Three years ago Prince William County in Virgina passed an ordinance "which initially required police to check the status of detainees they suspected of being undocumented immigrants" (Bahrampour). This ordinance received many of the same responses that the Arizona law does. It has "raised ire among immigrant advocates and [has drawn] sharp criticism from the county police chief, who said it would cost taxpayers more, lead to allegations of racism and erode police-community relations" (Bahrampour).
The ordinance was modified in 2008 as it was charged as "unconstitutional and could lead to racial profiling" (Bahrampour). The modification directed officers to question all criminal suspects regarding their immigration status once arrested, rather than only questioning those suspected of being illegal immigrants.
On November 17, 2010 an article was published looking into the Prince William policy and the effect it has had over the years. According to a report for the University of Virginia, the policy "appears to have had some effect, as the growth of the county's Hispanic population now lags behind that of other jurisdictions" (Buske).
"The three-year, $385,000 study- released Tuesday by the university's Center for Survey Research- also found that the country's noncitizen Hispanic population, legal and illegal, dropped by 7,700 from 2006 to 2008, and that illegal immigrants accounted for 2,000 to 6,000 of that decline" (Burske).
Prior to the ordinance, the county had significant growth in its Hispanic population, in fact, it "almost doubled from 2000 to 2005" (Burske). Although growth leveled off in the county once the policy was implemented, growth continued in Washington overall. "The report states that Hispanics are avoiding Prince William and that the county, therefore, did not succeed in implementing an immigration policy without damaging its reputation as a welcoming place to live" (Burske).
The report goes on to state that while the policy has reduced the number of illegal immigrants in Prince William, not all of the effects have been "good". "Initial distrust of and dissatisfaction with county government has subsided among Hispanic residents of Prince William. The change in attitude can be attributed to adjustments in the policy, community outreach and the decline in attention paid by the media and groups opposing illegal immigration" (Burske).
Although "the study found that initial fears about racial profiling did not materialize and that only one lawsuit that mentions racial profiling has surfaced" (Burske) (which was ultimately dismissed in court), a Spanish radio show host voiced his disagreements. Accroding to Aragon, " There was racial profiling, and that's the reason why everyone started to leave [and that] the Hispanic businesses and malls are empty. [He said] you used to see 100 people at the shopping center, and after the resolution, you'd see five. You noticed the difference" (Burske).
Overall, it is interesting to read the effects that such a policy has had over the span of three years. I think it will be quite interesting to look at Arizona statistics after a few years.
Monday, November 29, 2010
Recent High School Graduate
In Reading, Ohio 18 year old Bernard Pastor who graduated last year from high school was arrested last week after he was caught driving without a license. According to Pastor's lawyer, Firooz Namei "Pastor and his family came to America from Guatemala when he was three for religious asylum but was denied in 2001. His family has been in the appeal process since... he has not been in contact with the family because they are in hiding for fear of also being taken into ICE custody and possibly deported" (Fox).
If the Department of Homeland Security agrees to reopen the family's case, he will be able to remain here. Pastor, according to the school superintendent, "was a 4.0 student, played soccer and never caused any trouble." Pastor's potential removal was "delayed Tuesday night after local politicians urged the government to reconsider his case" (Fox).
"The DREAM Act would allow a six year period for young undocumented immigrants to earn a permanent visa and work toward a U.S. citizenship" (Fox). According to Congressman Steve Driehaus, (unseated by Republican Steve Chabot in midterms) the legislation would protect people like Pastor who pose no threat to the country- unlike those criminally convicted that I discussed in a previous entry.
I hope that Pastor is allowed to remain in the country, he has been here since he was three, he has attended school here and ought to be granted citizenship. If he is granted citizenship he will be able to further contribute to society through paying taxes and being a legal, active citizen.
Sunday, November 21, 2010
Deportees Caught in Dragnet
On November 19, 2010 an article was published regarding "a four-day immigration dragnet stretching from the suburbs north of New York City to eastern Long Island" (Semple). A total of 54 illegal immigrants were arrested by federal law-enforcement officers. All of the illegal immigrants had been previously been deported with criminal records, but "secretly re-entered the country" (Semple).
