There needs to be a discussion about what is the proper state role and what is the proper federal role on this issue. Should the taxpayer of a state be taxed when the revenue is being spent on a problem is clearly a federal issue. The federal government's lack of supervision of borders creates a funding problem in the state who has to care for, provide educational services to and must provide all state services to the border crossers? Many of people who enter the United States illegally have children born in this country and they become legal citizens while their parents are still undocumented illegals. What should the state do and what should be done by the federal government to pay for these state services?
Interesting article on this issue.
The article discusses the issue of illegal immigration in Arizona, and the difficulty of stopping it. It discusses the crime brought on by illegal immigration such as crime to do with drugs. The article describes Arizona’s new law, which makes it a state crime to be in the country illegally. I strongly feel that the measures that Arizona has taken are not acceptable in any way what so ever. Yes, illegal immigration is much more of an issue there than it is here in Michigan. I understand that. But that does not give Arizona the right to blatantly disrespect and its Hispanic population. If there was a problem of illegal immigration from Europe, would we allow for authorities to demand identification from anyone who looked European? There is a reason why the federal government challenged Arizona’s new law as being unconstitutional. Because it is unconstitutional.
ReplyDeleteObviously this is a complicated issue, partly due to the fact that states near the border feel they need to take immigration issues into their own hands because the federal government isn’t. This is why Arizona passed their controversial law making it a state crime. I see no reason why a state should spend more money than other states have too, just because of their location. Illegal immigration is a national issue and each state should pay the same amount of taxes devoted towards a solution. As discussed in the text congress approved building 700 miles of fence along the border, where there was only 75 miles of fence at the time. And, 700 miles of fence is only a fraction of the length of the 1,951 mile border. My opinion is immigration is a national issue because it creates problems for the entire country, not just those states that border Mexico. Though I do not condone Arizona’s actions, I do feel they have been successful in bringing national attention to the issue. Maybe that was their goal in the first place. I can understand why Border States would be upset about having to deal with the issue themselves.
This country is supposed to be a melting pot. Most of us came from other places. Why was it acceptable for us to take land from the Native Americans, but for someone from a neighboring country to come here and work for terrible pay is unacceptable. People may argue that illegal immigrant workers should have to pay taxes. Well then should they also receive the benefits that United State Citizens receive for paying taxes? I would think so. If they pay taxes there is not reason for them not to receive medical care, education, and even have access to the welfare systems available. People may also argue that immigrants take American jobs. When I see United States citizens trying to get jobs in factory farms I will buy into that argument. Until then they should be grateful someone is willing to work in a factory farm so that they can buy a burger from McDonalds for only one dollar. The plain and simple fact is illegal immigrants are a permanent part of our work force.
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According to State and Local Government illegal immigrants are here for three reasons. 1) Those that came as legal visitors but never left 2) those that were refused permission for legal entry and 3) those who never applied for legal entry. I feel that working on these issues would be much more effective than using federal money to build a fence. Ironically, the book points out that many undocumented people are here because they can not go back across the border. A system that allows undocumented people to cross back over the border without legal consequences would reduce the number of illegal immigrants. There are other reasons why illegal immigrants are here. Look at NAFTA for example. Our government provides subsidies for corn growers in the United States. This allows for us to grow corn at a loss, and then sell it to Mexico for much cheaper than they can afford to sell their own corn. Where do we expect those workers we put out of business to work? And, the article discussed drug related crime being an issue. Let me point out that if we didn’t have a market for drugs in the United States, no one would come here to sell them.
ReplyDeleteThere are also other complicated issues. Under the constitution, someone born in the United States becomes a United States Citizen. Morally, I feel that the parents of that child should also be given Untied States Citizenship, but I am afraid that doing this would only encourage pregnant women to illegally come into the United States for the purpose of gaining citizenship for themselves and their children. The only solution I can think of is the parents having the choice of giving up their child, which would put it into the foster care system, or keeping their child in the event that they are deported.
I definitely agree with you when it comes to Arizona's recent law. It reminds me a lot of 9/11. Shortly after the terrorist attacks, anyone who appeared to be from the Middle East living here in the United States was wrongly accused of being terrorists. The law is clearly discriminative towards Hispanics. It's all judgmental. Some doctor could be walking home from his job and get stopped and be accused of being an illegal immigrant. And he has to carry paperwork with him? A prominent member of our society has to carry around a piece of paper with him to prove he's legally living here, but you or me do not have to? That is ridiculous and not fair.
ReplyDeleteI agree with both of you on this issue. I am simply enraged daily by the Arizona law along with the general discrimination aimed towards immigrants of the Hispanic origin. It amazes me that in a country where almost all of our descendants are from another country, we suddenly decide that we are too full to accept any others. Although, I am sure it is much easier for immigrants coming from Europe and other 1st world countries to find citizenship in the states. The Arizona law is simply racism disguised as "national security".
ReplyDeleteConservatives need to stop seeing immigration from Latin America as such a crisis. In fact, an increased number of citizens means an increase of available workers and entrepreneurs which would be only beneficial for our economy.
All in all, there needs to be a change at the most basic level of the American ideology. It is unfair for Americans to say that we are superior and that only certain others are not aloud in. This idea of American exceptionalism is nonsensical, even if there is an imaginary line drawn between two cultures which supposedly claims the opposite.
Being from California, I have to admit that immigration at the time I lived there (until 2004) was a huge issue. It seems unfair and Im not saying I agree with Arizona's law but I am trying to be objective about the matter. I think something needs to be done about immigration and maybe Arizona is taking it to an extreme. But when you think about overcrowding schools, immigrant workers getting paid under the table and not paying taxes in most cases, it adds up to a significant problem. Again Im not saying I agree with Conservatives or Librals. I am just saying I think it is important to looks all both sides of the spectrum.
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