrived immigrants and their communities.

That in turn will help create a more unified society where newcomers are participating politically, economically and socially, said Tomás Jiménez, a sociology professor at UC San Diego. Jiménez stressed that over time, immigrants do learn English and assimilate on their own. They integrate by going to college, advancing in their careers, moving to different neighborhoods and marrying outside their ethnic groups, he said.

Studies have shown that although Spanish is primarily spoken by first-generation immigrants, its use fades dramatically by the second and third generation.

"Immigrant integration is not something that takes place because a group of people suddenly decide they want to integrate," Jiménez said. "It's a gradual process, and it happens because people are pursuing their economic interests."

The new wave of integration programs are different from past efforts because officials are not pushing immigrants to give up their language or cultural traditions in order to learn English or embrace U.S. ideals, experts said.

The program is designed for legal immigrants, but undocumented immigrants can access the website and take English classes. Jenks of NumbersUSA said government funds shouldn't be used to help illegal immigrants.

"Any time an illegal immigrant comes in contact with the U.S. government, the result should be deportation," she said.

Over the last five years, Aguilar said, the United States has welcomed 5 million legal permanent residents and naturalized nearly 3 million new citizens. The U.S. established a Task Force on New Americans, published a Guide for New Immigrants booklet in multiple languages and started the website to provide basic information about healthcare, education and volunteer opportunities for immigrants.

The Office of Citizenship is holding regional training sessions for teachers and collaborating with community colleges, immigrant-rights groups and libraries to integrate immigrants and offer more civics and English courses. The task force also introduced a web-based training program last fall for teachers.

Recently at L.A. City College, Aguilar taught a civics class to a few dozen immigrants, primarily from Mexico and Central America. After a brief discussion of the Bill of Rights and the three branches of government, he encouraged the students to volunteer in their communities and continue studying about the U.S.

"You are showing the rest of the country that immigrants want to become American," he said. "Becoming American doesn't mean giving up your culture. Being American is three things: learning English, learning our system of government and learning our history."

Besides the government's involvement, community groups and businesses are doing their part to encourage assimilation by offering classes and teaching new immigrants everyday skills.

During Thanksgiving, the Los Angeles restaurant Guelaguetza taught Mexican immigrants how to prepare turkeys. But they added their own Oaxacan twist: mole sauce. The restaurant also donated 30 turkeys to poor families.

"We were talking about assimilation, and one of the biggest American values is giving and donating," said Martha Ugarte, who handles special events for the restaurant.

In North Hills, Aztlan cyber-cafe owner Edith Jose offers free weekend classes to immigrants who want to learn how to surf the Web, send e-mails and job-search online. Jose said computer skills are critical for immigrants to get ahead, in part because many applications are posted only online.

"The Latino community is motivated to learn," said Luz Ruiz, who recently attended a session at the cafe. "We don't want to be at the bottom. We want to get ahead."

Ruiz, an immigrant from Mexico, said she also wanted to take classes so she could save money by paying bills online and better monitor her children's Internet use.

anna.gorman@latimes.com

Originally Posted by legalatina

Funny, millions of immigrant families (legal) have successfully assimilated w/o the need for government intervention, including mine. Here's a hint, English by immersion, no bilingual classes, turn off the damn Univsion and Telemundo. If you must watch TV, do it in English, same goes for the radio. Don't live in "immigrant" enclaves......that's definitely a hindrance to assimilation and its been proven. Mix with your neighbors, keep a clean home, look at the nice neighborhoods and be a nice, respectful neighbor. When in Rome, do as the Romans. Otherwise, you'll be treated like an invader.

Legalatina,
Love ya'. Welcome to the family.

Wow! if my money is being used to help assimilate these people then I want a refund because it's not working!!

If these people are assimilating then why is my dishwashing detergent written in spanish

Originally Posted by NoBueno

Wow! if my money is being used to help assimilate these people then I want a refund because it's not working!!

If these people are assimilating then why is my dishwashing detergent written in spanish

I agree, but I really do not have a problem with this part

The U.S. Office of Citizenship also holds regional training sessions for teachers and immigrant-rights groups to help integrate newcomers with free English and civics classes throughout the country.

I think English should be mandatory. If they are going to waste our money, and you know they will waste it on something, this is not tooo bad. But I think it needs to be for LEGAL immigrants only. Others need to be deported.

I still think the most cost effective, and probably just generally effective solution to this problem is immediate and mandatory suspension of a business license for 6 months 1st offense at hiring an illegal. 2nd offence, they pull the business license and MANDATORY JAIL TIME for the owner/managers of the companies that hire. This will include making it a felony if the owner/manager is in a position to hire for 10 years after being released from jail.

After a year of strongly enforcing this, then make it a crime for Landlords to rent to illegals. (the lack of pay will have driven most illegals away by then) 1st offense, 5000.00 fine or 10% of the appraised property value, which ever is higher. 2nd offense, the property is sold at a government auction, free and clear. This will also force banks, who will lose their mortgage money, be very careful about the people they loan to. The Banks will be able to go after the landlords personally, and this money will not be eliminated in bankruptcy proceedings.

All monies from the fines will go to local, state and federal offices to enforce our immigration laws and to pay the costs of social services illegals have obtained. When you are talking large amounts of fines, our greedy little government has an incentive to enforce. The law enforcement team that has collected the largest number of fines in each state will receive a tax free bonus consisting of 25% of the fines at the end of the year. This bonus will be equally divided amongst all team members.

in two years, the illegals will all have fled because nobody will be willing to employ or house them. And law enforcement will be eagerly trying to catch the criminals. All fines will be after a conviction. Any law enforcement found abusing this power will face fines and jail time.

They are supposed to have a basic comprehension of the English language before they are granted citizenship.

It would seem to me that paying for your own English classes in order to improve your English and life is a small price to pay for American Citizenship.