Immigration: My Views
Here's where I talk about my views about
immigration and illegal immigration.
Introduction
First, let's classify things. Illegal immigration is entering our country, the United States, without permission. Immigration is entering our country. Legal immigration is having a "green card", etc, i.e. you followed the proper proceedures for entering our country.Why the rules are in place
First, we need to make sure we know why the rules are in place. Immigrants (non-citizens) are tracked. This is for security purposes, and for naturalization (i.e. becoming a citizen) purposes.Why illegal immigrants are not allowed
One of the main reasons is due to heightened security after 11 September 2001. If we can track them, we might have an easier time locating them or monitoring them.However, it's more of an honor and respect issue, in my mind. If you want to join a country, how can you say you want to join it if you can't obey its laws? In my opinion, those who cannot obey the laws of the country should not be allowed to join it. We don't need more law-breaking citizens, we have enough of them already.
Various logically flawed statements refuted
"Day without immigrants" is a flawed protest.
We were all once immigrants: now we are citizens. Why should all
immigrants, legal or illegal, protest? The legal immigrants have
nothing to fear."Illegal immigrants gather for prayers." (news clip) Uh, what will they pray? "Dear God, the Holy One Who punishes liars and thieves, please allow me, an illegal immigrant, one who is breaking the law, to be allowed to stay in the United States." That's like asking God to help you cheat on a test. Not going to happen. Also, shame on churches who would tell their followers that it's ok to be an illegal immigrant!
Who is at fault?
First, illegal immigrants are breaking the law. We all know this, hence the title "illegal". Most are here to visit their family. However, they also take unfair advantage of our economy by taking our benefits (jobs, health care, etc) without having earned them or paid for them as citizens do. Sad. Also, if these people are unwilling to fix the problems in their own country, why should we want them here? We want people that can help us fix the problems for the benefit of all our people, not people that sit back and take advantage of whatever.Second, business who hire them. It's illegal to employ illegal immigrants, yet in my life time I have heard of such, and even once witnessed it. It's sad. These businesses would hire them because they can pay them less than the minimum wage. We should be boycotting such businesses.
Third, the countries that they have come from. They should feel the shame of people leaving their country for ours and improve their country.
Various injustices
In general, I find fault with the following things. Bear with me, and don't mistake what I say. I am just going to list them in a general question/answer format. They are basically my responses to various things I've heard and been asked on this subject. I'm basically against those in our country who do not belong to it in their hearts and only want to belong to it when it affects their wallet. This includes to a degree those who live here but cannot speak enough english to get help in an emergency.- "What's wrong with illegal immigrants?" Last I checked,
they're making me pay more for medicaid and medicare for no
reason. I don't like or trust anyone who illegally enters our
country. I don't care if they're here to work, their job can be
filled by a legal citizen. They are taking away from those of us
who support our country through (at a minimum) taxes. Now if they
need help, I'll gladly help them, but not if they're illegally
here. I've helped many people over time, American or alien.
- "What's wrong with not speaking english?" Many things, if you claim to be (or want to be) a United States citizen. I would not try to become a citizen of South Korea, for example, unless I was competent with Hangul, the Korean language. I've been lost in parts of certain cities in the United States and had to try to find someone who spoke english to get directions back onto whatever highway I got lost from, for example. If they're in trouble, I'd rather hear them scream in english, so that I can help them, and visa versa. Besides that, how can you claim to want to be, or be, an American citizen, and not have enough english to give driving directions? I know of several people, myself included, who love to teach people english. I was approached several times while stationed in Korea by those who didn't speak english well. They wanted to learn, and we had fun learning together. I tried to learn Korean also, out of respect for their country. But to not be able to speak english at least at a 2nd grade level is pretty sad if you claim to want to become a part of our country.
- (In reference to a bigger / better wall separating Mexico from the United States) "Who's going to build it?" Americans, if you can hire them. That's sort of a different story. For anyone to complain that they can't find a job, and not take an opportunity like this to earn money, is hypocritical. But there should be enough people in the United States to make this happen.
- "Immigrants made this country." They sure did, and the majority were legal. However, just because some illegal immigrant to this country somewhere in the past made a family contribution to our country doesn't excuse breaking our laws.
- "We were illegal immigrants to the Indians" etc. I can't fix the mistakes of the past. I feel that our treatment, in the past, of the native American Indian was wrong. I also feel that slavery of Africans in our country's past was wrong. If I could go back and fix it, I would. However, the past does not excuse the actions of the present.
- "Well I'm going to wave the flag of my country!" What, of the United States? Or of some other country? If you want to become a citizen of our country, that means respecting our flag, not your old one. There is nothing wrong with national pride, and nothing wrong with heritage. I enjoyed South Korean culture immensely while I was stationed there. But it's time to get real. Either you are a citizen or not. Either you respect our flag or you do not. And to be honest, even if our country isn't perfect, it's still ours, and we should respect our own flag. Those who would disrespect it should do themselves and us a favor and peacefully leave our country, not spit on it and stay. Granted, I am also against waving the Confederate flag also, because of that country no longer existing. That was also a bad time in our history, in my opinion. And, sadly, the actions of some hate groups have tarnished the reputation of the Confederate flag. But still, either you are with us or you are not. (I do not hate the confederate flag, but that's a whole different topic to me).
- (In reference to the strike on the "Day Without Immigrants") "It's worth it to lose my job." Is it? Is your family more important than a pathetic political statement? Sorry: short of something immoral or illegal, I'm not going to fail to work to provide food for my family. Maybe your values are different.
- (counter-protestors) "You should send them all home." Well that might not be the best option, especially not fully thought through. First, it would cost us. Second, it could lead to further violence. Imagine a boat or plane full of illegal immigrants back to Mexico or any other country. The temptation to hijack it and fly it back would be significant, in my opinion. No, I'm not stereotyping anyone, either. But seriously, they're here illegally. Do you think they'd leave peacefully? I doubt it. It would be like the slave trading ships, only in reverse, and that would be very bad. Besides, how many times will we send them home before they just come back illegally again? In my opinion, border security can help us prevent more illegal immigration, but what can we do about the ones here? I say either infiltrate the protests and find them all and send them back peacefully (hopefully), or else provide a way for them to become citizens, like our current President wants.
- "But they take jobs away from Americans." Maybe, maybe not. My opinion of the average American worker has diminished over time. Most employers put up with too much rebellion in their employees just to keep them happy, for fear of losing them, in my opinion. Maybe the average American should instead work a job. If you have no job, you usually have no excuse aside from disability, in my opinion. There are always people who can help you with whatever complications you have, if you can make friends and keep them. Our family helped a divorced mother get back on her feet more than once, out of our own kindness. I am very happy with volunteer support efforts, and would like to see them increase. And, to add to this, it's sad when I've known some disabled people who work harder than some people who are not disabled. Illegal immigrants might take jobs away from Americans, and it's the company who is to blame, but I don't want to generalilze that. It's not all black and white.
- "So what should be done?" First, I think we should teach our brother and sister human being to speak english if they need it. That is the right thing to do. Second, I think that those in this country should be given an opportunity to become citizens, although those who are here illegally, in my opinion, do not deserve any help. But we should help them whether they deserve it or not. Third, I think that illegal immigrants who commit crimes in our country should be given very strict punishments. This can deter those who would do such things. Deporting them isn't going to do enough and isn't always going to curb such activity. Fourth, I think that there should be an immigration office like back in history, where immigrants are taught english, our history, our national anthem, and our nation's songs and culture. If they don't want to finish the class, send them back home. It should be a privelege to be a citizen of the United States, not something one can steal.