NEW YORK—I think the Dream Act has the right general approach to immigration and could be a good thing. I say this based on years of professional experience in the field of immigration, and as the husband of an immigrant.
Unfortunately, the legislation—which strategically was passed in the House of Representatives earlier this month—is expected to have a tough time getting passed in the Senate and subsequently signed into law.
Honestly, I am not surprised.
The Dream Act allows illegal immigrants who came to the United States as children and have been here for five years to get a chance at citizenship by doing two years in the military, or other uniformed services, or going to college for two years.
In theory, I think this approach makes a lot of sense. Instead of treating undocumented foreigners on our land as unwanted guests, why not engage them and tell them how they can earn their piece of the American dream while benefiting America itself.
But, to make this dynamic really work, the immigrants in question really have to give something extraordinary of themselves, because in return they are getting something extraordinary, which so many other law-abiding immigrants from other countries have rightfully stood in line for.
Two years of uniformed service or college does not fulfill the extraordinary. It simply doesn’t.
People go into the military these days as a job, and they get money, training, food, and shelter for serving. There is no draft anymore, and if they can select where they go in the uniformed services—which the Dream Act allows for—immigrants can easily arrange it so they don’t actually put themselves in harms way.
The argument for college as an extraordinary way to give something to American society is even more tenuous. College is a privilege, always has and always will be.
Whoever cooked up the details in the Dream Act was listening to immigrant interests groups and politicians; they weren’t listening to America.
In New York City, considered an immigrant haven, Wal-Mart is still trying to set up its first store, according to recent reports. The retail king is shunned by the public and politicians alike here for its low-paying jobs and its cheap products made in communist China.
Why not put two and two together. Wal-Mart, which is America’s biggest public company, is not the problem, just as the immigrants themselves are not the problem, but they both have problems that could be resolved with common solutions.
Why not allow Wal-Mart, Target, and other American stores to hire illegal immigrants and pay them, perhaps half the minimum wage, for eight years. This would basically be allowing our country to buy cheap labor and would aid in recovering our economy.
Better yet, why not have all of the cheap goods that big American stores have mass-produced in China, instead be mass-produced right here in the United States, in factories run by workers getting half of minimum wage for eight years. These same workers will one day not only have citizenship but may also become the management of the factories and have regular, decent-paying jobs after they put in their time.
Let’s see a business-minded Republican or conservative-leaning Democrat turn their nose up at that!
Of course, I can already here people yelling: “That’s slave labor! That’s exploitation!”
I hear them, I really do. But I also here the people saying, “Get the illegals out of OUR country,” as they do on ResistNet.com and, “There should be no debate over illegal invasion,” as they say on IllegalAliens.us.
I think everyone needs to stop yelling, quiet down, and pursue solutions that are really down to earth.
[email protected]
Unfortunately, the legislation—which strategically was passed in the House of Representatives earlier this month—is expected to have a tough time getting passed in the Senate and subsequently signed into law.
Honestly, I am not surprised.
The Dream Act allows illegal immigrants who came to the United States as children and have been here for five years to get a chance at citizenship by doing two years in the military, or other uniformed services, or going to college for two years.
In theory, I think this approach makes a lot of sense. Instead of treating undocumented foreigners on our land as unwanted guests, why not engage them and tell them how they can earn their piece of the American dream while benefiting America itself.
But, to make this dynamic really work, the immigrants in question really have to give something extraordinary of themselves, because in return they are getting something extraordinary, which so many other law-abiding immigrants from other countries have rightfully stood in line for.
Two years of uniformed service or college does not fulfill the extraordinary. It simply doesn’t.
People go into the military these days as a job, and they get money, training, food, and shelter for serving. There is no draft anymore, and if they can select where they go in the uniformed services—which the Dream Act allows for—immigrants can easily arrange it so they don’t actually put themselves in harms way.
The argument for college as an extraordinary way to give something to American society is even more tenuous. College is a privilege, always has and always will be.
Whoever cooked up the details in the Dream Act was listening to immigrant interests groups and politicians; they weren’t listening to America.
In New York City, considered an immigrant haven, Wal-Mart is still trying to set up its first store, according to recent reports. The retail king is shunned by the public and politicians alike here for its low-paying jobs and its cheap products made in communist China.
Why not put two and two together. Wal-Mart, which is America’s biggest public company, is not the problem, just as the immigrants themselves are not the problem, but they both have problems that could be resolved with common solutions.
Why not allow Wal-Mart, Target, and other American stores to hire illegal immigrants and pay them, perhaps half the minimum wage, for eight years. This would basically be allowing our country to buy cheap labor and would aid in recovering our economy.
Better yet, why not have all of the cheap goods that big American stores have mass-produced in China, instead be mass-produced right here in the United States, in factories run by workers getting half of minimum wage for eight years. These same workers will one day not only have citizenship but may also become the management of the factories and have regular, decent-paying jobs after they put in their time.
Let’s see a business-minded Republican or conservative-leaning Democrat turn their nose up at that!
Of course, I can already here people yelling: “That’s slave labor! That’s exploitation!”
I hear them, I really do. But I also here the people saying, “Get the illegals out of OUR country,” as they do on ResistNet.com and, “There should be no debate over illegal invasion,” as they say on IllegalAliens.us.
I think everyone needs to stop yelling, quiet down, and pursue solutions that are really down to earth.
[email protected]
