Every day, several women, men, and children embark on the journey for opportunity and happiness. They desire a home in a land not as miserable or dangerous as their own. Parents yearn for a promising future for their children as well as the various economic opportunities that separate the United States from a typical third world country. Across the border, gangs, violence, “rampant poverty and a corrupt police force” dominate cities like Juarez, Mexico. The economic conditions are bleak, as many people take active roles in the drug or illegal weapon trade for larger amounts of money than they could earn by work in a field or factory. Writer Charles Bowden states, “Anything could happen to you and no one would do anything about it- and not because you are an American, because you are a human,” as he describes Juarez as a dangerous and violent city. Many people emigrate from never ending cycles of economic inequality and the resulting violence in their own, beloved countries.
President Bush claims that he has taken a stance in the middle of the debate between those whom support immigration and those against it. Along with spending more money securing the borders, he plans to “create a temporary worker program and resolve -without animosity and without amnesty- the status of illegal immigrants already here, and promote assimilation into our society.” So far, the size of the border patrol has doubled since G.W. Bush has been sworn in. The temporary worker program puts immigrants at the “back of the line” for jobs, giving American citizens priority and forcing workers to return home to their countries after a certain amount of time and then wait for citizenship. Along with these new immigration reforms, the President requires that foreigners learn and accept American ideals, customs, history, and the English language.
While Bush is attempting to soothe both uneasy sides of the controversy by increasing border protection and supposedly improving the life of the illegal immigrant, the debate still rages on. The Senate, for the most part, approves of the House bill and also plans to issue more green cards each year. Jennifer Ludden of NPR explains, “Opponents of illegal immigration argue that the undocumented are taking American jobs, draining state coffers, and eroding U.S. culture.” The other side might indicate that immigrants have helped their economy, especially on a local scale. Hazleton, a small town in Pennsylvania, has attracted numerous immigrants and “some credit them with helping save the city from bankruptcy.” Stanislav Kelman also argued in 1993, “Studies show that most immigrants are well-educated, skilled, and highly motivated people who can contribute to America’s economic growth.” Most of the issues in these arguments are well supported, yet stem from generalizations. Americans, in describing their point of views, forget that immigrants are not all the same. In fact, each person entering the United Sates has a different background, an individual purpose, and diverse skills.
Throughout American history, the government as well as the public has responded to large influxes of immigrants with xenophobia and immigration restrictions. In 1882, for example, the government passed the Chinese Exclusion Act as a result of the latest flow of Chinese immigrants and “a reaction to the importation of indentured laborers, who were paid far less than other workers.” 1880 marked the beginning of the “Great Wave” of immigration until 1924. During this period in time, public nativist sentiment grew exponentially, along with white supremacist groups such as the Ku Klux Klan. Now, in a post September Eleventh America, immigration issues are taken very seriously.
With this new immigration reform and debate, the Ku Klux Klan is on the rise yet again after years of extremely limited activity. A recent KKK anti-immigration rally took place in Alabama last May and attracted over 300 people. A Hispanic family even found a burning cross on their lawn in their new neighborhood. A note read, “My country, maybe. My neighborhood, no way.” Over 19 states, the Anti-Defamation League notes, contain active or growing Klan chapters. Klan groups are also increasingly joining forces with neo-Nazi subculture groups and using the Internet to spread anti-Semitism and racism. As history repeats itself, the Ku Klux Klan is thriving off of anti-immigration sentiments and using nationalism and nativism to kindle their declining membership. Their propaganda even claims that immigrants are bringing diseases such as malaria and leprosy, which is highly unlikely due to the fact that mosquitoes carry malaria and leprosy is more common in Asia. Analyst Mark Potok admits, “What is happening is not a debate anymore, but a full-scale nativist black-lash.”
This resurged nativism also exists under the guise of patriotism. Minutemen take it upon themselves to guard their country and patrol the border, arresting and finding it acceptable to kill illegal immigrants. A 69-year old retired minuteman says, “It should be legal to kill illegal immigrants.” The minuteman pledge, as written by Jim Gilchrist claims to promote peace and self-defense. The pledge states, “I shall be prepared to set aside my…personal interests to answer the call to protect the Sovereignty of the United States of America against all predators.” These people claim to be defending their country, yet killing innocent people under the guise of patriotism is an extremely offensive and aggressive act.
The two opposing sides to this debate believe so strongly in their arguments that even a government taking a moderate stance cannot subdue them. This debate is a stalemate. Nobody can mediate these two sides for several reasons. First of all, immigrants, as a group of people, are not all the same. They are human beings; many coming from corrupt countries. Second, not only the government, but American society has become divided on this issue. With this division, people are defining patriotism and interpreting the constitution in various ways. What was once a land of the free is now transforming into a country unsure of its identity.
i http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyid=1966988
ii http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyid=1966988
iii http://www.whitehouse.gove/infocus/Immigration
iv http://www.whitehouse.gove/infocus/Immigration
v http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyid=5303676
vi http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyid=7850686
vii http://www.letitbe.org/immigration.html
viii http://ehistory.osu.edu/osu/mmh/clash/imm_kkk/anti-immigrationkkk-page1....
ix http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyid=7725295
x http://www.adl.org/learn/ext_us/kkk/intro.asp?LEARN_Cat=Extremism&LEARN_...
xi http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyid=7850686
xii http://www.splcenter.org/intel/intelreport/article.jsp?aid=557>.
xiii http://www.minutemanproject.com/downloads/minuteman_pledge_2006.pdf
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Finally! Someone else noticed this trend! Every time there is a surge in immigration in America, there's a surge in nativism and discrimination. It's awful and awareness should be raised. Perhaps I'll go blog about it.
~Violinstef