Now, just a quick note on what's going on in immigration in America. First off, my Peruvian and French/Irish friends, did you know that there are signs like this in border cities like San Diego, CA?
A funnier version of that sign, courtesy of Carlos Mencia, a comedian:
(note the preggers and the man's sombrero :)
And a not so funny version:
I get so frustrated with hearing the immigration reform be called amnesty. Amnesty is a clean slate. It's mean forgiven and forgotten. What is being suggested by Congress is not amnesty. Years of the suffering the all the problems that come with illegal status, the thousands of dollars lost to coyotes, crappy bosses, and corrupt landlords--from which there is very little protection, but no one seeks it for fear of being discovered and deported--all of this has ruled out amnesty. Some people act like the 12 million or so worker who are illegal in this country are all criminals. Like they had a choice to come illegally. A real choice. It's not a choice when you need the money to pay for your family's food, education, chance at life; when your parents are sick; etc.
If anything, the reform Congress is talking about screws over people who have had years of waiting for their family member to do the process the correct way (that's right, it could take 5-15 year for your mom to get your dad hear legally; if that's not a family, I don't know what is). Also, they are talking about helping workers, which is great, but it doesn't help them all. Look up articles on domestic workers, for example, and the little protections they get from abuse.
This is not an easy mess to fix, and no one seems to agree on how it can be fixed. I guess my point is that something needs to be done, and this is something. Not everything that needs to be done, but something. And, just like everything else in life, it has NOT come free.
No comments:
Post a Comment