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Tuesday, April 11

So, what should we talk about tonight... hmmmm?
I'm in a bloviated state. (No, not Southern California.)

Hola, y buenos tardes. Me llamo Diego Arroz.
Bienvenidos, Mexicanos Sin Fronteras.

Or so it would seem, Northern Mexico.

Tonight's topic, Illegal Immigration. What else?
If not an outright oxymoron, it is certainly a conflict of terms.

"Illegal" speaks for itself.
But what is "Immigration"?

To be sure, America is a land of immigrants. The Great Melting Pot.

The Statue of Liberty:

"Give me your tired, your poor,
Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free,
The wretched refuse of your teeming shore;
Send these, the homeless, tempest-tost to me,
I lift my lamp beside the golden door!"

Emma Lazarus (1849-1887)

* Who Is an Immigrant?

According to U.S. law, an immigrant is a foreign-born individual
who has been admitted to reside permanently in the United States
as a Lawful Permanent Resident (LPR).

* How Do Immigrants Get Admitted to Permanently Reside Here?

Typically, a foreign-born individual seeking to become an LPR
can do so in one of three ways:

1. Through family-sponsored immigration, a U.S. citizen can sponsor
   his or her foreign-born spouse, parent (if the sponsor is over the age of 21),
   minor and adult married and unmarried children, and brothers and sisters.
   A Lawful Permanent Resident can sponsor his or her spouse,
   minor children, and adult unmarried children.
2. Through employment-based immigration, a U.S. employer can sponsor
   an individual for a specific position where there is
   a demonstrated absence of U.S. workers.
3. By winning one of a limited number of immigrant visas available
   in the annual diversity visa lottery that is open to immigrants
   from certain countries.

* Who Is a Refugee?

A refugee is a person outside of the United States who seeks protection
on the grounds that he or she fears persecution in his or her homeland.
To obtain refugee status, a person must prove that he or she has
a "well-founded fear of persecution" on the basis of at least one
of five specifically-enumerated and internationally-recognized grounds.
Those grounds include the person's race, religion, membership
in a social group, political opinion, or national origin.
A person who has already entered the United States, and who fears persecution
if sent back to his or her country, may apply for asylum here.
Once granted asylum, the person is called an "asylee."
Like a refugee, an asylum applicant must also prove that he or she
has a "well-founded fear of persecution" based on the same enumerated grounds.
Both refugees and asylees may apply to become LPRs after one year.

* Who Is an Undocumented Immigrant?

An undocumented immigrant is a person who is present in the United States
without the permission of the U.S. government.
Undocumented immigrants enter the U.S. either illegally,
without being inspected by an immigration officer, or by using false documents,
or legally, with a temporary visa, and then remain in the U.S.
beyond the expiration date of the visa.

* Who Is a Non-immigrant?

A non-immigrant is an individual who is permitted to enter the U.S.
for a period of limited duration. Non-immigrants include:
students, tourists, temporary workers, business executives,
diplomats, artists and entertainers, and reporters.
Depending on where they are from and the purpose of their visit,
non-immigrants may be required to apply for and obtain a visa from the U.S. government.
The application process entails an interview with a U.S. consular official
in the nearest U.S. consulate, who has the sole authority to grant or deny a visa.
Even if granted, the visa is merely a travel document.
All non-immigrants, (regardless of whether they have a U.S. visa),
must also pass immigration inspection upon arrival in the U.S.

* Who Is a Naturalized Citizen?

Lawful Permanent Residents are eligible to apply for U.S. citizenship
through a process called naturalization. To qualify for naturalization,
applicants generally must reside in the U.S. for five years
(three if they are married to a US. citizen)
without having committed any serious crimes,
show that they have paid their taxes and are of "good moral character,"
and demonstrate a knowledge of U.S. history and government
as well as an ability to understand, speak, and write ordinary English.

* What is amnesty?

This is the process by which Congress would ignore all the qualification requirements,
and grant naturalization status to the millions in all of the above categories.

By the time a bill is passed into law, anyone who was here on 9/11 will become
an American citizen. Let's call it "The Emasculation Proclamation".

It seems that some may have forgotten that there is
a price to pay for living in a free society.
That our rights are earned and must be defended, and not to be taken for granted.
It is not enough just to be here. Participation in the civic process is a duty.

If we are to spread democracy throughout the rest of the world, and believe in it
as if it were some sacred ideal, then we should practice it at home.
We should defend our own borders, protect and support our own citizens,
and enforce the laws of the land. If the laws are unjust, then there is a
democratic process to change them. Not through an activist judicial system, or
through undue pressure on congressional leaders by special interest lobbyists,
or through unlawful protests by the huddled masses of illegal aliens...

"La Marcha"

Tens of thousands of protestors took to the streets of D.C. yesterday
as coordinated protests took place across the country
against Congress' efforts to address illegal immigration.
"La Marcha" as it was called, was a rally for "immigration rights."

Similar marches were held in recent days, but were not as well organized.
Previously, protesters chanted slogans and waved Mexican flags.
They appeared angry, as if demanding these rights. This did not help their cause.
Someone must have gotten the word out. Bus schedules were posted, there were
professional speakers and crowd control. American flags were handed out,
along with pre-printed cards, posters, and signs. All in english. "We Are America".

This seemed somewhat disingenuous. Many could not even read the signs.

I'm not a lawyer, but I believe that the First Ammendment to the U.S. Constitution
provides "the right of the people peaceably to assemble,
and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances."
"The People" mentioned here refers to U.S. citizens, not illegal aliens.
So far, the demonstrations have been peaceful...

But the message was clear. These hard working people just want an opportunity
to provide for themselves and their families, with better working conditions,
a fair wage, health care, unemployment insurance, worker's comp, and retirement,
all without the fear of being criminalized just for being here.

They came here of their own free will. Crossing our border illegally, often at great peril.
They call themselves Mexicans Without Borders, "No barreras", (no barriers).

What border? You mean that "Line in the Sand"? "The Cactus Curtain"?

Now they make demands for their "rights". Be careful what you ask for.

Do they really want to become American citizens?
Are they prepared to renounce their prior citizenship?
To pledge allegiance to the American flag (and not to burn it?)
That would mean paying taxes. And being eligible to vote!
(That explains the support from the democrats for amnesty.)
A few million more votes just might get them back into power.
Trouble is, most of them are already registered voters. ;-)

Another side to consider is now being able to earn minimum wage.
Employers would now have to pay at least that much. Plus benefits.
Then come the unions, and there go all those low paying jobs.

So before you raise your own voice in anger and protest against them,
think twice about your own contribution to society, your civic duty, your military,
your participation in the community, your schools, your work place, and your own family...
Are you doing all that you can to defend your own way of life? Do you vote???

The Great American Dream is attainable for anyone who can make the interest payments.
But it should not be given away, nor should the rest of us have to pay taxes to support
these trespassers with health care and an education. Make them all citizens, and they
will have to apply for jobs like the rest of us, but in english.

Ahh, I can hear the ACLU now, waiting in the courthouse wings,
with their legal briefs all in a bind, anticipating the next wave
of discrimination lawsuits...

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