Questions about immigration

Ever since 9/11 there has been an increase outcry from certain sectors of society demanding tougher immigration law enforcement. Stronger security on the borders, more inspections at the sea ports, as well as tighter security in airports have also been looked at and discussed. The biggest noise maker on both sides of the fence has been illegal immigration and the southern border of our country. There have been rallies both for and against changes in border security as well as immigration enforcement as well as the obvious irrational emotional outbursts on both sides. Well I am here today to look at why it is that the target of most of the immigration complaints revolve around people who are of Hispanic, or South and Central American heritage.

We could look at simply the assumed counts of illegal immigrants and say that since the majority of this groups comes from Mexico, Central and South America that this is why they are the poster children for this issue on both sides, however I do not think that strictly looking at the numbers does it justice. If we look back on history, it is quite obvious that whenever there is a major influx of immigrants from one country or region of the world the citizens of the region that is most heavily impacted by the additional people are the ones that are screaming the loudest for change. It happened when the Irish came over , the Italians, even the Vietnamese. I remember well all the yelling and screaming about the Vietnamese Shrimpers and Fishermen and how they were taking jobs of hard working citizens.

Well why is it that we currently have had such a negative perspective of Hispanic immigrants, both legal and illegal? Well I thing I can point to several things that are happening which help feed the fire as we say.

• First and probably the easiest issue is the fact that there is an enormous number of Hispanics who are here in direct violation to one or more of the United State's immigration laws. This alone seems to generate the largest amount of animosity towards this group of people in general.
• Second, the numbers seem to show that a large majority of those here illegally also are taking advantage of social benefits that most people think that they should not be allowed to use. Things such as food stamps, medicare, welfare, emergency room services, indigent care services, and others.
• Third, these people who are here illegally are taking jobs from others as well as in many cases working for below the standard wage levels for citizens. This can be done because most of them work for cash, and do not report their earnings, nor do their employers pay any taxes on their salaries. I remember when my mother worked as a teller at our local bank every Friday I would see 20 or 30 people walk in to the bank cash their paycheck completely, and walk out, most of these people spoke little or no English, and a few simply made an X on their check to endorse it. It got so bad that the bank finally had institute a policy that if the person cashing the check did not have an account with the bank the only way the check would be cashed was if it was drawn from an account at that bank.
• Fourth along with the cash labor market, there are also other monetary reasons that fuel the fire. For example there is an increase in road side markets that deal only in cash, as well as the other vendors that are focused on that social group (road side and traveling taco stands for example). These are also drains on the government services because they do not contribute to the city, or county or state coffers but need water and sewer service, fire and police protection.
• Fifth there is the issue of both sanctuary and the fact that a large portion of those here illegally are also criminals in their own country, and are here committing multiple felonies which damages the reputation for even those that are here legally.
• And Finally there is the fact that the majority of these people DO NOT WANT TO BE US CITIZENS. Nor do they have any desire to integrate themselves within the culture of the US. If you look at every other major immigration group, the vast majority did two things: First they worked to be come citizens of the US, and second they worked hard at learning English, as well as learning and becoming part of the US culture. That does not mean that they abandoned their heritage, no just the opposite. They took the things that were the best of their society and merged them in with that of the city or town where they were living. That is the reason why you see in Houston such strong and vibrant communities like China Town and the Vietnamese area in West Houston along Bellaire.

So I guess the it comes down to this, if more of those immigrants from south of the border had in the past made a more concerted effort to become part of the US, both socially as well as economically we would not be having these discussions. As it is we still need to do three things: First close the southern border, second work on removing the nearly TWENTY MILLION illegal immigrants here, and at the same time make significant changes to the immigration laws and take into account that there is a need for seasonal migrant workers, and make it easier for them to get into the country legally and at the same time providing a low cost employee market for those companies that want to use it.

But then again that solution is the common sense solution and there is no way in hell that anyone in Austin let alone Washington DC will follow through with it. So we will continue to be plagued with all of these problems.