Thread: ‘Give Illegal Immigrants Saudi Citizenship’

‘Give Illegal Immigrants Saudi Citizenship’

Arab News translates an interesting piece from the Arabic daily Al-Madinah that echoes resonantly the debate in the US about how to deal with illegal immigrants. There are, the article states, some seven million legal, expat workers in Saudi Arabia. There are also around four million illegal immigrants. Because they are illegal, they are subject to abuse not only by employers, but also cut off from social services—like education for their children who will have no future as a consequence.

The writer suggests finding a way to ‘nationalize’ these immigrants. They would add significantly to the Saudi workforce and be willing to take jobs that need to be done but Saudis don’t want to do.

That’s not a bad idea in itself, but it’s not necessarily good, either. The reason many jobs go unfilled by Saudis is that they are seen as ‘beneath the dignity’ of a Saudi. If another group of ‘new Saudis’ were to take on these jobs—the jobs they’re already doing, by the way—then what’s to prevent them from being seen as just another class of ‘honorless’ Saudis? I don’t think getting a new passport would solve the problem of hubris and overweaning pride shown by a few too many Saudis.

Give them citizenship
http://arabnews.com/?page=13&section=0& ... m=7&y=2008

Abdullah Al-Nowaisser | Al-Madinah

That non-Saudi section of society which has been living among us for decades and adopted our culture and customs should be legally recognized. This would allow these people to come out of hiding and become an alternative source of manpower to foreign laborers.

We appreciate this group that has helped throughout the years to build our country and still contributes to the Kingdom’s development. This group lives among us responsibly and with respect. I think giving such people citizenship would be an organized way of keeping those who we need.

There are an estimated seven million foreign workers — one third of our population — in the Kingdom. In addition to the demographic and social imbalance that these workers can cause us, many of them, especially domestic workers, create serious problems.

That’s not a bad idea in itself, but it’s not necessarily good, either. The reason many jobs go unfilled by Saudis is that they are seen as ‘beneath the dignity’ of a Saudi.

That's one (of the many) differences between American and Saudi culture. Saudi's REALLY DO believe there are many jobs beneath their dignity as Saudi's. That is not thhe case with Americans as we do not believe that any job is beneath our dignity we just demand fair wages, reasonable benefits and a decently safe workplace.

Some government don't care about foreigners at all.

American government cares too much

Americans cannot take care of the whole world.