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Jumping the border fence for all to see. English only for non English speakers?

By Patrick Osio, Jr./HispanicVista.com

   May 21, 2006

 

  

 

    

     By now most if not all, Americans who at some point watch TV news have seen the stock footage of illegal immigrants jumping over a border fence. The footage is most often a regular as the news intro when the report is to be about illegal immigrants. So it was not surprising to see it once again when the report was that the Senate had included into the immigration reform bill a section mandating the construction of an additional 370 miles of border fences. Now, what part of ‘here is the evidence it won’t work’ did the Senators miss?

 

Is it possible that Senators and House members, who wanted 700 miles of fence, don’t watch the news? They’ve missed this footage? Why would they saddle American taxpayers with what is by most estimates another $4 billion four to five year construction project that makes the nation look ridiculous knowing before hand that it won’t work?

 

We can speculate that since they are in the process of going against their long time political contributors in the agricultural, house construction, real estate, restaurant and hospitality industries the search is on for new sources of easy money – such as who is going to manufacture and install the fences? And the lighting, and the ground sensors, and all the other products and services needed for yet another idiocy? 

 

Not satisfied with 370 miles of it won’t work fences, the same Senate came up with another lulu – English is the national language inserted into the immigration reform legislation in progress. Hello, none of us knew that? Have we been wrong all these years? What have we been speaking? And this national acknowledgment of the obvious will stop illegal immigration?

 

Will the Department of State now send instructions to all US Embassies and Consulates that while processing tourist, business, student or other temporary visas they must only accept the applications in English and speak only in English to applicants? Does this mean that only those who can speak English will be awarded any type of US visa or permanent residency? Or Custom Officers at Port of Entry will only be able to process arrivers in English?

 

Does this mean that any non-English speaker in any city in the US who approaches a police officer wanting to report a crime saying, for instance, Parlez-vous français? Will be met with a “Of course I speak French, but as a government employee I am not allowed to speak in any language other than English.”  When a non-English speaking witness to a crime is called on to testify questions and answers in court can only be in English?

 

Does this mean that when a person is taken to an emergency room in a hospital that receives Federal funding of any kind, doctors or nurses will not be able to ask questions to patients in any language other than English even after ascertaining the patient can’t speak the language?

 

Does this mean that when a Border Patrol agent apprehends an illegal immigrant suspect, the questions will be in English? And what will happen if the suspect answers in a language other than English? Sorry can’t process you?  Of course not, this too will be exempt.

 

Obviously all the above will either not take place or will be exempt, which of course opens the door for those items not exempt to be challenged in court. So there goes a few more million in taxpayers’ money to defend yet another Congressional folly.

 

I suspect that this is one of those make us feel good, patriotic and in a small way reiterate opposition to illegal immigration and those waves of marchers chanting “si se puede” and the Spanish language version of the  National Anthem. And I further suspect that this piece of political rubbish is aimed more at Spanish speaking US citizens, residents and illegal immigrants because of their sheer numbers in the US.

 

And , what a way to keep our attention from what they are not doing about the biggest budget deficit in history, another 7 million Americans without health coverage, the further deterioration of this generation’s education, living wage proposals, pork-barrel spending, avoiding Congressional Reform instead of Lobbying Reform and disastrous domestic and foreign policy.

 

Wow, and here I thought they were the idiots.

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Patrick Osio, Jr is the Editor of HispanicVista.com (www.hispanicvista.com). Contact at: POsioJr@hispanicvista.com

 

(The opinions expressed by Patrick Osio, Jr. are solely his and do not necessarily reflect those of HispanicVista.com, editorial board of advisors or it’s contributing writers.)

Patrick Osio, Jr. has written a short but intensive manual on the Mexican perspective on numerous issues between our two countries. The manual is an in depth primer on the culture and protocol for better understanding Mexicans that in turn allows establishing personal and business relationships, and how to avoid the most common faux pas that can ruin relationships and business deals.

The manual is available through Electronic delivery for $9.95 making it possible to download the manual for save on your hard drive, printing its entirety or particular sections while reaping considerable savings over printed copies.