Guest Column
Bakala Victim Of Anti-Immigration Campaign
By Robert Miranda
While there are illegal immigrants living in Wisconsin, let us not forget they’re here because Corporate America hires them because they provide cheap labor. Everybody knows this - including the government – and only the Republican Party is doing something about it. Unfortunately, the Grand ol’ Party (GOP) and some spineless Democrats are moving in a direction that is causing more harm than good. Take for example, the case of Regina Bakala.
Regina Bakala is a 43-year-old mother of two children residing in Hales Corners, Wisconsin. The United States government is moving to deport Regina to the Congo, her native land. If Regina is sent back to the Congo, she will most certainly face death.
Her past political activism in that country, as a pro-democracy advocate, makes her a threat to the dictatorship fighting to stay in power in the Congo.
THE CONGO
But because the Congolese government is playing favor to U.S. corporate economic interest, have adopted Western values and embraced the free market ideology, our government looks the other way from the obvious human rights violations being conducted their.
Today, the Congo is in a chaotic state of affairs. Civil strife and political anarchy reign. If Regina is sent back, she will be killed. This is the price she will pay for the “compassionate conservative” immigration policies now being implemented in our nation.
THE BAKALA FAMILY
A few years ago, Regina left the Congo looking to escape the chaos and tyranny running amuck in that nation. She arrived in the United States in the 1990s and began to live the American dream. Indeed, when the Bakalas decided to buy a home, well, that triggered a windfall of government actions Homeland Security can be proud of.
Indeed, the Bakalas have become the poster family for our immigration laws. The reactionary anti-immigrant laws pushed by the Republican-controlled federal government, which by the way created the new bureaucracy called Homeland Security, is just one example of the kind of post 9-11 reactionary measures being implemented by the right-wing neo-cons in control of the White House, Congress and U.S. Senate.
Regina, who has been in this country and working to live the American dream, is like many immigrants before her. Unfortunately for her, she is living in a time in our nation in which anti-immigrant laws and sentiments are being created because of neo-con manufactured fear of immigrants. Fueling this manufactured fear is a certain right-wing neo-con talk-show host in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, who delights in stirring racist sentiments by alleging voter fraud being conducted by undocumented immigrants. Does this include Regina Bakala? These unsubstantiated statements are part and parcel the reason why right-wing politicians initiate draconian immigration laws enforced by the federal bureaucracy known as Homeland Security.
It would be nice if the federal government would allow Regina to stay; she, like millions of Mexican immigrants before her have paid the price by being a good citizen, and she has shown a willingness and desire to live a life free of fear and equal opportunity.
THE FEAR MONGERS
However, because the Republican Party has spearheaded anti-immigrant campaigns all across this nation, innocent people like Regina have become targets, and now find themselves caught up in a web of government red tape.
Some right-wing radio talking heads speak from both sides of their face. One in particular, Mark Belling, has taken up the Bakala issue, while at the same time trying to subtly stir resentment of undocumented immigrants in general. On the one hand he criticizes the government for attempting to deport Regina. On the other, Belling blasts the undocumented immigrants for utilizing public schools and being able to get public health care. In truth, what this right-wing fanatic fails to point out is the fact that undocumented immigrants pay taxes. They pay sales taxes. They pay property taxes, and they are docked taxes from their wages. Are they then not entitled to some of the social benefits they pay taxes for? Belling’s latest rant is simplistic and elementary and illustrates his anti-immigrant psyche and his political hypocrisy. His tirade on this matter is another example of his attempt to gain political mileage from the misery of others.
In truth, Regina Bakala is a victim of the anti-immigrant campaign right-wingers like Belling advocates for. The creation of Homeland Security, like its forerunner, the House on Un-American Activities Committee (HUAC), is the product of a nation gripped by right-wing fear-mongering emanating from their radio programs.
When right-wing fanatics talk about Mexican immigrants, they ignore facts; like, for example, before the Anglo arrived on Plymouth Rock, Mexicans, indigenous to these lands, flourished for thousands of years in many parts of America. By ancient rights, they have every reason and right to be on these lands.
Nevertheless, does that mean we should abandon our borders and surrender our laws? Of course not; the borders between Mexico and the United States will forever be part of the economy of this nation. Opening our borders would dissolve our economy. Conversely, however, moving to build ten-foot-high, barbed-wire walls that conduct electricity along the Mexican/American border could mean economic damage for the United States as well. It would also mean denying Mexicans their ancient rights to travel lands their ancestors inhabited.
What is required is the need to establish practical and sensible laws that allow for recognition of the ancient rights of indigenous people who love this land and only seek to make a living off of it. These people, like Regina, only want to live a decent way of life. On the other hand, right-wing radio-talk show host only seek to use the tragic case of Regina Bakala to stir more anti-Mexican/anti-immigrant racist sentiments so that the GOP can continue to pass callous immigration laws—the same kind of laws that have now put Regina in harm’s way.
In the final analysis, the United States government should grant the Bakala family asylum, or at least allow the family time in the country to seek asylum in Canada, or another nation where they are assured their survival.
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Miranda, a frequent contributor to HispanicVista.com (www.hispanicvista.com), is a national award-winning columnist, Latino community activist and columnist for the Milwaukee Spanish Journal. Email at: rmiranda@wi.rr.com
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