Immigrant Stin joins the immigration debate (940 hits)
Category: GeneralRating: 1.65 on 19 reviews (Rate this item) (V)
Submitted by Stin (View user info) at 2006-04-14 17:00:11 EDT
I want to make one thing clear to start off with. I am an immigrant to the US not for the green card, not for the so-called "better life". I came to Maine for a man who happens to be a citizen of the US. I paid my money, I waited my processing times, I didn't work under the table and I came through a legal point of entry. I also have a small Union Jack on my car, because I am a British citizen who happens to be US resident.
Ok, so let's deal with The (Con-)Artists Formally Known as "Illegal Immigrants". Except in this world gone PC crazy, they're now "Undocumented Workers".
I don't consider "Illegal Immigrant" to be a slur; it's merely a reflection of status. If you break it down, an immigrant is one who has moved to another country. They are "aliens" due to not being citizens of this country, and "alien" is not synonymous with "immigrant". "Illegal" simply implies that they are not in legal status, either because they are overstays or because they crawled through a tunnel underneath the border. "Undocumented" is simply a more aurally pleasing way of saying the same thing. Whatever you choose to label it, their status does not become any more legal.
As far as the supposed dehumanising effects of being labelled "illegal" as opposed to "undocumented", I frankly don't care. If you are here in this country against the laws (ie. illegally), then in my personal opinion you cannot complain when you are branded an "illegal immigrant". If you were in jail for shoplifting, you would have no right to complain about being branded a "petty thief". Feeling dehumanised by the name is BS; let's call a spade a spade.
On the flip side, is the term "legal immigrant" in any way a favourable term? Does it get you special treatment? In my experience, nope. I don't get people falling over themselves to offer me things because I have lawful residency here.
Do you know what the spouse of a US citizen has to go through to get here? Do you know how long it takes? Do you know how much money it costs and the miles of red tape and bureaucracy a person has to go through to join their loved one? Did you know that once an immigrant enters the US, they have to sit through another load of processing, all the while paying for the right to work on a yearly basis, having their files lost and their cases wrongly adjudicated by an inept organisation which couldn't find its own arsehole? It costs on average over $2000 to get the husband, wife or fiance(e) of a citizen of the United States resident over here - not including the plane tickets.
Personally, once I arrived in the US and married my husband it took three months to get work authorisation and a Social Security Number, and seven months to become a lawful permanent resident. I was lucky; I had a quick turn-around. There are people who wait for over three years to get their green card approved, because the right hand does not know what the left hand is doing. I am still waiting to get my Maine drivers licence, as the state consider me to be the same as a new teenage driver, despite my clean UK driving record.
As a green card holder, you can't vote for the president (or against him). You have to inform USCIS every time you move house. For immediate relative petitions, you are required to have a sponsor who will agree to pay back the government any money you claim in federal benefits such as welfare until you accrue 40 Social Security working quarters, or until you become a citizen. You are required by law to carry your green card with you at all times, and can be detained if you do not have it on you and are asked.
The media are not helping things. Sweeping statements and generalisations about immigrants which do not distinguish between those who overstayed a visa or entered without inspection (jumped across the border) and those who sat patiently in line are not helpful to anyone's understanding of the issues. Neither is it an accurate statement to say that amnesty would give all of the illegals citizenship. Residency, yes. A somewhat long and winding path to citizenship, yes. But that's vastly different from saying "Yes, you can all come in and avail yourself of every facility we have to offer". As I said above, "alien" is not synonymous with "immigrant", and "immigrant" is not synonymous with "illegal". The use of mixed and misleading terms in the news media for sensationalism presents a biased picture which does as much to harm the legal immigrants of the United States as it does to draw attention to the very real border control issues.
I think it's very important that any kind of immigration reform deals with the excessive wait times for those at the slower service centres and consulates, and must also consider the rights of USCs trying to bring their loved ones to this country. Just because the hype and focus is on those who entered without inspection, the system is as it stands is broken and the other issues cannot and must not be swept under the rug.
Although I am pretty ambivalent as to how the illegals are deal with (up here in Maine, it's really not the biggest concern we have), I am against granting amnesty. Why am I against granting amnesty? I believe that the wider social implications of changing the ethnic tapestry of the US would be good for the country as a whole over the longer term, causing big business to reconsider what a fair living wage is, allowing supply and demand to stabilise and perhaps for the American "entitlement mentality" to dissipate a little. Maybe high school dropouts need to learn that they are not automatically above a Mexican with a graduate degree, and that there is satisfaction in having a job - any job. The changes to the education and healthcare systems which would be affordable in states which lose a high number of their population due to being illegal could be dramatic and far-reaching. I understand that there are less people to purchase goods, pay taxes, all the rest of it. I've not got my head in the clouds and I really don't have an answer. I'm not an economist. But I think the big picture has the potential to be beautiful.
The opportunity to have an impact on the way immigration works will not come again soon. The touch-paper has been lit and the time is now. If you feel strongly about the issues - on either side - please get the word out there. All I ask of you is not to forget that those of us who do it legally, the time we wait and the money we pay before we are allowed to be a part of this rich and diverse community.
