Food for Thought on Immigration
May. 18th, 2010 03:04 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
lantairvleaJust a little something to think about while people are in an uproar and boycotting Arizona for implementing an immigration law that over 60% of the country agrees with.
Yes, I have lived in Arizona most of my life (nigh unto 4/5ths of it), and no, I am not racist or biased against Latin American people (nor Mexicans in particular). I have cousins and an aunt who are hispanic, my sister-in-law and her family all immigrated here (from SE Asia), and one of my best friends is also an immigrant currently seeking citizenship (from Europe). I see nothing whatsoever wrong with people coming to this country legally.
I do admit my sister-in-law's mother was here illegally for a time as she tried to earn money for her kids (she did come here legally as a tourist ... just overstayed her visa and worked) before returning legally and eventually getting her citizenship.
But that's a little beside the point.
What I do take exception to is people coming to this country illegally. Yes, they do fill a gap that many Americans are too proud or too lazy to fill in the workforce (given the choice of living off of the government or picking potatoes I'd choose the latter, but perhaps that makes me a bit too proud in another sense). Yes they pay sales tax and some of them even manage to pay income tax. Yes a lot of them end up dragging their kids here with them and their children essentially grow up American and don't know much of anything about their home country. Yes, others have children that are born here and are American citizens while their parents are not.
Now I am well-aware of the benefit that many people derive from people who are illegally in this country, but I am also aware of the problems as well that come from people entering the country illegally. I'm not just talking about the superficial title of being an illegal immigrant. If it were simply the case of people overstaying visas that would be one thing, however, it is not.
There is a reason that Arizona is both the Number One state in Identity Theft and Kidnapping.
Those who cross the southern border illegally are usually being smuggled across. Those doing the smuggling often do not have the best interest of their charges at heart. They see the dollar signs and they do the job, but not in a kind, compassionate manner. People are crammed into inhumane conditions and often abused (you hear about the people in the refrigeration truck? I think several died from exposure). The drop houses are not the most pleasant places either. Not to mention that some of the "coyotes" will, upon reaching America, hold their charges hostage for MORE money from their worried family back in Mexico or elsewhere.
Now it's already required that one can prove their right to work legally before being hired. Admittedly most don't ask for this proof, but it's there. Arizona has its E-Verify program that pushes this more prominently, but what it has also done is exacerbated the Identity Theft issue. So that they can work they purchase illegal identification, some of which belongs to people who are still living and using said identities.
Don't get me started on those who are crossing the border illegally due to the drug trade ...
So it's not just that they're here illegally. That's not it at all, it's how they get here and the bad crap that goes on and is supported by the human smugglers that bring them here. I don't think they should necessarily be thrown in jail and charged with a crime, just ship them back home and tell them to come back the right way. I know it isn't easy, but you can't tell me that paying a coyote $1500 or more to smuggle yourself across the border is a better option.
Bah.
Not everyone who supports Arizona's law is a raving lunatic who hates anyone from South of the border. Technically the Mexicans were here first anyway, but that's something else entirely.
I just don't get all this bull about the law being inherently racist and unfair. I admit that I have not yet read the law, but I have heard opinions from both sides and some passages of it. You're not going to be randomly yanked off the street and asked to show your papers. It only comes into the play if you're stopped for something else like a traffic violation or shoplifting.
In non-political news the day draws near for the American Riding Instructor Certification Test! June 5th! Woo! I have one video shot and needing editing and a second one I'm doing tomorrow. I also have most of my questions practically done and have read the big things for study material. YAY!
Zetahra is continuing to grow. She's 4" taller and over double her birth weight now! She's still a tiny thing, but she's really warming up to people. She'll whinny at me while I'm working another horse in the arena and she'll also trot up to me at the fence. She's OK with the fly mask now, but not too keen on the fly spray yet. She's also mostly halter broke, though could stand a few more lessons for sure.
Yesterday Marty and I took Kash, Kitt, and Cinnamon Strudel to the horse park. Cinnamon actually did really awesome considering that I don't think she's been worked in some six months and she hasn't been off the property in over a year. Oh yes, that and I've never ridden her outside of our roundpen or arena (which is about 70x85'). She kicked up while lungeing, which is to be expected, but she didn't really give me any trouble at all while I rode her. Just a little walk and trot. She did get a little stiff and opinionated here and there, but really, for a three year-old with just over a half dozen rides away from home with a bunch of strange horses around she did AWESOME.
And that's about all I have time to blither for.
Oh, and it's amazing that if I get up in the morning, feed horses, feed myself, and then immediately head back outside I can get TWO horses (or more) worked and am guilt-free for the rest of the day! That and I have an actual sense of accomplishment! It's amazing!
Yes, I have lived in Arizona most of my life (nigh unto 4/5ths of it), and no, I am not racist or biased against Latin American people (nor Mexicans in particular). I have cousins and an aunt who are hispanic, my sister-in-law and her family all immigrated here (from SE Asia), and one of my best friends is also an immigrant currently seeking citizenship (from Europe). I see nothing whatsoever wrong with people coming to this country legally.
I do admit my sister-in-law's mother was here illegally for a time as she tried to earn money for her kids (she did come here legally as a tourist ... just overstayed her visa and worked) before returning legally and eventually getting her citizenship.
But that's a little beside the point.
What I do take exception to is people coming to this country illegally. Yes, they do fill a gap that many Americans are too proud or too lazy to fill in the workforce (given the choice of living off of the government or picking potatoes I'd choose the latter, but perhaps that makes me a bit too proud in another sense). Yes they pay sales tax and some of them even manage to pay income tax. Yes a lot of them end up dragging their kids here with them and their children essentially grow up American and don't know much of anything about their home country. Yes, others have children that are born here and are American citizens while their parents are not.