According to Semple, "the tally was the largest number of once-deported immigrants ever ensnared in a single operation by immigration agents." Over the last 12 months immigration authorities have deported a record number of immigrants, "more than 195,700 of the deportees, or about half of the total, were convicted criminals" (Semple). Under the Bush administration, "about 32 percent of all deported immigrants were criminals" (Semple).
Suspects included people convicted of sexual assault involving a child as well as those involving assault with a weapon. I think that it is really good that the federal agents focus more so on illegal immigrants that are committing crimes in the country.
According to Semple, "the tally was the largest number of once-deported immigrants ever ensnared in a single operation by immigration agents." Over the last 12 months immigration authorities have deported a record number of immigrants, "more than 195,700 of the deportees, or about half of the total, were convicted criminals" (Semple). Under the Bush administration, "about 32 percent of all deported immigrants were criminals" (Semple).
Suspects included people convicted of sexual assault involving a child as well as those involving assault with a weapon. I think that it is really good that the federal agents focus more so on illegal immigrants that are committing crimes in the country.
Illegal Workers in Australia
Today I came across an article with an audio file regarding illegal immigrants in Western Australia. In the discussion a worker from the Department of Immigration, Sian Manton speaks of the sting that took place this month in an orchard just outside of the town Gingin.
A local tipped off the Department of Immigration which led to a roadside traffic stop in which two vans on the way to the orchard were stopped and then illegal workers were detained. Of the people detained, 24 were Malaysian and 3 were from Indonesia. 11 of the people had overstayed their visas, 16 had visas that did not give them the right to work; all of the people are in detention and will be sent back home. All of the immigrants arrived by air with legal visas, whether short-term or not.
I thought this was a pretty interesting article to compare to the illegal immigration in America. I am curious about statistics regarding how many people in America overstay their visas to work. I also wonder how many people plan to follow their visa's regulations initially, but come across economic incentives which lead them to overstay their visas.
A local tipped off the Department of Immigration which led to a roadside traffic stop in which two vans on the way to the orchard were stopped and then illegal workers were detained. Of the people detained, 24 were Malaysian and 3 were from Indonesia. 11 of the people had overstayed their visas, 16 had visas that did not give them the right to work; all of the people are in detention and will be sent back home. All of the immigrants arrived by air with legal visas, whether short-term or not.
I thought this was a pretty interesting article to compare to the illegal immigration in America. I am curious about statistics regarding how many people in America overstay their visas to work. I also wonder how many people plan to follow their visa's regulations initially, but come across economic incentives which lead them to overstay their visas.
Denial?
Today I was browsing immigration news and came across an article entitled, In Denial Over Immigration: we may criticize illegals- but we enjoy the benefits. The article discussed how illegal immigration has come to be such a "hot-button topic"- especially among politicians and voters. The author then describes a "dirty little secret- that too many of us benefit from illegal immigration to do something about it."
To briefly summarize the article's argument, Americans on the "outside", or in theory, oppose illegal immigration, but in reality enjoy its benefits far more than they let on- benefits like "low grocery prices and cheap yard work and housecleaning services".
The article concluded with propositions of immigration reform which are listed bellow;
"We have long supported a comprehensive immigration reform that deals with the major challenges. That reform should include:
Read more: http://www.modbee.com/2010/11/20/1437902/in-denial-over-immigration.html#ixzz15zYqtx9b"
To briefly summarize the article's argument, Americans on the "outside", or in theory, oppose illegal immigration, but in reality enjoy its benefits far more than they let on- benefits like "low grocery prices and cheap yard work and housecleaning services".
The article concluded with propositions of immigration reform which are listed bellow;
"We have long supported a comprehensive immigration reform that deals with the major challenges. That reform should include:
• Enhanced border security to limit the growth of illegal immigration. That would also make our nation safer from terrorists intent on doing damage to our country.
• A fair guest-worker program that provides a reliable pool of workers to industries that need foreign laborers.
• A means for those already here illegally to earn legal residency if they meet strict requirements, including paying fines and showing they have had a responsible work history.
