Tough immigration enforcement with no parallel comprehensive immigration reform, will only bring severe negative consequences to everyone!
Citing a November Los Angeles Times/Bloomberg poll, the Manhattan Institute’s Tamar Jacoby noted recently that “63 percent of Democrats, 64 percent of Republicans and 57 percent of independents favor allowing illegal immigrants who meet certain conditions — registering, being fingerprinted, paying a fine and learning English — to earn citizenship over time.”
Riverside, NJ
The law had worked. Perhaps, so me said, too well.
With the departure of so many people, the local economy suffered. Hair salons, restaurants and corner shops that catered to the immigrants saw business plummet; several closed. Once-boarded-up storefronts downtown were boarded up again.
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/09/26/nyregion/26riverside.html?_r=2&hp&oref=slogin&oref=slogin
Arizona
Arizona’s new “enforcement only” immigration law, which mandates the use of an electronic verification system and subjects employers to the loss of their business license for hiring the wrong person, has turned out to be a disaster that might rank up there with the Edsel or New Coke in the pantheon of bone-headed ideas.
The unintended consequences haven’t been pretty, and now the very lawmakers that thumped their chest about getting tough on illegal immigration are trying to enact some sort of state-level guest worker program in order to bring those undocumented immigrants back to the state.
The state had a very low unemployment rate when the law was passed — it was, at least in part, a “solution” to a problem they didn’t have. Unemployment was at 4.1 percent when the law went into effect in January and had been at 3.7 percent when a judge upheld the measure in early 2007.
Arizona is now faced with labor shortages, and when combined with the loss in demand from all those worker-consumers, the whole enchilada might end up costing the state’s economy tens of billions of dollars.
http://www.alternet.org/immigration/85022/?page=1
Prince William County
County business leaders have created “image committees” to examine the direction Prince William is heading. Now, some analysts said, the economic downturn makes it a bad time to carry out the immigration measures.
“It undermines the image of the county as a good place to invest,” said Stephen Fuller, director of the Center for Regional Analysis at George Mason University. “The political environment has made people feel unwelcome.”
Richard L. Hendershot, who chairs the Prince William County Greater Manassas Chamber of Commerce, said it has been hard to sell Prince William as progressive, dynamic and thriving.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/04/19/AR2008041900943.html?nav=rss_metro
Last month, Prince William County had the most new filings of any Washington area jurisdiction, followed by Prince George’s, Fairfax, Montgomery, Loudoun and the District, according to RealtyTrac Inc., a California-based company that tracks real estate trends.
When foreclosures rise, crime often follows, researchers said. A 2005 study by the Georgia Institute of Technology and the Woodstock Institute found that, holding other factors constant, each foreclosure in a 100-house neighborhood corresponded to a 2.4 percent jump in violent crime.
Law enforcement agencies typically don’t keep statistics for crimes that occur in vacant houses, but the concerns of local officials are mirrored across the nation.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/04/26/AR2008042601288_2.html
Laurie, that’s pretty low. Accusing KGotthardt of being tolerant and accepting, consorting with international students! Next you’re going to tell us she has learned about other cultures and even, gulp, speaks other languages! Tell us it isn’t so KGotthardt!
If you are not capable of processing new information (or dealing with old information) when it comes to complex issues, I see little good in attacking those who can. Trust me, one does not have to be “international” or consort with “internationals” to cherish the ideals on which our nation was founded. In fact, there is no ethnic or cultural litmus test for any policy position that I can see. There are people of all races on all sides of the immigration issue. It makes no sense to accuse someone of having an agenda just because they teach international students.
I can’t even begin to imagine why you’d say that other than to assume you’ve learned too well from Gospel Greg. Time to get a new preacher.
Laurie,
Well, I’m sorry you feel that way. The only “vested” interest us “housewives” have is promoting fairness for all, encompassed within a new immigration policy. Once again, you have fallen vicitim to pro illegal or anti illegal. Maybe it’s time you see the choices from a broader perspective. I wish you well in your journey.
I think it is pretty common knowledge that USCIS is part of Dept. of Homeland Security. Well, maybe not for those involved in the immigration process. Actually correspondence from USCIS has return addresses marked Dept. of Homeland Security. Then again, I also know this working on federal Dept. of Defense contracts and having a fairly good knowledge of the structure of the US gov’t related to defense and homeland security. But anyone who followed the news about the creation of the Dept. of Homeland Security would know that USCIS was one of the existing agencies brought in under it when it was created. However, I will probably say that most organizations such as these, are vastly different in their subcompartments. For example, while FBI is under Dept. of Justice, they really operate quite differently at least as far as their ideas in the area of Information Technology. However the FBI has had its own issues in trying to modernize their existing IT infrastructure – but that’s a whole other story.
