Thread: NOT ON HIS WATCH.

Not on his watch Email this page Print this page
Posted: September 05, 2008


I am compelled to offer my comments regarding the editorial by former ICT editor, Jose Barreiro, ''Immigration issue sparks American racism.'' [reprinted in Vol. 28, Iss. 11] Illegal immigration occurred once before when hordes of Europeans invaded this country.

Treaties of peace and forgiving attitudes failed to stop them. Native Americans fought and died to preserve their country, and they taught us how important it can be to stop any invaders. It is happening again. These invaders have no rights to the same services as citizens, yet they demand those rights in no uncertain manner.

Mr. Barreiro, like many supporters of illegal immigration, ignores the illegality of the border crossers' actions. He [described] immigration as ''the new magnet for American racism.'' Immigration is not the issue. It is illegal immigration that is the problem, and racism has nothing to do with it. The issue is violation of our laws. American law is specific about the immigration process, and illegal aliens are violating that law. As an editor, he has to know the difference between ''immigration,'' which is legal, and ''illegal aliens,'' which describes anyone entering the country illegally. There is a world of difference between those two terms.

He insulted the Minutemen as being ''oh-so-patriotic'' and inferred that they practiced ''vigilante violence.'' That indirect accusation is far from being truth. I wonder if Barreiro would insult me for opposing illegal immigration whether committed in 1800, or today. The Minutemen took on the job of border-watching only because President Bush, who has close ties to the Mexican government, would not order it.

Many American cities and counties are now suffering financially from having to provide services for the millions of illegals now in this country. Americans are rightfully concerned about having to provide jobs and free services for them, then having to listen to their demands and complaints. I wonder how long it will be before the illegals discover ways to invade our reservations.

Elmer Savilla

Burke, Virginia



Jose Barreiro replies:

A careful reading of the editorial will reveal my concern for the various issues of illegal immigration. The greater intent was to indicate that the discourse nationally is leading away from solution-oriented thinking to xenophobic and racist posturing. Consider these points from the editorial:

''Certainly there are serious problems with waves of hundreds of thousands of people entering any country illegally.'' And, ''Legitimate debate points include the inherent right of countries to secure their borders; reading the actual impacts of a million new Latin American immigrants per year for the next 20 years on various job sectors, on costs of additional social services, on crime rates and criminal justice systems, very specifically on border communities.''

The editorial urges more consideration of ''what would constitute a humane, fair and sound long-term solution to the situation of the many undocumented migrants already in-country. When these types of questions are thought about rationally and fairly, progress can be made toward resolutions.''

Of highest interest is the fact that many of the people coming north from Mexico and especially from Guatemala are indeed American Indigenous people.


http://www.indiancountry.com/content.cfm?id=1096418148


TS77

''what would constitute a humane, fair and sound long-term solution to the situation of the many undocumented migrants already in-country. When these types of questions are thought about rationally and fairly, progress can be made toward resolutions.''

It isn't racism or being xenophobic to throw them all out back to their own countries, whether they are from Latin America or Sweden. These people here are criminals from the moment they crossed the border without permission. Thank you, but we don't need any more criminals as we seem to filled all those jobs by Americans.
Long-term solution would be to seal the borders, no amnesty and declaring English as the official language.

The editorial urges more consideration of ''what would constitute a humane, fair and sound long-term solution to the situation of the many undocumented migrants already in-country. When these types of questions are thought about rationally and fairly, progress can be made toward resolutions.''

What's fair about letting illegal aliens jump the border and staying? How is that "fair" to would be immigrants, who having followed our laws, are STILL waiting to be allowed in? Once we deport all illegal aliens, these law-abiding immigrants can be let in. THAT'S the issue.

Originally Posted by miguelina

The editorial urges more consideration of ''what would constitute a humane, fair and sound long-term solution to the situation of the many undocumented migrants already in-country. When these types of questions are thought about rationally and fairly, progress can be made toward resolutions.''

What's fair about letting illegal aliens jump the border and staying? How is that "fair" to would be immigrants, who having followed our laws, are STILL waiting to be allowed in? Once we deport all illegal aliens, these law-abiding immigrants can be let in. THAT'S the issue.

What he, Barreiro, means is AMNESTY IS FAIR!!!

Of highest interest is the fact that many of the people coming north from Mexico and especially from Guatemala are indeed American Indigenous people.

LOL...Is there anything these people will not argue on behalf of their illegal invaders and their quest for amnesty in this country!

My skin color is not white, so I am racist if I want legal immigration and

NOT ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION.... Please send this person, out of the country,
too.