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The Immigration Debate In Black and White By Mybrotha.COM Staff Writer - April 5, 2006
The recent controversial debates over illegal immigrants in the U.S. is in its infancy. The racial remarks aimed at Mexican Hispanics will soon become commonplace. So will the heated arguments from those who oppose illegal immigration, or any type of foreign entry into the U.S.
If you take a closer look at this great debate and how it could possibly play out over the next few months, it undoubtedly boils down to two of the most influential entities this country has ever known -- money and greed.
It is also not surprising that money and the pursuit of the American dream are the reasons why so many Mexicans cross the borders illegally. Statistics will verify that most illegal Mexican immigrants are law-abiding persons with only one clear goal -- to seek a better quality of life.
President Bush has already offended many lawmakers in his own Republican Party, who claim his idea of a guest-worker program will grant amnesty to the 12+ million illegal aliens already living in the U.S.
Mass protests and walkouts have been widespread as some Americans question legislation that would crack down on illegal immigrants. This legislation proposed by the U.S. Senate will overhaul current immigration laws, and take into consideration other laws such as Bush's guest-worker program. Under the program, some foreign nationals would be allowed to seek permits to work legally in the United States for up to six years.
But for many Americans, the new program and the current undermanned, under-monitored U.S./Mexico border - is a recipe for disaster. Many anti-protesters and anti-immigrants say the new program would create an influx of aliens and cause massive job losses for Americans. Proponents of the program argue that it will help ease security restrictions along the borders, and give Mexican immigrants the undisturbed right to live and work in the U.S. legally.
It is widely known that many Mexican immigrants will work for minimum wage and be perfectly content doing so. Most Americans scoff at anything within two dollars of the current minimum wage rate.
But if you split the U.S. into racial halves (in this case, Black and White), the grievances and concerns over illegal immigration are quite different.
White America seems to be more concerned about the "dilution" of America, which would be initiated by immigrants who may not speak the language, but are free to utilize hospitals, healthcare, schools, and other public services. Even more disturbing for some White Americans are the companies who hire illegal immigrants and avoid paying taxes by hiding their workers, or squeezing through legal loopholes.
The argument in these instances mixes greed with the fact that many White Americans may view Mexican immigrants as second-class citizens, getting by on a free meal ticket. This is further exacerbated when entire families of Mexican migrants sneak across the border, replacing the idea of a single man getting a job in the U.S. and sending money back home to his family.
Black Americans, though likely to identify with the struggles of Mexican immigrants, are mostly concerned about jobs and livelihood. For the already prevalent racial disparities in the U.S. affecting Black men, it seems almost socially selfish to exclaim, "Another group of dark-skinned people are given a negative label by White America, and they're taking jobs from the Blacks."
But these are the types of feelings being expressed in every corner of the country. Since most Mexican immigrants will work for 2-times less, some companies will inevitably allow "green" to do the talking -- whether the person wanting the job is black, yellow, or purple.
About The Author - Mybrotha.COM Staff Writer
©Copyright 2002-2007 - Mybrotha.COM. This article was written and edited by a Mybrotha.COM staff writer. Articles may not be reproduced, rewritten, or retransmitted without the express written consent of Mybrotha.COM
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