Emma,
I have taken you out of moderation, so your comments will appear right away.
Laurie,
Do I get to be included with the ‘housemoms?’ If so, please don’t come over with the white glove test.
I am trying to figure out your statement:
What is a ‘personal, highly vested interest?’ Please explain further. You said a lot but really left a cryptic message.
Meanwhile, we all do not have to agree with each other to be able to get along or find a common meeting ground.
Laurie M,
It’s true that the majority of people who care about any issue are those that are directly affected by it. I’ll give you an example, we had a powerline slated to come through the western part of PWC directly through a new Toll Brothers development – Dominion Valley. The Dominion Valley community came out in force opposing it; however, Piedmont Country Club just down the road cared much less since they wouldn’t have been direcly impacted. It’s really nothing too unexpected. But in this case there has been a surprising number of people who for a variety of reasons have spoken out, Elena is an excellent example. By the way,THANKS Elena. Topping the list would be religious leaders, who I’m hard-pressed to find any self-serving motivation for their position.
Laurie, anyone who cares enough to become involved in an issue does so because of some “personal, highly vested interest”. You have one in this issue, or you wouldn’t be writing. But “personal, highly vested interest” can come in many forms, not just a monetary one.
My personal, highly vested interest is that I started working with the latino immigrant community in the Washington area in the late 80s, during the war in El Salvador. I worked with children and families so traumatized from the horrors they experienced that it set the course of my career and I have never forgotten. I know what these countries are like, I understand their cultures, I know why they are here, I know how hard they work, I choose to be a part of their community and I welcome them into mine.
When I drive by my local day laborer sites, I don’t see parasites. I see men looking for work. There is a house around the corner from me with an abundance of work vehicles parked around it, but I just see people who do that kind of work. They take very good care of their house. I admit I would hate to have noisy neighbors and people who let their property fall apart, and I’m grateful not to have those. But white and black people can be equally guilty of those infractions.
Point is, we all have vested interests in things we care about, based on our personal experiences. If we didn’t, we wouldn’t bother taking the time to be involved, and certainly not spend precious time writing on blogs.
“So I checked out her blog and her “Linked In” profile. And I understood immediately — clearly this is a misguided individual who struggles to be accepted and who profits from “teaching” “international” students English and citizenship. Bingo! Attitude and vested interest explained in one swoop.
I have yet to meet an advocate for the “illegal/pro-amnesty” side who does not have some sort of personal, highly vested interest (yet generally undisclosed) in maintaining the status quo. K Gotthardt is no exception.”
LMAO! Laurie, do you know how much I “earn” from working with internationals to help them learn English and assimilate (something you would want, I’m assuming)? Less than $2000.00 last year (maybe even less…I’d have to check). This year? Less than $200.00. How much do you think teachers actually earn? Obviously, you have never checked into it.
Vested interest: fair democracy, a peaceful society for my family and everyone else to co-exist in, true justice, and a committment to domestic policy reform. Anti-bully. Anti-discrimination and hatred. Anti-violent. Pro-education. Pro live-and-let-live. Pro-diversity and individualism. Pro-agape. Pro-peace. Pro-respect for hard working people who love their families. Or are you so jaded you just can’t believe people work for that kind of thing anymore?
I’ve worked with a variety of students in a variety of different venues and I stick up for anyone who is working hard to succeed. My immigrant students have been some of the most polite, hard working students I’ve ever had (as were my military students). I’m honored to have worked with them.
“Shrill”? Well, you’ve never read some of my more academic writing. It’s pretty tame. Boring even. That’s why I love this place. I get to let some of my inner outrage out. I don’t do it in public. Writing is an important part of my personal self expression, and it takes on many forms including poetry.
What did you think I was doing at the march? Screaming my head off? I was walking around looking at people, talking to people, taking pictures. I’m more of a natural introvert than an extrovert.
If you have something against stay-at-home moms, you probably are against at least one third of the nation. People do what they have to do. They have different reasons for doing it.
As for being pro-illegal and pro-amnesty, I’m for having people earn citizenship in a fair way. You seem to like to misinterpret that, so that’s your issue not mine. You’re pretty “shrill” yourself.
