Conservatives famously call themselves “patriots,” and like any “good patriot,” they are hypocritically anti-immigration.
I say hypocritically since they themselves are the product of migration, they descend from immigrants, they themselves are immigrants, and live in a country that has historically been developed thanks to the presence, intelligence, and work of immigrants from many parts of the world.
Elections are coming up, and of course Joe Biden wants to be re-elected. Very surely he will resume his well-worn promise of immigration reform, while timidly trying to show that the Democrats also know how to give a severe treatment to anyone who seeks to reach American soil outside of the immigration system.
On the other side of the political divide (i.e. the Republicans), the attacks and slander against the undocumented will continue to intensify. As the elections approach, they will continue insulting Mexico, Mexicans, and all migrant-exporting countries, while at the same time promising countless things to the electorate. In addition, they will act as if the big issues in the United States could be solved very easily. For example, when Donald Trump, among many other things, during his campaign said that he was going to build a wall and Mexico was going to pay for it (something that never happened).
It is nothing new that during election time there is a competition between possible conservative presidential candidates to see who is the most effective anti-immigrant. Trump, with or without Twitter, apparently has not lost his fan base. Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, who seems to be the only one who could give former President Trump a real fight in a primary election, has just recently launched his campaign.
[image_caption]Marco Dávila[/image_caption]
Despite the hatred and slander against them, the noble struggle of immigrants must continue, since it is clear that conservatism, as is its custom, will continue to do its dirty work of vilifying the poorest and most destitute in our society.
Regardless of who is in power, all of us who fight alongside immigrants must continue to do our advocacy work and continue to demand the passage of a broad reform in order to grant legalization to millions of men and women who are already living in and contributing to our society.
Marco Dávila lives in Minneapolis with his family, and writes about immigration in his free time.
Most people don’t understand how complex this issue is. Many of the reasons that people attempt to cross the border are due to American policies, whether it is political interventionism is Central America or our trade policies that have eroded entire markets in countries like Mexico. Central American governments deserve some of their own blame, as well, as there is a trend of subservience to corporate interests that destroy the livelihoods and environment of those living south of our border. Lastly, and frankly, the worst part, is that America and these horrible corporations (and don’t forget climate change) have created this situation where many people have no choice but to flee to America to try and find a better life and support their families – and then we exploit them as undocumented workers with no protections! We BENEFIT from the chaos we have created! It truly is a horrible situation that requires a level of human solidarity that might just not be possible anymore in America. For anyone interested in learning more about this, I would recommend the book, “The Right to Stay Home” by David Bacon.
The only way our country will achieve a semblance of successful immigration reform is with a progressive Democratic trifecta to a degree that takes power away from obstructionist politicians like Joe Manchin and Kyrsten Sinema. Republicans will never deal with this issue because they need the “chaos at the border” for their campaigns.
Republicans are anti illegal immigration, not anti immigration. A simple, but major distinction.
This is obviously not true. Republicans for years have campaigned on limiting or ending legal pathways to citizenship, as well as dropping the number of refugees we let into the country each year. The only thing Republicans care about when it comes to immigration is using non-white people as bogeymen.
Republicans and Conservatives are not anti-immigrant. They are anti illegal immigrants. Why should we grant citizenship to people who ignored the law and jumped in line ahead of all of the other folks who followed the rules and got legal visas to enter the country?
The one thing that most people agree on, is to make an exception for the dreamers, who were brought here illegally as children by their parents and have no connection to their home country.
Here’s a fun quote from oral arguments a couple of years ago, and Justice Gorsuch response to the continued idiotic attempt to smear all immigration as “illegal”.
Read and learn. The case was a 1st A, but the important part of this quote is the 3rd sentence. You might think you and Faux news know more about administrative law – but you don’t.
There’s another problem with the statute, as Justice Neil Gorsuch pointed out: It’s a “basic First Amendment value” that courts “don’t allow punishment for speech greater than the underlying conduct itself.” For instance, if you egg on a bank robbery, you can’t be sent to prison for longer than the thieves who robbed the bank. But simply residing in the United States without authorization isn’t a felony or even a misdemeanor; it’s a civil offense. How, Gorsuch asked, can the government “criminally punish the speech” when the conduct itself “would be civilly punished?”
“The one thing that most people agree on, is to make an exception for the dreamers, who were brought here illegally as children by their parents and have no connection to their home country.”
Is that why Republicans tried to end DACA?
This is about votes.
More unrestricted immigration is a great opportunity for the democrats to grow the dependent class and eventually gather their votes.
First, DACA does not offer a path to citizenship, so the “dreamers” will not be eligible to vote.
Second, no one is talking about “unrestricted immigration” except right-wing talkers and bloggers who like to raise the specter to inflame the base. Mission accomplished, I suppose.
Third, I thought the standard talking point was that undocumented immigrants are coming to steal our jobs. Now, you’re telling me they’re going to be dependent? Which one is it?
Fourth, I’m sure you’re all about keeping religion out of government, but there are some Americans who do take the Bible seriously (even the parts that don’t call for persecuting gays). Lev. 19:33-34.
Another way of reading this comment: Although America needs immigrants to fill our ever-growing job vacancies, Republicans would rather strain the economy because they’re afraid they’ll lose elections.