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It’s time candidates address the real issue of immigration and quit pandering

By Patrick Osio, Jr./HispanicVista.com

  December 28, 2007

 

 

It’s time candidates address the real issue of immigration and quit pandering

By Patrick Osio

Like many writers on the subject, I have for over 15 years commented that it is not necessary to build fences, dig ditches, light the border or even place military personnel on the border – at least not to keep undocumented entries. Maybe this has been easy for me to say because I do speak Spanish and have interviewed and talked with hundreds of illegal immigrants in their own language. From them I have learned that they cross to find work, most already have worked lined up before crossing or are returning to work after visiting family and friends.

They are not here because the Statue of Liberty beckons or out of love for the US Constitution. They come for the money they can earn and if given the chance to go back and forth, they would not make the US their permanent residency.

The keyword is “work” – they cross for work to earn money. So how tough is the answer to stopping the illegal flow? Not tough at all – stop the ability to get work and illegal immigration stops by a good 95 percent – at least from countries South of the US. For industries that can prove a need for foreign labor, then the existing visa programs for temporary work entry can be used. Laws permitting such visas have been on the books for decades. So it’s not even a question of enacting new laws, rather of enforcing those already on the books – equally but with emphasis on those laws that can prevent further unlawful activity.

So here we come again to another Presidential campaign season and the same old play on the frustration, fear and yes, even bigotries of the electorate to win political points and following. The Republicans with their attempt to outdo each other with how tough they will be if elected, and the Democrats through their silence on the subject believing that voters will not pay attention to their muteness on this topic. After all, there are far more important issues to be addressed, why not let the Republicans beat each other up on the one issue and they can reap the rewards.

The further problem created by such political hypocrisy on both sides of the aisle, is the division it has created among US citizens. Non-Hispanic whites can no longer see a brown faced Hispanic without wondering if the person is here legally or illegally. Assumption that on hearing people speaking Spanish, they must be here illegally or if legally, they don’t want to assimilate with the greater society.

And the worst of the problems is that the issue has been high jacked by true bigots and racist either acting individually or behind such groups. These people feed on the frustration of good willed Americans concentrating propaganda to create fear and anger against a people.

Take the example of Jim Gilchrist who announced that after the terrorists’ attacks on September 11, 2001, he heard the call of his nation and rushed to the US Mexico border to prevent terrorists infiltration.  Soon after, others of like Chris Simcox joined the “call,” thus the “Minute Men” vigilante moment was born.

There are those who may still remember that back in the 1970s, Tom Metzger then the KKK Grand Dragon and David Duke KKK Grand Wizard also heard the “call” along the US Mexico border but then it was Communist saboteurs and provocateurs who were invading the nation. Due to their direct connection to neo-Nazi and the KKK that movement didn’t spark the same passion with most people. Now Metzger demeans the modern day vigilantes as hypocritical for not openly attesting to their white supremacist beliefs.

The people of the United States deserve far better than they are getting from most of the presidential candidates on the subject of immigration and national unification. It is not enough to spouse the old political line of enforcement only – the nation needs comprehensive immigration reform with a statute mandating periodical review.

Citizens need to hear ideas on this subject from candidates of both parties – anything less is sheer political hypocrisy.

____________________

 Patrick Osio, Jr is the editor of HispanicVista.com (http://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.