Thread: Mass Arrest of Undocumented Immigrants in U.S. Looms

http://www.bulatlat.com/news/6-3/6-3-arrest.htm

Mass Arrest of Undocumented Immigrants in U.S. Looms

Historically, America is a land of immigrants. Today, millions of so-called undocumented immigrants including Filipinos face the threat of arrest and detention once a House bill becomes a law.

By Nicanor Segovia

Bulatlat

SAN FRANCISCO, California - A House bill that aims to criminalize undocumented immigrants in the United States has sent a chilling effect on Filipino-American communities along with other ethnic groups. The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB), led by Bishop Gerald Barnes, chair of its Migration and Refugee Services (MRS), has itself warned in a recent pastoral letter of a "growing anti-immigration sentiment" and has called for a comprehensive reform of the U.S.'s immigration laws.

According to the recent National Immigration Forum, the bill would also dramatically uproot legal immigrants, citizens and citizens-in-waiting as well as business owners who depend on labor supplied by immigrants.

Filed in the U.S. Congress last December by Reps. James Sensenbrenner, chair of the House judiciary committee, and Peter King, chair of homeland security committee, the bill (or House Resolution 4437), has been widely criticized for targeting some 11 million undocumented immigrants - including many legal immigrants who have temporary status problems - as criminals.

Sources from groups opposed to the bill reveal that many undocumented immigrants come actually from Ireland and Canada, disputing common perceptions that Mexico, Latin America and Asia have contributed largely to the entry of illegal immigrants in the United States.

Of the 11 million undocumented immigrants, nearly three million are children. According to the Pew Hispanic Center, about 450,000 new undocumented immigrants enter the United States every year.

Permanent legal status

The USCCB bishops have stated that this population, which has by and large worked for the U.S. economy and otherwise abided by the law, should be allowed to obtain permanent legal status.

Presently, immigrants in the U.S. who are found to have violated the immigration law are deported. Conversely, the Sensenbrenner-King bill will radicalize this policy by tagging undocumented immigrants as criminals and hence subject to state and police arrest. Relatives, employers, co-workers, co-congregants or friends of undocumented immigrants can be charged as "alien smugglers" and likewise arrested.

The bill has also alarmed employers. It proposes what is now billed as "shoot first, aim later" policy establishing an employment authorization verification system and bringing undocumented immigrant workers out of the shadows. The policy threatens to cripple many companies that rely on immigrant labor.

Filipinos, together with Hispanics and other Asians, are lending their voice in opposing the House bill. In New York City last week, members of Damayan Migrant Workers Association, Ugnayan ng mga Anak ng Bayan and Network in Solidarity with the People of the Philippines (NISPOP) held a community forum to tackle the bill, with lawyer Ruben Seguritan as resource speaker.

At the forum, Damayan member Linda Abad said, "The U.S. economy thrives on immigrant labor. It is just and fair for hardworking immigrants workers like us to be allowed legalization, not criminalization."

Without doubt, said Ofelia Virtucio, a member of Ugnayan, HR 4437 would criminalize many undocumented Filipino youths, tear apart their families and deny them access to education, employment and social services.

Comprehensive reform

In place of HR 4437, groups like the USCCB are supporting comprehensive immigration reform proposals up in the Senate. In particular, the Secure America and Orderly Immigration Act, introduced by Sens. Edward Kennedy and John McCain, is seen as a comprehensive approach to solving immigration problems.

More responsive legal avenues for immigrant workers and those seeking to be with family, the Kennedy-McCain bill says, will make law-and-border enforcement strategies work.

The U.S. Catholic bishops' call for immigration reform ties in with their campaign against global poverty that is aggravated by new trade policies, among others. "Trade, international economic aid, debt relief, and other types of economic policies should be pursued that result in people not having to migrate in desperation in order to survive," they said.

Boosting the U.S. economy

Researches show that migrants and their families largely enter the United States to work and thus boost its economy. However, the number of visas is very limited and does not come close to meeting labor market demands.

Contrary to reports that immigrants take away jobs from U.S. citizens, they supplement rather than displace native workers. A recent study by the University of California-Davis reveals that immigrant workers fill jobs in certain industries that are not filled by American workers -- such as meatpacking plants in Nebraska, chicken processing plants in Delaware and Maryland and oil-drilling projects in Alaska where there are many Filipino workers.

Immigration restrictions do not seem to reflect government studies predicting a shortage of low-skilled workers - about two million - in the years ahead.

The net benefit of immigration to the United States is nearly $10 billion every year. Seventy percent of immigrants arrive in prime working age and this means not a penny was spent for them in terms of education and the like. Yet over the next 20 years they are expected to pump $500 billion into the country's social security system. Bulatlat

Today, millions of so-called undocumented immigrants including Filipinos face the threat of arrest and detention once a House bill becomes a law.

