It is easy to see why there are those that support illegal immigration. Many of the people that enter the United States illegally are hard working individuals merely seeking a better life. Many of us would probably do the same to provide for our families. Those defending them will say that crossing the border without inspection is only a misdemeanor and is no more severe than a traffic violation.
This argument might have more weight if it were true. Crossing the border illegally is in fact a misdemeanor (8 United States Code 1325), but many if not most of these individuals use an alien smuggling organization to aid them across the border. Typically a smuggler will help them across the U.S. border, another smuggler (a guide) will help them around U.S. Border Patrol checkpoints; an additional smuggler will pick them up on the other side of these checkpoints and transport them to a stash location where they will sit until they are ready to be transported by additional smugglers to their final destination. This is rarely if ever charged, but by definition the alien has committed a crime by aiding this organization (Conspiracy to 8 United States Code 1324). This isn’t where the law violations end either. If the individual has been deported previously it is a felony punishable by 2 to 20 years in prison for returning (8 USC 1326).
Most employers, even the ones that knowingly are hiring illegal aliens, require the aliens have some form of identification to work. Shortly after entering this country a typical illegal alien will acquire fraudulent documentation to obtain employment and or some type of government service. Illegal document vendors can usually be found at flea markets and other locations and the will provide documents for typically between $50 - $150. Obtaining these documents is also a crime as is using the documents to obtain a government benefit or employment. (8 USC 1324, 18 USC 1028 and 18 USC 1546)
There are some that will still say these are victimless crimes, but alien smuggling is anything but a victimless crime. The life of an alien smuggler is just as violent if not more so than a drug dealers. Most smugglers are armed to protect themselves from “bajaderos” (smugglers that literally steal aliens from other smugglers). Violent street gangs such as MS13 and the Zetas are heavily involved in alien smuggling. Many times those being smuggled are beaten, left for dead because they cannot keep up in the desert, raped, or killed by their smugglers. Every alien that pays to be smuggled supports these individuals.
I understand the arguments in support of illegal immigrants, but I just don’t believe they are valid. The very first action these individual’s make when entering the country is an illegal act and more crimes are committed shortly thereafter.
Instead of giving amnesty and rewarding those that have broken these laws, why not reward those on waiting lists within their own countries trying to enter our country legally?
Note:
This opinion merely covers illegal immigration across the Mexican border and does not include those that cross illegally from the Canadian border or through visa fraud. Many of the same crimes are committed by these individuals, though.
Why not reward those trying to enter our country legally? Because in the end it won't matter how they are treated in the United States. I immigrated my wife and stepchildren to the U. S. legally, but she has been called a "wetback" at her work, and accused of trying to steal their identities by customers when her accent is heard.
ReplyDeleteHave you ever heard or said someone is "probably illegal"? How much of an insult is that to a person that did the process properly if it is said to or about them? And it is wondered why Hispanic citizens don't back groups saying such things.
There is no reason to call a legal Latino illegal...
You and your wife are examples of what anyone wanting to come to this country should aspire to. It is sad that some would treat your wife in that manner.
ReplyDeleteUnfortunately, there will always be ignorant people who will seek to belittle those with a different skin color or culture. If employers would stop hiring illegal aliens in the first place it might help reduce it though.
In the context I wrote about my wife it did not come across that she was a different skin color (I say that she is "Mexicaucasian") and any culture she would have is not expressed (in fact she has assimilated to the United States very well). She received the reactions because of her perceived origins, by people hearing her accent. It is the connotation of her being "Mexican".
ReplyDeleteSo what stirs up opinion against Mexicans? You seem to be saying that it stems from employers hiring illegal aliens. It is true that my wife was wrongly perceived to be an illegal alien improperly working by people that had no interest in knowing the truth.
They jumped to their assumption, and want to bear it out, no matter how it cuts...
It is an insult to her to call her an "illegal", especially with what we endured to legally immigrate. We return to the crux of the discussion, how Latinos see legislation like SB1070 singling out them unfairly (which I can elaborate more on). I'll return to my closing statement before: "And it is wondered why Hispanic citizens don't back groups saying such things".