| Imigraphobia: A contagious disease |
|
 |
|
America is at a crossroads with the question of immigration. “The ontological paradox of being there without being there” is ruffling the feathers of policy makers in America’s political arena. The blinders have fallen off the weary faces of anti-immigration forces whose pretentious eyesight has been pried open by the presence of the “brown horde” in many sectors of American society. The fanning of the feathers has spread a contagious disease called imigraphobia.
A combination of wanting to guard the gates, mixed in with xenophobic attitudes, has created imigraphobia. It has captured the imagination of swarms of makeshift migra wannabes whose xenophobia has become so internally rampant that they actually believe that by watching the unguarded gates that the flow of immigration will stop.
Those who are guarding the gates have developed festering sentiments shouting rhetorical statements at those who have joined them at the borders to “protest the protesters,” about Aztlan and the reclaiming of the Southwest. The recent victory of Antonio Villaraigosa as mayor of Los Angeles has fueled the fires of discontent by those whose power bases are being threatened. In a recent news article, Villaraigosa was accused of wanting to give back California back to Mexico.
The typical stereotypes, historically propagated by the adversaries of humane immigration reform, are being re-generated in America’s communities. The lenses of cost benefit economic analysis that has been used to view the immigration issues are clouded, distorting the vision of imigraphobes.
According to Tom Barry, Director of the International Relations Center, “by scapegoating immigrants for so many of the country’s ills—environmental degradation, low wages, tax burdens, crime, social disintegration, and even terrorist threats,” the anti immigrant forces are causing and deepening the division in American society.
At least one of the myths that have caused the division and needs to be dispelled is whether or not immigrants have become “public charges.” Immigrants contribute more to the economy than they take out. According to data shared by “People for the American Way, “ The total net benefit (taxes paid over benefits received) to the Social Security system if current levels of immigration remain constant is nearly $500 billion for the 1998-2002 period and nearly $2.0 trillion through 2072. The data also states “immigrants collectively earn $240 billion a year, pay $90 billion a year in taxes, and only claim $5 billion.”
The Chicago Council on Foreign Relations, in “Keeping the Promise: Immigration Proposals from the Heartland,” believes that the immigration system is out of sync. There is a lack of congruency between outdated fiat that never really addressed the issues properly and a burgeoning population that is needed to keep the American economy operating efficiently.
The council has outlined the following core goals of immigration policy. For effective immigration policy to be created, policymakers will have to put on substantive economic, political, cultural and social lenses.
The goals of the council are: to advance fundamental values of democracy, liberty, and human rights at home and abroad. Policies addressing America’s national mission would be tested from root to core. The current conservative version of democracy, that is, neoliberalism, the globalization of the economy, and the new social order, are issues that would have to be addressed. Immigrant’s human rights would have to be respected. Imigraphobia would have to be dealt with between and among groups in American society.
To promote the rule of law and equality under the law. This goal would translate into American blinders being lifted. They would no longer be able to play peek-a-boo with the lives of immigrants; that is, first I see you, then I don’t. America’s legal enforcers would have to implement the law on all borders that surround the United States of America. Everyone, including the poor, the rich, the educated and the uneducated would be susceptible to the same set of laws, no exceptions. Corporations would have to be punished for violating immigration laws designed to punish employers that continually exploit Mexican workers. Paths to citizenship would have to be created for immigrants who meet the specific provisions of the law.
To promote economic competitiveness and growth. The North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) would have to live up to its specific intent. Policymakers would have to address the question of whether Mexico is a colony of the United States of America as many historians claim, destined to be indebted forever by the vestiges of history. Farmworkers that generally come under Guest Worker Programs, aka Bracero Programs, would have to be given fair wages and honest working conditions and access to citizenship.
To contribute to national security. Compounding the issue is homeland security, as America encapsulates itself in a xenophobic glasshouse. Correct information regarding the influx of terrorists in America would have to be shared against the shouting din of the discontented. Terrorists did not come into American society via the Mexican border. Many overstayed their visas.
To strengthen American communities and families. Family reunification would become the centerpiece of American immigration policy. This would result in the further tanning of America, as integration strategies would be developed.
¡Abajo con Imigraphobia!
Ramón Del Castillo, Ph.D. is an Independent Journalist.
|
←
Back
|
|
|
|
view more photos
view more videos
El Semanario New Mexico 
El Semanario