I have chosen to look at reactions to non-legal immigration to the U.S- the sympathy towards it, the benefits to the economy of low skilled/low paid illegals, and the more traditional negative reactions to it.
'The underlying truth about illegal Latino immigration'
http://socyberty.com/sociology/the-underlying-truth-about-latino-illegal-immigration/
Some of the points the article makes and questions it raised for me:
"Once upon a time there was a land known as America; the land of opportunity and it is said that it was built by immigrants… “The American Dream” is the phrase that better describes this opportunity for many Latino immigrants who come to this country pursuing a better life for their families, escaping a country that doesn’t offer them the lifestyle they dream of." Is everyone entitled to live 'the dream' should America share it's wealth and resources with those who live in poverty?
"As a result of propaganda and cultural misconceptions, many Americans had developed an aversion to Latinos, even though most of them are legally living here... the illegal immigration will continue as long as their labor is solicited." Does America need the labour? What would happen if it suddenly stopped? Is this similar to the issue of guns & gun control, in the sense that the problem already exists and can't be undone/stopped? Would Americans take the jobs that illegals do, such a service work and manual labour, are people that use services known/suspected to be using illegal workers guilty too?
"The question many people ask is why? Why bother creating laws to legalize the illegal? Many Americans I’ve spoken to, say the solution is sending back all of those without documents. What they don’t realize is that thanks to many Latinos “we are able to have, albeit illegally, child care for our children, elder care for our parents, have our lawns mowed, our nails manicured, our roofs re-shingled, our trees trimmed, our stone walls built, our restaurant meals prepared and served, and our homes cleaned, at prices that are within reach of most of us, thanks to the immigrants” (Warner Cooper 2007)" So does the government of America really want rid of illegals, or does it just want to appear to? Many politics would have invested/interests in many companies/corporations that wouldn't want to see laws of immigration or illegal workers changed.
"However, if we go back in history, Latinos have been in this country even before the first European settlers became Americans." The fact that states such as Texas once were part of Mexico has created mass debate- if Mexico is entitled to several states how would that be orchestrated? Is it even possible, considering the situation of Native Americans and the little amount of land (comparatively) they have managed to reclaim.
"Also, treating these workers as human beings giving them rights just for the sake of humanity and stop seeing them as criminals because they crossed the border to make a better life by working; we’re not giving them anything for free. According to Warner Cooper (2007) “ If employers can’t find ways to hire these workers legally, American workers take the jobs at higher wages, and this will greatly increase the cost of living for all of us.”
Anti Illegal Immigration:
(Not too hard to find...)
Some of the points raised:
"We are a nation of laws"
"Put illegal aliens above the American citizen… we are responsible"
"When we sit silently when illegals take our jobs, steal our identity, abuse our charity, and live off our social services, we are responsible" (How can an illegal live off social services- no social security number, does every immigrant have the knowledge to commit fraud, if so why are they not caught by police and deported? It seems more likely that they live a very quiet undercover life. 'Our' jobs, were they wanted to begin with?)
"We will take back America" Fears of it being 'over-run', realistic?
Conclusions:
Rather than sympathy, practical economy linked factors are being used to justify/argue that illegal immigration is healthy for the country. Many in favour of Latino American rights argue that certain areas of the U.S 'belong' to Mexcico, this came up alot in the debate of illegality- how can you say it is 'illegal' to live in a land occupied by ancestors? It seems that although most illegals come to America (as many immigrants have before) for a better life there is little sympathy for them, and returning them to poverty/suffering seems acceptable to most people.
21st century America, a 'nation of nations' that allows freedom and prosperity to all has decided that illegal Latinos aren't included in the American dream. I wonder what their desperate ancestors would make of their pleas for a better life...?
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