President George W. Bush offered a wise reform package in 2007. But it fell apart in the Senate when Republicans and Democrats alike blocked it. They simply didn't want to fix the broken system because both parties had constituencies that benefited from maintaining the status quo.
Read more: http://www.modbee.com/2010/11/20/1437902/in-denial-over-immigration.html#ixzz15zYqtx9b"
What really interested me about this article were the responses it got, many of them truly surprised me. One comment definitely stuck out and seemed to demonstrate so many misconstrued beliefs in a very short space:
BS, BS, and BS again. I won't go to a carwash that employes Hispanics; corporate farms DO NOT PASS ON SAVINGS TO THE CONSUMER. The American taxpayer pays a huge price for a fruit to be picked. Give us the opportunity, and we'll pick our own. I do. Oh yes, I clean my own home and would flatly refuse to allow a Hispanic into my home considering the millions who are here illegally. I, nor most Americans, "enjoy" benefits from the millions of welfare class invaders.
Read more: http://www.modbee.com/2010/11/20/1437902/in-denial-over-immigration.html#ixzz15zZU3Czs
Read more: http://www.modbee.com/2010/11/20/1437902/in-denial-over-immigration.html#ixzz15zZU3Czs
That comment was posted by someone under the name, "sickofspics"- which, much like the comment, left me speechless. "Spic" is a racial slur for a person of Hispanic descent and I just cannot believe that people legitimately throw the word around without having a second thought about it.
I think that this relates very well to Leo Chavez's text where he describes how the Hispanic population as a whole has been generalized into one and alienated. The person that posted the comment above under such a derogatory name is propelling the same phenomena that the general public is promoting when referring to immigrants as aliens; dehumanizing them.
I also think it is worth noting how the person commenting argues, "Give us the opportunity, and we'll pick our own. I do." I have to question the truth in the "I do", I just think that too many Americans argue that point, but do not back it up at all. Additionally, stating that they "would fatly refuse to allow a Hispanic into [their] home considering the millions who are here illegally" is again, a huge generalization and comes across as quite ignorant.
Overall, while I do think that the article was quite interesting and did speak truth, the comments (the one above in particular) really amazed me and seemed to run right in line with Leo Chavez's book. It is very sad to me that in this day and age people continue to use such hateful language, especially in regard to speaking to/about fellow human beings.
Sunday, November 14, 2010
Secure Communities
The Secure Communities strategy is one that allows information to be shared between the United States Department of Homeland Security and the Department of Justice. According to the United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement website, the information sharing helps to "quickly and accurately identify aliens who are arrested for a crime and booked into local law enforcement custody. With this capability, the fingerprints of everyone arrested and booked are not only checked against FBI criminal history records, but they are also checked against DHS immigration records." Ultimately, it the fingerprints match records, it is determined if immigration enforcement action is required- immigration status is considered along with the crime and any criminal history.
Today an article was published by the Mercury News regarding the Secure Communities strategy and how the Fed will not allow Santa Clara Country to opt out of the program. According to Mercury News, the program has "led to the deportation of nearly 47,000 illegal immigrants nationwide since it was introduced just over a year ago." The article also states that "although the program is meant to focus on undocumented residents who've been convicted of murder, rape and other serious crimes, opponents say it's snared people jailed for low-level offenses such as traffic violations. They also say it's led to racial profiling and has made immigrants afraid to report other crimes, such as domestic violence." In the end, the states decision about the program overrides the individual counties decisions.
Today an article was published by the Mercury News regarding the Secure Communities strategy and how the Fed will not allow Santa Clara Country to opt out of the program. According to Mercury News, the program has "led to the deportation of nearly 47,000 illegal immigrants nationwide since it was introduced just over a year ago." The article also states that "although the program is meant to focus on undocumented residents who've been convicted of murder, rape and other serious crimes, opponents say it's snared people jailed for low-level offenses such as traffic violations. They also say it's led to racial profiling and has made immigrants afraid to report other crimes, such as domestic violence." In the end, the states decision about the program overrides the individual counties decisions.