Now I am well-aware of the benefit that many people derive from people who are illegally in this country, but I am also aware of the problems as well that come from people entering the country illegally. I'm not just talking about the superficial title of being an illegal immigrant. If it were simply the case of people overstaying visas that would be one thing, however, it is not.
There is a reason that Arizona is both the Number One state in Identity Theft and Kidnapping.
Those who cross the southern border illegally are usually being smuggled across. Those doing the smuggling often do not have the best interest of their charges at heart. They see the dollar signs and they do the job, but not in a kind, compassionate manner. People are crammed into inhumane conditions and often abused (you hear about the people in the refrigeration truck? I think several died from exposure). The drop houses are not the most pleasant places either. Not to mention that some of the "coyotes" will, upon reaching America, hold their charges hostage for MORE money from their worried family back in Mexico or elsewhere.
Now it's already required that one can prove their right to work legally before being hired. Admittedly most don't ask for this proof, but it's there. Arizona has its E-Verify program that pushes this more prominently, but what it has also done is exacerbated the Identity Theft issue. So that they can work they purchase illegal identification, some of which belongs to people who are still living and using said identities.
Don't get me started on those who are crossing the border illegally due to the drug trade ...
So it's not just that they're here illegally. That's not it at all, it's how they get here and the bad crap that goes on and is supported by the human smugglers that bring them here. I don't think they should necessarily be thrown in jail and charged with a crime, just ship them back home and tell them to come back the right way. I know it isn't easy, but you can't tell me that paying a coyote $1500 or more to smuggle yourself across the border is a better option.
Bah.
Not everyone who supports Arizona's law is a raving lunatic who hates anyone from South of the border. Technically the Mexicans were here first anyway, but that's something else entirely.
I just don't get all this bull about the law being inherently racist and unfair. I admit that I have not yet read the law, but I have heard opinions from both sides and some passages of it. You're not going to be randomly yanked off the street and asked to show your papers. It only comes into the play if you're stopped for something else like a traffic violation or shoplifting.
In non-political news the day draws near for the American Riding Instructor Certification Test! June 5th! Woo! I have one video shot and needing editing and a second one I'm doing tomorrow. I also have most of my questions practically done and have read the big things for study material. YAY!
Zetahra is continuing to grow. She's 4" taller and over double her birth weight now! She's still a tiny thing, but she's really warming up to people. She'll whinny at me while I'm working another horse in the arena and she'll also trot up to me at the fence. She's OK with the fly mask now, but not too keen on the fly spray yet. She's also mostly halter broke, though could stand a few more lessons for sure.
Yesterday Marty and I took Kash, Kitt, and Cinnamon Strudel to the horse park. Cinnamon actually did really awesome considering that I don't think she's been worked in some six months and she hasn't been off the property in over a year. Oh yes, that and I've never ridden her outside of our roundpen or arena (which is about 70x85'). She kicked up while lungeing, which is to be expected, but she didn't really give me any trouble at all while I rode her. Just a little walk and trot. She did get a little stiff and opinionated here and there, but really, for a three year-old with just over a half dozen rides away from home with a bunch of strange horses around she did AWESOME.
And that's about all I have time to blither for.
Oh, and it's amazing that if I get up in the morning, feed horses, feed myself, and then immediately head back outside I can get TWO horses (or more) worked and am guilt-free for the rest of the day! That and I have an actual sense of accomplishment! It's amazing!
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no subject
Date: 2010-05-18 10:38 pm (UTC)I can completely understand forcing to check for legal citizens in the workforce. A lot of people don't realise how much harm it can do to the very illegals employed when they aren't citizens. They have no recourse for any treatment they receive, they can't fight for things like overtime, and if they're injured on the job they don't have claim to workmans comp. Now if maybe they did something about the immigration procedures so that they could get the jobs they needed.
Mostly my concern is the abuse of the law, which can happen with anything, but it just seems to make it worse in some regards. I could see some abusing it to hide behind some useless allegation so that they can check papers because they have issues with that nationality.
What I don't get is why everyone else feels like boycotting anything in Arizona because it's not like any citizens actually have anything to do with the bill nor can we vote on it anyway.
no subject
Date: 2010-05-20 05:49 pm (UTC)Apparently our corporation commissioner sent LA a letter letting them know that they can boycott AZ goods is they want, but that would include the 20%+ of their power that they get from us. I think they are reconsidering that action, heh.
Yeah, I think most people fail to realize all the really bad baggage that comes from illegal immigration and people working illegally and that is what really bothers me I guess.
Yes, there could be abuse of the law, but there can be abuse of any law. I heard that they are at least going to put officers through some sort of training to discourage racial profiling and help them better understand how the law should function.
no subject
Date: 2010-05-19 09:45 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2010-05-22 12:17 am (UTC)I think part of my irritation about the whole thing is that they're automatically labeling the people who support the law as racist lunatics. That and people who are supposedly championing for the immigrants fail to mention, or possibly even to realize, the inhumane conditions and abusive situations that are occurring because of illegal immigration.
It just makes me want to flail my arms and tear my hair out. We just need to make coming here legally easier than doing it illegally. Part of the reason people do it "the wrong way" is because they feel like it's easier than the "right way," which is just all types of messed up. Either make the laws harsher or make immigration easier, as an individual state we only have the former option and we're trying to do the best with what we have.