Thread: A Tide of Anger on Immigration

A tide of anger on immigration

by Gosia Wozniacka, The Oregonian
Saturday June 20, 2009, 9:49 AM
Olivia Bucks, The Oregonian/2006

Hot-button passions draw on a range of rationales, fears and emotions

They are angry. Angry at their government. Angry with the news media. Mostly, angry at illegal immigrants and the problems they believe are caused by people who live in Oregon without proper documentation. Some are even angry at what they perceive to be too-high levels of legal immigration.

Their e-mails, calls and online comments seem to skyrocket every time The Oregonian publishes a story that mentions "Hispanic," "Latino," "Mexican" or "immigrant," regardless of whether the subject's citizenship, legal status or national origin is mentioned or relevant.

These people say the news media ignore, misrepresent or equate their views with being racist. And, they say, news and feature stories are routinely framed to elicit sympathy for people living illegally in the United States.

Comments range from the seething ("What don't you get? ... We cannot let the entire world move to America.") to the extremist ("The Mexicans are all illegal, they're dirty, they're criminals, they're popping babies out as fast as they can make them and we just want them gone.") to the ridiculous ("You did not mention that the Spanish regard dogs as a source of food.")

One recent story about a legislative proposal to offer in-state tuition rates to undocumented Oregon high school seniors triggered 142 online comments and dozens of e-mails, phone calls and letters to the editor.

A feature story about so-called "food deserts" that tracked a Portland woman's efforts to buy groceries for her family, in the face of limited transportation and supermarket options, unleashed 88 comments and several letters. The woman happened to be Latina.

And just last month, a news story that cited U.S. Census figures in reporting a surge in Oregon's Latino population drew 158 online comments within a few hours of the story appearing on OregonLive.com, in addition to numerous e-mails and phone calls. Most news stories on other topics draw only a smattering of comments; some none at all.

Who are these commenters? And why are they so irate?

Few recent Oregon polls or other studies exist on the topic. An April 2008 survey, conducted by Portland-based polling firm Moore Information, found that 70 percent of Oregon voters surveyed were "very concerned" (39 percent) or "fairly concerned" (31 percent) about illegal immigration, while 28 percent were "not concerned" and 2 percent "didn't know."

Those who said they were "very concerned," the survey found, tended to be Republican, over the age of 45 and reside outside of Multnomah County. The survey of 1,000 people was commissioned by the Coalition for Working Oregon, a group of Oregon employers that favors immigration reform.

Vulnerability feeds fear

Fear of change and competition fuels negative views about immigration and illegal immigration, said Rita Simon, professor of public affairs at American University in Washington, D.C. National polls show, Simon said, that people with lower levels of education and a lower socioeconomic status, as well as older people, are more likely to feel threatened by illegal immigrants.

"They're anti-immigrant because they are vulnerable," she said. "They're concerned that immigrants come in, take their jobs and replace them."

Jim Ludwick, president of Oregonians for Immigration Reform, disagrees. He said OFIR, which opposes illegal immigration and wants legal immigration severely reduced, includes 1,500 members and attracts "people of every walk of life and from all ethnic backgrounds."

Ludwick, 68, a retired pharmaceutical salesman who lives in McMinnville, said he believes most Oregonians support OFIR's message.

"Americans have the sense of the rule of law and they are outraged when people put themselves above the law, like illegal aliens do," Ludwick said. Oregonians "value the livability and the environment of Oregon, and don't want to turn it into an overcrowded state."

Jim Ludwick, founder of Oregonians for Immigration Reform, says members of the group value the state's livability and worry that illegal immigrants will turn Oregon into an overcrowded state.

But other analysts, such as Daniel HoSang, a political science professor at the University of Oregon, say those concerns don't necessarily transform into action. Last fall, Oregonians rejected Measure 58, which would have mandated English immersion and restricted bilingual education.

And in April, a judge declared a Columbia County measure that would punish businesses employing illegal workers unenforceable and moot because of conflicts with federal law and various state authorities.

"There's not much interest in scapegoat politics," HoSang said. "There isn't the audience, and the parties realize there's costs to this kind of strategy."

In Oregon, restrictionist organizations like OFIR or the Minutemen "are close to becoming fringe organizations," HoSang said, and they don't represent large numbers of people.

"You see their presence in debates like driving licenses or tuition equity," he said, "but we should not overestimate their ability to get people elected."

The anger, though, is bound to stay, Simon said, because it's part of an old pattern. What characterizes the American public's attitude toward immigrants, she said, is the belief that immigrants who came earlier were better; those who are coming now are either not as good or downright dangerous.

"When the Irish immigrants first came, there were riots. When the Chinese came, they were banned," Simon said. "Now the Irish and the Chinese are looked upon as a positive experience. Because many recent immigrants come from Mexico and are illegal, they now tend to get the ire."

Listening sessions to understand anger

As the newspaper's immigration reporter, I've come to expect emotional, angry responses to my stories and others. I've tracked and saved these responses for nearly a year, and they add up to hundreds critical of Latino immigration.

Some people identify themselves. Many do not. Either way, they far outnumber those supportive of immigrants, including immigrants who may be here illegally.

As President Barack Obama renewed his promise to tackle immigration reform and the nation geared up for another round of the debate, I set out to understand the reasoning and complexity behind their anger. I contacted about 40 people who had responded in the past, as well as OFIR. My goal: to see for myself what drives people's negative emotions and their interest in immigration.

While Simon suggests it's fear of change, and Ludwick argues Oregonians fear an erosion of their quality of life, the answers proved less simple.

