Thread: Immigrants' rights

Bleeding Heart Editorial in the NJ Times by Director of Hispanic Organization

Immigrants' rights
Wednesday, August 15, 2007
BY DANIEL SANTO PIETRO
http://www.nj.com/opinion/times/editori ... xml&coll=5

In the aftermath of a divisive congressional debate over im migration reform, immigrant families across New Jersey and the United States are asking themselves: "Where do we go from here?"

Gov. Jon Corzine should be commended for his courage and vision in appointing a blue-ribbon panel to look at the impact of im migration on New Jersey.

The recent debate in Washington, D.C., which often descended into race-baiting and a parade of stereotypes, resolved nothing. No resolution was reached on the status of 10 million to 12 million undocumented immigrants across the United States. Early-morning raids by the Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency continue to separate families from each other as part of a bad comic opera to show "strength" in the war on terror and appease those who want to "get tough" on immigration. The raids are a symptom of the ongoing failure of the president and Congress to reach a compromise on comprehensive immigration reform.

In the meantime, because of political considerations, the issue is unlikely to be revisited by the Congress until 2009. This leaves undocumented immigrant families in limbo status, still subject to exploitation by unscrupulous employers and scapegoating by local politicians pandering to xenophobic tendencies in their communities. It leaves all immigrants open to at tacks and fearful that their contributions to American society are not recognized.

Federal inaction makes Cor zine's initiative imperative to safeguard the civil rights of the immi grant community and the economic prosperity of the state, which relies heavily on a young, im migrant labor force. A recent projection by the state Department of Labor indicates that by 2014, approximately 70 percent of the new laborers joining the work force will be Latinos, many of them immi grants, including some from the families of the 400,000 undocumented immigrants now living in the state. Protecting the rights of immigrants is not only the moral thing to do -- it is in our economic best interest.

There is a wide range of issues that the governor's new panel can tackle to improve the lives of the immigrant community. Among the issues the governor's new panel will examine include allowing undocumented children graduating from local schools who can prove New Jersey residency to pay in-state tuition rates at state colleges and universities; looking into citizenship status; and exploring language proficiency, employment and work- force training.

Too often, government officials use panels and commissions to defer action on heated issues. We are confident that Gov. Corzine will assure that this panel will act as a catalyst for positive change.

However, there is one issue on which action cannot be delayed. The Hispanic Directors Association of New Jersey calls on Gov. Corzine and state Attorney General Anne Milgram to clarify the state's position with regard to the passage of local ordinances in violation of the civil rights of immigrants.

It is also important to give municipalities and counties guidance against local police and county law- enforcement involvement in enforc ing civil immigration laws. There is a real threat of racial profiling created by such activity. State and local law enforcement need cooperation from the immigrant community to investigate crimes that so often target them, rather than a wall of silence and suspicion. This is a matter on which the state government needs to act immediately rather than wait for the immigra tion panel to meet and deliberate.

One thing is clear: In this period of immigration limbo status, New Jersey state government must play a bigger role to ensure that the state's immigrant community can continue to enrich our state economically and culturally. Gov. Cor zine clearly agrees that the incom petence and lack of political will at the federal level cannot translate into civil rights violations, scapegoating and economic setbacks in New Jersey.

We must send the message that New Jersey is a state that values its immigrant community and make ourselves a model for the rest of the country.
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Daniel Santo Pietro is executive director of the Hispanic Directors Association of New Jersey.

In the meantime, because of political considerations, the issue is unlikely to be revisited by the Congress until 2009. This leaves undocumented immigrant families in limbo status, still subject to exploitation by unscrupulous employers and scapegoating by local politicians pandering to xenophobic tendencies in their communities. It leaves all immigrants open to at tacks and fearful that their contributions to American society are not recognized.

Why suffer through all the unnecessary anguish that rightfully comes from breaking and entering into a sovereign nation: The solution is simple: ILLEGALS GO HOME.

No resolution was reached on the status of 10 million to 12 million undocumented immigrants across the United States.

The American people have provided a resolution - ATTRITION THROUGH ENFOREMENT!

Originally Posted by MW

No resolution was reached on the status of 10 million to 12 million undocumented immigrants across the United States.

The American people have provided a resolution - ATTRITION THROUGH ENFOREMENT!

Yup!

Also

10 million to 12 million undocumented immigrants across the United States

that number is alittle bit low... more like 15 to 20 million illegals in the US!!!

Attention illegals (if they can read this): You have no rights here in America! You are an illegal!! You snuck into this country, now get out!!

Uhh.. 'immigrants' have rights..

'MIGRANTS' .. don't.. period.

I continue to hear the ABUSE of the DECEPTIVE terms: "undocumented worker, immigrant, etc".



The ACCURATE term is ILLEGAL:

“ALIEN", “MIGRANTâ€