User Reviews
Submitted by Blackberry (user info) at 2008-12-09 13:02:43 EST (#)
Ranking: 0
Is this the chick that married silvrwolf and then left him as soon as she got her green card?
hahahahahahahahahahahaah
Submitted by JonnyX (user info) at 2006-07-14 17:52:28 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
you never did write about your cruise-ship days, Christina - what ever happened to that?
Submitted by electrictoothsyndrome (user info) at 2006-04-17 00:58:07 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
(Not that that's a bad thing if one needs it.)
Submitted by electrictoothsyndrome (user info) at 2006-04-17 00:57:30 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
Submitted by DCWoody (user info) at 2006-04-16 09:57:28 (#)
Ranking: 0
The way I'd see it if I were president, is that immigration is the only way for the US to get back its status as undisputed superpower.
I'd let pretty much everyone in as long as they paid their taxes. That is directed at you Brad.
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Well, at least I'm not living off the state.
Submitted by munkeypants (user info) at 2006-04-16 23:08:50 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
Submitted by Stin (user info) at 2006-04-14 17:01:29 (#)
Ranking: 0
And it's 5pm Eastern, so it's over and out.
Have a wicked good evening, y'all.
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hahahaha she said wicked. Adjusting to New England I see!
Maine is the only state I have not been to in the northeast. I hope
to make it up there this summer. I am looking for a scenic drive.
Would you have any suggestions?
Submitted by DCWoody (user info) at 2006-04-16 09:57:28 EDT (#)
Ranking: 0
The way I'd see it if I were president, is that immigration is the only way for the US to get back its status as undisputed superpower.
I'd let pretty much everyone in as long as they paid their taxes. That is directed at you Brad.
Submitted by Chroniclysm (user info) at 2006-04-15 19:03:55 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
We're glad to have you aboard.
Submitted by Coyote (user info) at 2006-04-15 11:28:24 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
Well said. Amnesty is a bad thing because it preferentially rewards those who cheated and took advantage of the system. The skilled professionals who are bringing the most vital skills for the country are already following the rules, so I don't see why the folks who could be replaced by high school students should get a better deal. Diversity is what made this country great though, so it's only in everyone's best interest to find a satisfactory solution here.
Submitted by Stin (user info) at 2006-04-15 11:03:44 EDT (#)
Ranking: 0
That Amerikah thing is working out pretty good, thanks, despite the unscheduled stay!
(By the way, I'd close the loophole that lets people adjust from tourist status too - figure that one out, Dave!)
I got done processing so quickly because I live in Maine. That's all it is. Vermont Service Center just moves a lot quicker than the others.
Submitted by Davros (user info) at 2006-04-15 09:39:15 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
How's that amerika working out for you then?
Surprised you got processed as quickly as you did, due to your unscheduled stay in the states, but glad you have got it sorted.
-Dave
Submitted by electrictoothsyndrome (user info) at 2006-04-15 04:26:57 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
"an inept organisation"
Submitted by electrictoothsyndrome (user info) at 2006-04-15 04:22:47 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
I paid my money, I waited my processing times, I didn't work under the table and I came through a legal point of entry.
PREACH ON!
Submitted by Jack_McCallum (user info) at 2006-04-14 17:57:41 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
I'm a citizen now, and I played the paperwork game to get here. Illegals piss me the fuck off.
And I'm perfectly willing to clean my own toilet.
Submitted by Teephphah (user info) at 2006-04-14 17:15:56 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
Racist.
Submitted by JonnyX (user info) at 2006-04-14 17:14:43 EDT (#)
Ranking: 1
Although I am pretty ambivalent as to how the illegals are deal with (up here in Maine, it's really not the biggest concern we have),
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for now...but just wait.
In the past few years, places like South Dakota & Iowa, which have never had illegal immigrants, now have HUGE populations.
New Orleans, now practically devoid of African-Americans, now finds that practically all the re-contruction is done by cheap, Central American day-laborers (shutting out the blacks in yet another whammy)
Believe you me, as soon as they can get up there and take advantage of your generous welfare system, you won't be rid of them....
Submitted by Maddog (user info) at 2006-04-14 17:13:10 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
I agree with you, but the bottom line is the beaners do good work for pennies on the dollar and the U.S. will never discard their cheap labor force.
VIVA LOS ZAPATOS!!!!
Submitted by FilthyAssistant (user info) at 2006-04-14 17:12:53 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
"miles of red tape and bureaucracy"
You forgot to mention the hoop jumping and rain dances.
Submitted by Norman (user info) at 2006-04-14 17:09:16 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
Legal non-immigrant here, and I share your sentiment. Lots of red tape indeed, that's why I'm leaving the U.S. in the coming months. Nothing like getting fingerprinted and photographed every time I leave the country. Not much sympathy for illegals, tough luck.
Submitted by Stin (user info) at 2006-04-14 17:01:29 EDT (#)
Ranking: 0
And it's 5pm Eastern, so it's over and out.
Have a wicked good evening, y'all.