Friday, November 12, 2010
Yuma, the Farmland
The first few times I visited Yuma I noticed that I was part of the minority, the Mexican food was amazing, and that there were a lot of farms. Eventually I started to pay more attention to the vast farmlands and the white buses that seemed to be abundant. The white buses all have two "port-a-potties" attached to them; these buses are parked on the edges of the fields. It took me a few times to really notice all of the workers from said buses lining the fields, walking the rows and picking the crop.
Now, every morning when I drive by the fields I watch as the workers walk the fields and wonder where they are from-Mexico? I have been told that the workers are from Mexico and that they line up each morning on the boarder to be picked up, work all day (7am-4/5/6pm), then go back home. I tried to look up this information, but really had no luck. It is plausible here in Yuma where the border is a short ride away. I also found this article which talks about working on the lettuce farms in Yuma.
Gabriel Thompson is interviewed about his experiences working in the Yuma lettuce fields, along with working in an Alabama chicken processing plant. Throughout his interview, Thompson explains that a typical day on a lettuce field in Yuma beings around 7:30 in the morning and ends around six at night, and "during the course of a day [he] could be asked to cut about 3,000 heads [of lettuce]." He also expressed how he did not ever see another white person in the fields, which I found to be interesting and not surprising. It has been argued many a time that illegal immigrants take jobs (like that on a lettuce field), these jobs are argued to be ones that Americans would ordinarily take (if the immigrants were not taking them, of course). To me this argument seems quite illogical and really inaccurate, especially after reading of Thompson's experiences on the fields. If Americans truly were willing to take these strenuous jobs, they would, but in reality "there [are not] very many Americans who are going to want to do these kinds of jobs." In conclusion, I tip my hat (or imaginary hat really) to the workers and their hard work, fully aware that I would probably not last one day in their shoes.
Sunday, November 7, 2010
Tuesday, November 2, 2010
Constitutionality of Arizona Immigration Law
Arizona's immigration law was argued over by Federal judges yesterday (November 1). Here is the article
The article is brief and discusses the protests that were held outside of Federal buildings on Monday. Protesters argued that SB 1070 "violates equal protection and the constitution and violates First Amendment free-speech concerns" (Nazario, 2010).
"South Asian organizer Hamid Khan says SB 1070’s underlying message is that undocumented immigrants threaten national security. "And hence they are always suspect. That kinda takes every community into its fold, whether you’re Pakistani, whether you’re Chicano, whether you’re from Korea.”" (Nazario, 2010). This statement made me think of Leo Chavez's text, The Latino Threat and when he discussed how after September 11 the United States- Mexico boarder emerged as a "new threat"- a "gateway through which possible terrorists might enter" (2008, p.36).
It seems as though that belief has persisted to some extent and I think that Nazario's article exemplifies it. When these views are argued, they tend to place labels onto large groups of immigrants, many of these labels extending from generalizations. I do not think it is fair that illegal immigrants be labeled as threats to national security, it simply fuels arguments that they are trying to essentially "invade" our country and take over with their culture, thus threatening our national identity- this is of course far from reality.
The article is brief and discusses the protests that were held outside of Federal buildings on Monday. Protesters argued that SB 1070 "violates equal protection and the constitution and violates First Amendment free-speech concerns" (Nazario, 2010).
"South Asian organizer Hamid Khan says SB 1070’s underlying message is that undocumented immigrants threaten national security. "And hence they are always suspect. That kinda takes every community into its fold, whether you’re Pakistani, whether you’re Chicano, whether you’re from Korea.”" (Nazario, 2010). This statement made me think of Leo Chavez's text, The Latino Threat and when he discussed how after September 11 the United States- Mexico boarder emerged as a "new threat"- a "gateway through which possible terrorists might enter" (2008, p.36).
It seems as though that belief has persisted to some extent and I think that Nazario's article exemplifies it. When these views are argued, they tend to place labels onto large groups of immigrants, many of these labels extending from generalizations. I do not think it is fair that illegal immigrants be labeled as threats to national security, it simply fuels arguments that they are trying to essentially "invade" our country and take over with their culture, thus threatening our national identity- this is of course far from reality.
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