The immigration question

After two years of wasteful neglect, the thorny issue of immigration is returning to the national spotlight. The immigration question has certainly been overshadowed by the security concerns stemming from 9-11, but its relevance has not faded. The need to deal with this matter in a constructive way remains as critical as ever. Congress should actively seek legislative solutions to enable the millions of undocumented immigrants who live and work in this country to be recognized for their contribution to this nation by gradually legalizing their status.

Illegal immigration is not a small problem in this country. As of the year 2000, as many as 7 million undocumented individuals -- 70 percent of whom are of Mexican origin -- were living in the United States. Approximately 300,000 new immigrants make their way into the US every year. Immigration flows have steadily increased over the past few decades, making it a seemingly unstoppable force. And given the persistent economic inequities between Mexico -- a poor country with excess cheap menial labor; and the United States -- a rich country in need of cheap menial labor; any efforts to halt this force may indeed prove futile.

In a country that was built on mass migration, Mexican and other Central American immigrants have found refuge and opportunities unavailable to them back home. But they are not just human parasites that take away jobs and government resources from lawful American citizens, as some immigration opponents would characterize them. They work tirelessly in some of the most labor intensive and lowest paying jobs out there. Without their hard work, entire industries such as agriculture would be unable to operate because of their dependence on immigrant labor. Yet, despite their significant contribution to the U.S. economy, undocumented immigrants face abuse, violation of their rights, as well as legal and social discrimination, not to mention the constant threat of arrest and deportation.

The kind of treatment undocumented immigrants receive in the United States is a subject close to Cecilia Dos Santos' heart. Cecilia is a junior majoring in International Relations and Anthropology here at Tufts and she is currently doing some research on the Salvadoran immigrant community in Somerville. In her opinion, "illegal immigrants are not criminals and should not be punished for working and living in the US. They are vital to our economy, especially in the unskilled sector and most people are too ignorant to realize this fact, not to mention that it goes unrecognized."

As Cecilia's comment suggests, many people in the US perceive undocumented immigrants as criminals who break laws and do not deserve to enjoy the same benefits awarded to "legal" immigrants. This notion has been heightened by the new security concerns emanating from 9-11 because illegal immigrants are now seen as a potential terrorist threat. Immigration policy is increasingly being seen through the prism of Homeland Security -- the newly created department that has assumed the functions of the defunct INS (Immigration and Naturalization Service).

I have to say that I find the distinction between "legal" and "illegal" immigration to be troubling. After all, how different is this recent wave of immigration from others in the past? Why are Mexican immigrants less legitimate than the Irish or the Germans from the 19th century? Why are the Mexicans who cross the border different from the thousands of undocumented Canadians who live and work in the United States? And does anyone honestly believe that the passengers of the Mayflower had a more rightful claim to this land than the poor Mexican immigrants who risk their lives to cross the Rio Grande?

I think they are both equally entitled to the promise of opportunity that this great nation has offered people of all backgrounds since its inception. I think the US should continue to be as generous towards immigrants as it has always been. Far from being a disadvantage or a weakness, immigration remains one of this country's greatest strengths by fueling innovation, progress, and cultural diversity. It is true that there is a limit to how many immigrants the US can admit. And it is also true that granting blanket clemency to all undocumented immigrants living in the US is unrealistic and maybe undesirable. But it is in the best interest of all parties involved -- the US government, Mexico, undocumented immigrants, employers, and society at large -- to reach an agreement on immigration.

There are concrete steps that should be taken to provide easier and better channels for undocumented workers to earn legalization. The US government should cooperate more closely with Mexico to develop broader guest worker programs so that Mexicans in search of jobs will find incentives to work in the US legally. Mexico and the US should also collaborate with Mexico throughout the border to prevent undocumented immigrants from risking their lives by crossing the deserts. Too many lives have been lost trying to reach the American dream.

Fortunately, recent encouraging developments in Capitol Hill signal a resumption of immigration as part of the congressional agenda. Republican Senator Orrin G. Hatch is currently sponsoring a bill aimed at granting legal status to thousands of high school students who are undocumented immigrants. