There were a number of blog entries by your classmates before and after our first immigration policy class last week. Rachael, Julie, and Kate discussed my case with the autistic child, Umair. Was that case merely a way to just bend the asylum rules a little, allowing a sympathetic case get through the seemingly tough asylum rules? Or was the head of the Chicago Asylum office right when he said the case was granted because it met the textbook example of a refugee? How do you think the family is doing today? Is Umair today recieving the treatment he deserves? Has he progressed? Would you be surprised to learn that Umair's brother is a full-time student at Loyola?-- himself living an "American Dream" like Dikembe Mutombo??? (see below)...
Joanna commented about Muslim "speical registration". Keep in mind her comments when we begin our book "We Are All Suspects Now.." and when we watch the documentary, "Patriot Acts." As to the reading due this week, what comparisons can you make with Special Registration and Chapter 2 of the Daniels' book? See also some of my comments, which will be the subject of mid-term or final exam question.
Cezara commented on why immigration is one of the hot topics of the year. A point well taken. I don’t think this class would exist if that were not the case! Immigration certainly is on as many minds of Americans as the war in Iraq. Has it always been that way? Why now? Do you agree with Cezara’s conclusions?
Speaking of these hot immigration topics, Kate commented on President Bush’s state of the union address on January 24, 2007. Here are some of Bush’s comments, as they relate to our class. Take a look:
- “Dikembe Mutombo grew up in Africa, amid great poverty and disease. He came to Georgetown University on a scholarship to study medicine -- but Coach John Thompson got a look at Dikembe and had a different idea. (Laughter.) Dikembe became a star in the NBA, and a citizen of the United States. But he never forgot the land of his birth, or the duty to share his blessings with others. He built a brand new hospital in his old hometown. A friend has said of this good-hearted man: "Mutombo believes that God has given him this opportunity to do great things." And we are proud to call this son of the Congo a citizen of the United States of America.”
Does this person fit what it commonly referred to as an immigrant attaining the “American Dream?” Offer your comments as to why President Bush choose this individual to use in his example. As to new immigration laws, the big one was his comment about immigration reform. He received a lot of applause from Congress. Here's what Bush said:
- “Extending hope and opportunity in our country requires an immigration system worthy of America -- with laws that are fair and borders that are secure. When laws and borders are routinely violated, this harms the interests of our country. To secure our border, we're doubling the size of the Border Patrol, and funding new infrastructure and technology. Yet even with all these steps, we cannot fully secure the border unless we take pressure off the border -- and that requires a temporary worker program. We should establish a legal and orderly path for foreign workers to enter our country to work on a temporary basis. As a result, they won't have to try to sneak in, and that will leave Border Agents free to chase down drug smugglers and criminals and terrorists. (Applause.) We'll enforce our immigration laws at the work site and give employers the tools to verify the legal status of their workers, so there's no excuse left for violating the law. (Applause.) We need to uphold the great tradition of the melting pot that welcomes and assimilates new arrivals. (Applause.) We need to resolve the status of the illegal immigrants who are already in our country without animosity and without amnesty. (Applause.) Convictions run deep in this Capitol when it comes to immigration. Let us have a serious, civil, and conclusive debate, so that you can pass, and I can sign, comprehensive immigration reform into law.”
Does that mean a new amnesty law is forthcoming? What about the previous amnesty laws/programs in the U.S.? Lorena, last week, mentioned the Bracero program during class. What other recent programs like this have we had? Did they work? If not, why?
See you Thursday!
CH
2 comments:
State of the Union Address and Hopes for Reform...
While the President’s words during the state of the union address, and the subsequent applause that Congress offered to them were hopeful, whether a new amnesty law (although politicians will never refer to it as such) will come about or not is debatable. Many promises were made during the address, including simultaneously balancing the budget while providing better healthcare, spending more money on education and sending more troops to Iraq. However, I think the combination of the Bush administration’s making immigration reform a priority along with the Democratic control of Congress improves the chances of America getting a more comprehensive immigration reform bill similar to that proposed by the Senate last year. As the issue becomes more prevalent in the media and people hear more sides of the story and different perspectives, I think that they are becoming increasingly able to see the issue of immigration as the complex issue that it truly is. As an issue that won’t be solved by the building of a fence or the unrealistic threat of deporting millions of undocumented workers, but one which needs a more multi-faceted, far-reaching approach, such as the one Bush spoke of, in which undocumented workers already in the country are dealt with, employers are required to take greater responsibility for the hiring of illegal workers, and people who wish to come to America for work are granted expanded avenues for doing so. While the debate is a controversial and intense one, drawing up strong sentiments on both sides, I think the combination of immigration as a major issue, Bush’s prioritization of it, and the election of a Congress willing to deal with the issue in more realistic terms could add up to significant immigration reform. I think in order for a reform bill that involves amnesty-like policies to gain public support it will likely have to contain increased protective and punitive measures as well, such as an increase in border patrol units and funding, coupled with stricter penalties (or the enforcement of actually existing penalties) for employers who hire undocumented workers. As for the exact shape and approximate effectiveness of the reform, only time will tell. But I think the place that the topic of immigration has taken up in the media, in the minds of Americans and on the agendas of Congressmen and women, shows that the issue is not likely to fade away or change without significant reform, and that it is not an issue that will be solved by a single-handed or black and white approach.
I think that the President used Dikimbe as an example because he is a great example of the American Dream. Dikembe Mutombo changed his location and transformed his opportunites. The bedrock of the American Dream is freedom to chase our opportunities.
As the President implied, those opportunites are not available in all places.
The President's words about the issue of immigration realistic start. The bi-partisan tone is apparent and hopefully will spark the "serious, civil, and conclusive debate" that we need for a comprehensive solution. We have an issue of immigration where many people a fleeing their homelands, and it is causing conflict. This is a place where we value our freedom, and our liberties. We have to figure out how to uphold the universal right to freedom of movement, with our security and immigration concerns.
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