That's right darlin' They's building the camps right now!

The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB), led by Bishop Gerald Barnes, chair of its Migration and Refugee Services (MRS), has itself warned in a recent pastoral letter of a "growing anti-immigration sentiment"

Well, first, miss Bulatlat, Catholic Bishops don't run things around here anyways, capiche?

and as far as the "growing anti-immigration sentiment" goes YOU AIN'T SEEN NOTHING YET. We're just starting to get our dander up.

the bill (or House Resolution 4437), has been widely criticized for targeting some 11 million undocumented immigrants

And even more widely celebrated by those that are SICK and EVERLOVING TIRED
of foreigners who mistake the KINDNESS of the American People for Stupidity.

Sources from groups opposed to the bill reveal that many undocumented immigrants come actually from Ireland and Canada, disputing common perceptions that Mexico, Latin America and Asia have contributed largely to the entry of illegal immigrants in the United States

.

Oh ho ho ho you are killing me! Those must be the same sources that claimed there were 3000 people at the "Day without an immigrant" Rally in Philly on Feb 14th. They saw 2,500 extra people that none of the press saw. And the common perception is that MEXICO has contributed the LION's share to the problem. That's cause we see them EVERYWHERE. And we really SEE them. So what should we believe, our own eyes and ears, or the reality adjustments your sources would like make for us all?

The rest of the article is a rehashing of every piece of labor and market disinfomation that the corporate masters would like everybody to suck up with a straw. But you know what? WE AIN'T going for it.

My advice, miss blatblat, is that you be responsible about this and get your country men and women that are not here legally OUT of here, pronto, while the getting is still good.

And don't be surprised if it gets HARDER to get a visa to get in here. After what we have experienced of the ingratitude of foreigners, we have learned a bitter lesson. We've seen people we sent to college to better themselves turn and rend us, try to destroy us. We've nurtured a generation of taitors. Yeah, it might not be the same "Land of the Immigrant" that it used to be. Golden door - CLOSED until further notice.

Yep, you're right. mass arrests loom. Get out while you can and don't let the door hit ya......

Everytime I have travelled down Roxas Blvd. in Manila, the prospective Filipino immigrants are lined up by the hundreds in front of the US Embassy, following the rules, waiting for the opportunity to immigrate legally. They are generally good people, well educated, and fluent in English.

Furthermore, the Philippines Department of Foreign Affairs, when issuing a passport to a Filipino, requires them to attend a seminar based on their intended destination, even if they are immigrating on a family based visa. The seminar serves as a crash course to familiarize the Filipino with the basic customs and culture in the destination country, and admonishes them to put their best foot forward. Because the Philillipines is a desperately poor and overcrowded country, Overseas Filipino Workers (the official name of the government program) are the country's number one export. This is a formalized government program, in cooperation with the governments and institutions in the destination countries (primarily the U.S.A., Canada, Taiwan, Singapore, Hong Kong, Australia, Japan, United Kingdom, and several other countries). The program seeks to place qualified Filipino workers in appropriate positions, ability to communicate in the language of the host country; and knowledge of the custums, culture and laws of the host country. It is the ultimate source of "guest workers" for countries that actually have such a need. The point is, the average Filipino, and the Philippine government, do make an effort to respect the laws of the host country, in contrast to our neighbors to the south.

Filipinos typically do well economically in America, and assimilate fairly well. But there are a significant number of them who have come illegally, have failed to leave when temporary visas have expired, or have failed to follow the rules to maintain legal status.

That is no surprise, with the lax enforcement of the law, but it is no excuse. Deportation and exclusion of all violators of immigration law should not be based on country of origin, all violators should be kicked out.

The source for this story, "Bulatat", is a web-site I have visited frequently on my visits to Philippines. They typically like to stir up trouble here and there with the Philippine government and American interests in the country.

It is also notable, and of no surprise, that the Catholic Church is stirring up trouble in the Filipino/American community and in Philippines over this issue. Can we ever expect the Church to respect civil authority, given their record on child molestations in America.

One additional note:

Filipinos deported from the US back to Philippines, even if only on immigration violations, are usually in hot water with the Philippine government, will probably lose their passport and not likely be able to get another one anytime soon. That government, again in contrast to our southern neighbors, takes it seriously when their citizens screw up on foreign soil. Which might explain the growing paranoia among illegals from Philippines.

It has to apply to all.

My spouse came here legally and we had to jump through all the hoops and pay the fees to do it right. The laws are there for a reason and need to be obeyed by anyone coming here.