Thread: IS IT HOMELAND SECURITY OR AMERICAN INSECURITY?

Harassing illegal immigrants out of the country is not only a violation of their human rights, it's terribly unrealistic. Regardless of how draconian the measures become, most illegal immigrants would not go home. They are so ingrained in our society that they would find a way to survive in the underground economy.

by Miguel Perez

RELEASE: TUESDAY, MAY 9, 2006

http://www.creators.com/opinion_show.cf ... nsName=mpe

IS IT HOMELAND SECURITY OR AMERICAN INSECURITY?



Tell them 12 million people can't be deported, and right-wing extremists will tell you it's not necessary. In their warped conservative reality, illegal immigrants can be swayed into going home on their own, by making their lives so miserable that they won't want to stay in the United States.

Of course, that contradicts their argument that they want to rid the country of illegal immigrants because they are concerned about national security. If they were so anxious about identifying potential criminals and terrorists, they would give illegal immigrants an incentive to come out of the shadows ASAP.

Harassing illegal immigrants out of the country is not only a violation of their human rights, it's terribly unrealistic. Regardless of how draconian the measures become, most illegal immigrants would not go home. They are so ingrained in our society that they would find a way to survive in the underground economy.

But let's say that bashing illegal immigrants to self-deport was realistic. Wouldn't that process take several years? If they are so worried about national security, how can they wait 10 or 15 years for illegal immigrants to leave? Can we afford not to know who those people are and where they live? Doesn't it make much more sense to give them a path to legalization as an incentive for them to identify themselves?

Of course it does!

Unfortunately, sense is not an attribute usually associated with xenophobia. It proves that for many of these "concerned Americans," bashing illegal immigrants is a much higher priority than national security.

Luckily, the immigrant bashers are only a loud minority. When they organize a protest, they get one person for every thousand people who march in support of immigrants. Yet now that they are clearly outnumbered in demonstrations around the country, they claim the pro-immigrant demonstrations are actually helping them. They swear that the demonstrations will backfire, that they created ill feelings among many Americans, that more people are joining their ranks, that Congress will now be less likely to sympathize with immigrants. But those are all bogus arguments.

If those immigrant rights marches are angering anyone, it is those people who already suffered from xenophobia.

Most Americans surely realize that these have been peaceful demonstrations, not riots, by people simply seeking justice the American way -- by expressing themselves freely. And while immigrant rights advocates need to be careful about organizing too many protest marches, so as not to burn out the energy of their supporters, they also need to be careful about losing the momentum that is keeping their movement on the rise and the nation paying close attention.

If Congress doesn't act soon, well-paced marches need to keep moving forward. Immigrant advocates around the country need to make sure they coordinate their efforts, discourage protesters from alienating Americans who would tend to support them and avoid giving their opposition any excuse to charge that they are being un-American.

That means leaving their homelands' flags at home and trying to avoid giving the impression that they want to change American culture. It means rejecting stupid ideas like a national anthem in Spanish. It means stop demanding and start asking. It means acknowledging that they are here illegally and arguing that they contribute to American society and deserve a break. "Guilty with an explanation" is what they should be saying.

Plans are already in the works to take the next national demonstration to Washington on May 19, so that the cries of those who seek the American Dream can be heard in the White House and on Capitol Hill. It makes sense.

That's where elected officials need to see that the marchers are not just illegal immigrants, but legal residents and American citizens who are either voters or soon to become voters.

That's where lawmakers also need to see that those who wash cars, mow lawns, scrub floors, refill water glass and care for our children are also human beings … with names, faces and dignity.

To find out more about Miguel Perez, and read features by other Creators Syndicate writers and cartoonists, visit the Creators Syndicate web page at www.creators.com.

That's where elected officials need to see that the marchers are not just illegal immigrants, but legal residents and American citizens who are either voters or soon to become voters.

I am sure they see this as one of the main points of immigration reform...dahhhhhhhhh

QUOTE:
Harassing illegal immigrants out of the country is not only a violation of their human rights, it's terribly unrealistic. Regardless of how draconian the measures become, most illegal immigrants would not go home. They are so ingrained in our society that they would find a way to survive in the underground economy
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A violation of their human rights? Somehow this entire statement seems ridiculous.
And what is so "Draconian" about a country enforcing its laws? Someone must have spent days coming up with the term "draconian" to describe the enforcement of our Constitution. Could it be the same person who came up with "PATHWAY TO CITIZENSHIP"? How sweet it sounds. or how about "EARNED CITIZENSHIP"? How very noble it sounds.
COULD IT BE THE "DECEIVER"?