You know, even though I can’t stand GL and HSM’s actions, I don’t question their motives. They put their motives on the table, and I have a certain respect for that. I put my own on the table as well. So do others here. Perhaps you should learn to believe not everyone is a complete hypocrite. We’re really not ALL bad politicians : )
Hey Moon-howler,
DITTO! No glove test here, I’d fail !
“Well, maybe not for those involved in the immigration process.” That’s right. Those of us who have not gone through the process can only stare on in horror.
I was in the library and saw a “guide to getting citizenship.” Oh my GOD! If I had to read that book and go through the process, I would be LOST! Now picture a non-native English speaker trying to do it.
You have my sympathy, Anon! And thanks for your insight.
Off topic: I think the FBI is like….really cool and one of those television-novel kinds of things like the CIA. I lived most of my life in another region, and when I came here, those agencies were surreal to me. I was like….okay. This is a movie, right? Things like the FBI just didn’t exist in my reality. And now they have a building practically down the street from me! Okay. That makes me kind of giddy. When I tell my family things like that, they have a hard time believing it (especially my mom).
And “The Department of Justice.” Come on! How cool is THAT name? It’s like Superfriends and the “Justice League.”
Except there’s not enough justice in this world. Kind of disappointing.
Actually, that “guide to getting citizenship” – assuming you mean the one from USCIS, is available in a bunch of languages on USCIS’s website – so have to give them credit where it is due. Anyway, it is at http://www.uscis.gov/newimmigrants . Their website is pretty good actually, so I can’t really fault them for that.
Although, the process is a bit like filing taxes, and there are a lot of forms to fill out. Again, the thought has crossed my mind – it begs to be computerized with a program like the ones for filing taxes, to help guide you through the forms and help you through the information that is needed. Of course, the task of creating software like that in a host of languages would be a daunting one.
I think the guide was by an author. It was an actual book you could check out.
Don’t you think we have enough people in the State Department to help with translations in the software? It sounds like the right resources are not being tapped.
Elena, Moonhowler, I’m not even female.
Red Dawn, 16. May 2008, 22:17
Actually, I think homeland is a joke….and I will prolly get locked up for saying so ( who has the last laugh)
KENNETH SAID NOT SCREAMED – GREAT COMMENT RD………DHS IS A DAMN SAD ‘JOKE’ THAT WAS PUT TOGETHER AS A MASK FOR THE GOVT NT KNOWING WHAT TO DO WITH BORDER PROBLEMS…….AND THEY CALL IT ‘HOMELAND AND SECURITY’ TWO SWEET SOUNDING NAMES…. I’LL VISIT YOU TOO!!!
“Elena, Moonhowler, I’m not even female.” HA! I don’t know how, but I knew that. Either that or you are lying and I didn’t guess right. Or you are making us think you are not but you really are so we will think you are not. (a la Princess Bride)
I’m guessing you are also a cop or a lawyer of some kind. Just go with it. It makes it more fun for me.
As I have stated previously, I neither deny either nor admit neither profession. I am, however, a male.
I know. You won’t tell us what you do. That’s fine. It’s more fun imagining you’re some secret agent. Hee hee hee.
Well then Lucky Duck, I am sorry to say, being male, you cannot be a “hysterical housewife” or a “fat broad”, I guess only a lucky few will be priveledged to be in THAT esteemed category 🙂
I don’t know what’s supposed to be disreputable about being a housewife. I’m not a housewife, but my mother is. I’d no more put that down as a profession than I would a firefighter or a teacher.
Nor do I have a personal or pocketbook interest in the immigration issue (though my mother was an immigrant).
As for the “fat” thing — that’s fairly common as an internet “put down” especially against women. Fatty fat fat, stinky doo-doo head, needle dick, it’s all the same and has nothing to do with the argument at hand.
Lucky Duck,
I am so sorry. I don’t recall implying you were female but if I did, I apologize. I did know that was not the case, naturally, from something you said earlier.
Bubberella,
Thanks for the laugh. I do have to ask though…why is ‘needle dick’ used against women?
To all,
I never thought being a housewife was a bad thing. In fact, I was always envious of them.
No, Moon Howler, you didn’t state that about me, I was commenting on the insults being slung by the other side and how they were generalizing about everyone over here.
I am proud to be a stay at home mom! I think it’s the added “hysterical” as a prefix to housewife that I may take some offense with 😉
LuckyDuck,
Whew! Glad I didn’t make that error. Does this all make you a fat-broad hysterical housewife wannabe?
We will all defend your honor!