19 Aug 2007
Persecuting undocumented workers like terrorists?
I thought I was pretty educated about immigration issues but I was confused when I read this editorial by Jorge Ramos this week. (I wasn’t able to find an English translation but you can try searching Google or plugging the text into an automatic translator to get the basic ideas.) In short, Ramos says that the U.S. shouldn’t attack undocumented workers as a way of fighting terrorism. I had never heard of this before – Mexican immigrants associated with terrorists? More broadly, Ramos says he’s heard Latinos associated with any major problem – the war in Iraq, the fact that Bin Ladin is still at large, etc. I personally have not heard anyone using Latino immigrants as a scapegoat for other issues, but my friend Rachel said she had. I’m just curious to see if anyone else has heard the same thing or has any thoughts on this.
what are your plans for the impending hurricane?
JACKIE OLIVIO
August 19th, 2007 at 4:57 pmpermalink
For a start, Deb, the moniker “undocumented worker” is nothing more that Orwellian double-speak for illegal alien. Firstly, they’re not all “workers”. A fair number don’t work (inlcuding women who arrive ready to burst with child and others who engage in illegal activities such as drug smuggling, pimping, and smuggling in more of the same). Secondly, they’re not undocumented. They all have Mexican birth certificates, Mexican driver’s licenses, Mexican passports, etc. They simply neglect to share these documents with us – preferring instead to enter our country without bothering to obey the laws that the citizens of the US, through their duly elected representatives, have established as requirements for entry.
It’s not unlike someone who breaks into your home through a back window, and then demands to be allowed to live in the kid’s room, because they did the dishes and the laundry while you were out!
Having said that, I have never heard anyone implicate Mexican illegal aliens in “terrorist” activities. However, it is well-documented that the porous border with Mexico has been and continues to be a vector for the entry of illegal aliens who are not Mexican. This includes the charming “undocumented worker” who apparently took part in the execution-style killing of three African-Americans (a fourth was shot, but lived):
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/08/11/nyregion/11newark.html?ex=1344484800&en=bfaa5094bc5fc1d8&ei=5090&partner=rssuserland&emc=rss
This is not an isolated case, as hispanics collide violently with African-Americans in cities across the country, as they ethnically cleanse African-Americans from formerly black neighborhoods like Harbor Gateway in LA:
http://blog.vdare.com/archives/2007/03/04/mexican-gangs-ethnic-cleansing-of-black-amercans-in-los-angeles
http://www.vdare.com/buchanan/070820_crime.htm
The veritable army (10 – 20 million being currently here) of illegal aliens also includes a fair number of Muslims…
http://www.vdare.com/awall/raoul.htm
Of course, not all Muslims are terrorists. This is why we have laws pertaining to immigration – so we as a nation can determine who we want to come into our country (just like in Israel, where immigration is limited to Jews, and of whom assimilation into the Israeli national community is expected):
http://www.jewishagency.org/JewishAgency/English/Aliyah/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aliyah
So Deb, here’s a question for you: Do you agree that a country’s citizens have a right to determine who should or should not enter? Certainly, if US laws regarding immigration are unjust, then Israel’s laws (which are explicitly discriminatory) are unjust as well. As a Jewish-American woman, I’d be interested to understand your perspective.
Brian
August 21st, 2007 at 7:38 ampermalink
okay, my short answer is yes, I think a country has the right to decide who can enter. I believe there are many countries with stricter immigration policies than the US. I’m speaking off the cuff here, but I think that Mexico has some strict rules as well. for example, a foreigner can eventually become a citizen but will never be allowed to own beachfront property (Disclaimer: I heard this, have not read it in an official source.)
I’m not sure whether I think the current US immigration policies are just or not, to be honest with you. Frankly, the policies don’t really matter in the current situation because we share such a huge border with Mexico that many people can continue to cross illegally and not worry about someone catching them until later. Even if the US tries to crack down harder on keeping illegal immigrants/undocumented workers/whatever you want to call them, from crossing (say by building a wall or something), I suspect we would have a flood of immigrants trying to get in before this wall goes up. anyway, I’ll think about your comments more and maybe have more to add later.
deborahhirsch
August 21st, 2007 at 4:19 pmpermalink
I have NEVER heard of Mexican immigrants being associated with terrorism, etc. Never, ever. How interesting–or how strange. Try to find out more about this.
marge
August 21st, 2007 at 6:13 pmpermalink
I, too, have never, ever heard of Mexican immigrants being any part of blame for terrorism.
Perhaps the op-ed author is not saying that US citizens believe the Latinos are part of the threat, but is complaining that homeland antiterrorism initiatives are resulting in increasing pressure on Latino illegal aliens? Also that those initiatives are barking up the wrong tree and further alienating the Latinos? I’m just speculating since I can’t understand the nuances of the op-ed article.
Kirk
August 31st, 2007 at 3:52 pmpermalink