Eleven people accepted my invitation for a face-to face interview: one-on-one at The Oregonian office, lasting an hour. Interviewees agreed to share some personal information and could bring materials to support their arguments.

The interviews were not meant to confirm facts, dispute opinions or legitimize views. Rather, they were listening sessions.

The interviewees, while polite and often friendly, spoke passionately. They did range in age, gender, education and ethnic background, and all live outside Multnomah County. While some didn't understand how the U.S. immigration system works, most were genuinely concerned about their families, their state and their country.

Behind their anger, I discovered personal stories, diverse views and solutions, even traces of tolerance and empathy. And yes, some fear and misconceptions, too.

Gosia Wozniacka covers immigration and Latino affairs for The Oregonian. Reach her at 503-294-5960 or gosiawozniacka@news.oregonian.com

http://www.oregonlive.com/opinion/index ... ation.html

The interviewees, while polite and often friendly, spoke passionately. They did range in age, gender, education and ethnic background, and all live outside Multnomah County. While some didn't understand how the U.S. immigration system works, most were genuinely concerned about their families, their state and their country.

This massive immigrant invasion has been built on Big Lies by who and for who? Answer these questions and you will understand why 80% of American believe in securing the borders and interior, no to amnesty, E-Verify, 287g Program, no to anchor baby citizenship, and deport all illegal immigrants.

Fear of change and competition fuels negative views about immigration and illegal immigration, said Rita Simon, professor of public affairs at American University in Washington, D.C. National polls show, Simon said, that people with lower levels of education and a lower socioeconomic status, as well as older people, are more likely to feel threatened by illegal immigrants.

Hmm, I have two college degrees and I am not considered old. Now who is doing the stereotyping?

A college degree doesn't mean work will be available. Don't be fooled by the school system, to reduce unemployment rate.

As the economy becomes worse and more Americans lose their jobs, homes and future and the government consistantly taxs Americans for everything not nailed down. The American people in larger numbers will come to understand that our government has been throwing us crumbs while using the majority of our tax dollars to accomodate the illegals population, as well, as finance the governments "Special Interest" groups, like Obama's "Acorn". The American people are needlessly suffering and the revolution ( like in Iran) is due to start soon. We long for Freedom and Fairness.

Americans have nothing against immigrants contrary to what this liberal minded media puppet author said, however, Americans have good reasons to be angry and frightened about our unfeeling government that coninues to favor the illegal population over the citizens of this country.

besides the enormous cost of illegal immigration on Americans, due to the Uneducated or Low skilled immigrants no one wants to talk about the cultural differences or the fact that they are letting too many come in and people are not assimilating.

They are being accommodated when it comes to language, they never speak of the DRASTIC changes to our towns, they call it fear of change we call it destruction of our neighborhoods...graffiti, signs we can not read, Crime, our next door neighbor all of a sudden has 10 cars parked on his front lawn 15 or more people living in the house and you don't know any of them, trash all over the place, the only way out is sell our homes and move, at a loss! soon that neighborhood ends up being all Hispanic. But it seems alright that Americans are being displaced from homes and towns they were born and grew up in!

It is not racist it is cultural, and class difference

No one is willing to have an honest conversation about it because if you mention Americans feelings, we are racists and bigots ....well when the politicians, new media etc. move their families into some of our neighborhoods we had to move out of which that have been taken over, then maybe we can have an honest conversation.

Gee I wonder why we all desperately wasn't to protect the new homes and towns we move to.

We are Americans If we wanted to feel like we were living in Mexico or So. of there we would move there, we have a right to our American Culture.

No one is willing to have an honest conversation about it because if you mention Americans feelings, we are racists and bigots ....well when the politicians, new media etc. move their families into some of our neighborhoods we had to move out of which that have been taken over, then maybe we can have an honest conversation.

We have to keep growing our numbers at ALIPAC, and educating everyone about amnesty.

"Americans have the sense of the rule of law and they are outraged when people put themselves above the law, like illegal aliens do," Ludwick said.

Thank you Mr. Ludwick! Ludwick's comment was right on in describing my reasons for joining the fight against illegal immigration. Of course my purpose for being here has become much more complex over the years, but initially it was my concern for the 'rule of law' that brought me here.

IMO, most law-abiding Americans that were born and educated here have a deep-rooted, ingrained if you will, respect for the law. Therefore, it's not hard to understand our anger when a specific segment of people (illegal aliens) sneak across our borders and ostentatiously display a disregard for our written laws.

Wozniacka is a shill for the Illegal Alien lobby. The Oregonian usually carries an article a week telling us how good illegal immigration is for us in the Portland area. Meanwhile, this once safe city has gang activity and crime is out of control in the neighborhoods dominated by illegals. I have to specifically ask any contractor who works on my home "No Illegal Aliens" and many call me a racist and hang up.

Our pedophile mayor is trying to change a major street name to Cesar Chavez despite almost universal opposition by the residents. A laborer in the Portland area doesn't stand a chance. Illegal aliens get preferencial treatment in hiring. This place stinks!

It's so bad that if an illegal is hispanic and is arrested, the local TV news won't describe the person arrested. If the suspect is white, black or asian they give a full description. I'm not exagerating, this really happens. Lars Larson has covered this extensively on his radio show.

If you see through the lame attempt at balance that Wozniacka tries to hide behind, please send an email at gosiawozniacka@news.oregonian.com

Of course as always for a LACK of defensible arguments in favor of the ILLEGALS the theme of the article from the Pro-ILLEGAL MSM falls back on name calling, attacking anyone who disagrees attempting to label them as racists.