WHAT IS THE IMMIGRATION ISSUE?
In recent years, we have seen a visible increase in new immigrants in the U.S. There have traditionally been immigrant neighborhoods in most large cities across America, including Irish, Germans, Italians, and also African Americans and Appalachians who have moved to new areas in the country. After World War II, suburbs began developing around the country, and many ethnic neighborhoods melted away. Until recently, immigration ceased to be a visible issue. In the 1990s, however, a new wave of immigrants became visible, as economic globalization, new social conflicts, and other forces after the end of the Cold War increased the rates of migration all over the world. Hispanics are the largest and most visible of these new immigrants in the U.S., but people have come from every region in the world seeking to support their families and to realize new opportunities.
Popular reactions to these new immigrants have also been emerging in recent years. Some responses have been positive, as new neighbors have been welcomed into jobs and communities. But there have also been negative reactions, particularly after the attacks of September 11 2001. After the Civil Rights Movement, it was no longer acceptable in America to express hate and racism... but now it seems OK to be hateful and racist against immigrants. Myths and misinformation are clouding understandings, the voices of prejudice and discrimination are becoming louder, and anti-immigrants are forming vigilante groups and pushing policies that are punitive and oppressive
What is the Real Immigration Issue?
The American society is facing a major challenge: What kind of society we are making for ourselves? Social conflicts reflect larger imbalances and stresses in a society. In these cases, people need a meaningful explanation of the disorder they are feeling in their lives. Mass reactions take the society in new directions... but narrow perspectives can take societies down a path of self-destruction, as in Nazi Germany, or in a progressive direction to a more adaptive balance, as with the American Revolution. In facing the immigration issue, will we become a hateful and oppressive society? Or will we become the best that we can be as a people?
Unfortunately, actions like the hateful Sensenbrenner HR4437 bill and Arizona's SB1070 set the lowest standards for the public debate. In considering the "compromise" process that continually lowers the standards, we call on the American people to consider the consequences on what kind of society we are making for ourselves:
- How does hate affect people? Punishing immigrants for trying to escape poverty and oppression does not address the causes of migration, caused in part by U.S. polices abroad. Can we be satisfied by only creating more suffering of human beings who are trying to support their families, are hardworking, and are making significant contributions to the American society and economy?
- How does anti-immigrant discrimination affect the soul of our American society? Immigrants contribute over $400 billion annual to our economy, pay millions in taxes, are a critical component of the labor market, and support millions of jobs through their purchasing power. Are we willing to sacrifice the subsistence wellbeing of the majority of Americans for spite? As we have seen in our own history, discrimination breeds a marginalized underclass, crime, and social conflict. Is this want for ourselves with the new racism against immigrants? Also, as Dr. Martin Luther King once stated, denying basic human, constitutional, and civil rights to anyone jeopardizes these rights for everyone. Driving a huge population further underground jeopardizes our national security, by making it harder to find anyone who may wish us harm. Or, can we find a way for the new immigrants to integrate themselves into our communities and local economies, to fulfill their human potentials, and become contributing members of our society?
- How do anti-immigrant hate and discrimination impact on our relations with the rest of the world? People all over the world hear about how we are treating their relatives and countrymen, and this creates further resentment and antipathy against Americans. What future can we expect for our society if we push others to be against us?
- How we treat immigrants determines what kind of society we are making for ourselves and our children.
The Campaign for Migrant Worker Justice has been at the heart of the Immigrant Rights movement for decades. Heeding the call of immigrants themselves, the CMWJ has developed our Immigrant Rights Campaign, with the primary goals of:
- Organizing the immigrant community to have their own voice in all areas of their lives.
- Organizing popular support networks for immigrant rights.
- Policy advocacy to achieve:
- Legal residency for immigrants permanently working and living in the country.
- Reunification of families separated by international borders.
- Full human, civil, due process, and working rights for all immigrants.
- An ongoing process for addressing these issues with future migrant flows,
including the free flow of workers between countries having trade agreements.
These points set the positive standards for addressing immigration, and CMWJ asks for your active support in building a better society for us all.
The following online sources provide further insights into the immigration debate.
- What Is the Immigration Debate?
The United States currently has about twelve million people who are in the country without
authorization. We often hear about the "broken" immigration system, but what exactly is "broken"
that needs fixing? Until we can identify the basic problems and causes of migration, this
issue will never be resolved.
- What Are the Reality Gaps in the Immigration Debate?
Every day we hear statements being made about immigrants taking American jobs, not wanting to
learn English, using up Social Security resources, etc. How can we find out what is valid in such
statements, and what are unfounded myths? More important, what are the hidden agendas
behind these myths? And what are the larger impacts of hate and discrimination on the functioning
and future of our society?
- Who Are the Anti-Immigrants?
Who is behind the anti-immigrant network? Do you know that John Tanton’s
anti-immigrant movement was founded with neo-Nazi money? As we learned in the Civil Rights
movement, some set impossible standards which demand that all others be exactly like "us"
- biologically and mentally. The anti-immigrants are actually a very small part of the
American society, but they are very loud and seem to dominate the public debate. But who is
benefiting from stirring up anti-immigrant feelings?
- What Do We Want in Immigration Reform?
When we talk about immigration reform, we have to face the reality that there is a large
population of immigrants already here and that humans all over the world have migrated since the
beginning of history. Walls and harsh policies have never kept people from seeking new opportunities.
It is clear that we need to address the root causes that drive people from their homelands
and draws them to seek better lives elsewhere. What is the most balanced solution to immigration
reform that will ensure the continued adaptive functioning of the American society?
- What Direction Will America Go? What Can I Do? As with all issues, what kind of society are we creating for our children and the future of America? Effective long-term solutions to any issue requires understanding the underlying causes of problems, a consideration of the human feelings that drive our own and others' actions, and seeking a balance that will have a positive outcome for all concerned. What can I do to contribute to a positive future for our society?
One great strength we have as Americans is that we are a nation of immigrants. We can draw on our collective innovative thinking and practical experience of people from all over the human domain to gain insights into our challenges and into effective solutions that build our common good. Americans have done this before throughout our history, and we can continue to do this now!
Thank you for helping build a better America that lives up to our ideals of justice, freedom, and democracy!