Immigration Tutorial, Part 1
Home / Immigration / Immigration Tutorial, Part 1 /Immigration, Illegal Immigration and The Political-Social - Economic Morass That Ensues
Without question, one of the most difficult and complex issues that arouses anger, emotion and consternation in today’s political, social and economic life concerns illegal immigration. It is inextricably woven into the fabric of American commentary and arouses the emotions of people probably more than any other issue. Unfortunately, any discussion of illegal immigration must be tied to a general analysis of immigration into this country.
Yes, inarguably, the United States is a land of immigrants. From the Pilgrims who came to the Massachusetts Bay colony to the indentured servants and African slaves who came to the South and to engages and faux sauniers who were exiled to colonial Louisiana by the French government, the American countryside was populated by immigrants, whether they were voluntary or involuntary immigrants. Throughout our nation’s history, immigrants have played an important and vital role in the development and culture of our country. Nothing is more emblematic to this notion than the words of the poet Emma Lazarus. Her sonnet"The New Colossus" was placed on the pedestal of the Statue of Liberty in 1903. Written in 1883, the sonnet reads in part:
"Keep, ancient lands, your storied pomp!" cries she
With silent lips. "Give me your tired, your poor,
Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free,
The wretched refuse of your teeming shore;
Send these, the homeless, tempest-tost to me,
I lift my lamp beside the golden door!"
Taking the oath and pledging allegiance to their new country!
To this day, pro-immigration advocates proudly point to Lazarus’ words and to the unmistakable fact that the United States is a "land of immigrants." Yet, that is only one side of today’s discussion. Today’s public opinion polls show that overwhelmingly the American people want well-enforced, sensible and sustainable immigration laws.
- An April 2009 Pulse Opinion poll showed that 67% of "liberals and progressives" believe that the level of immigration into the United States is too high,
- An August 2009 Pulse Opinion poll showed that 78% of likely U.S. voters believe that mass immigration has adversely impacted the quality and cost of the health care system.
- An August 2009 Gallup poll showed that 50% of Americans think that immigration to the United States should be decreased, while only 14% think it should be increased.
- A January 2006 Time Magazine poll revealed that 89% of Americans think illegal immigration into the United States is a problem.
- A May 2007 New York Times/CBS poll showed that 82% of Americans think that not enough is being done along the borders to keep illegal immigrants from crossing the border.
Various Rasmussen polls have showed the following:
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- 70% of Americans feel that increased border control should be the most important priority in immigration reform (August 2009);
- 78% of likely U.S. voters oppose amnesty (August 2009);
- 79% believe that the military should be used along the Mexican border (March 2009);
- 68% believe that employers who hire illegal aliens should be punished (March 2009);
- and 80% of likely voters oppose healthcare coverage for illegal aliens (June 2009).
Rhetoric on both sides of the immigration issue has risen to new heights.
- Congressman Joe Wilson cried out "You lie" to President Obama during an address to Congress when Obama said the health care bill would not offer free health care to illegal immigrants. The House of Representatives subsequently passed a resolution rebuking Mr. Wilson after he personally apologized to the President for his outburst.
- In August 2008,Bishop Thomas Tobin of Providence, Rhode Island, asked for a blanket moratorium on worksite immigration raids and advocated that ICE agents who refused to participate in such raids should be treated as conscientious objectors.
- In March 2009, at an immigrant-rights rally in Chicago, Cardinal Francis George, President of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, said, "I stand with other faith leaders and all of you gathered here today and with every immigrant family in this nation to call on our government to end immigration raids and the separation of families." George continued, "To separate families, wives from husbands, children from parents, is to diminish what God has joined."
- Earlier in the year, Cardinal Roger Mahoney, the archbishop of Los Angeles, said, "Immigrants must be brought out of the shadows so that they can fully contribute to our nation’s future economic and social well-being."
Individuals who sympathize with illegal immigrants have tried to use political correctness, saying that illegal aliens are not "criminals," but merely "undocumented immigrants." Other more aggressive pro-amnesty advocates have resorted to name-calling to attack the opponents of immigration by labeling opponents as intolerant, ignorant, users of "hate speech," racists, bigots, fascists, nativists, extremists, and xenophobes. Most people will remember the flap that occurred this past spring when a Homeland Security report referred to "right-wing extremists" as including groups and individuals that are dedicated to a single issue such as opposition to immigration. Finally, even President Obama, while in Mexico, characterized those who oppose a pathway to citizenship for illegal immigrants as "demagogues." For those unfamiliar with the term, Webster’s Ninth New Collegiate Dictionary defines demagogue as "a leader who makes use of popular prejudices and false claims and promises in order to gain power." These labels and attacks have clearly been an attempt to silence the opponents of immigration, especially illegal immigration, and consequently to have a chilling effect on free speech.
Signed,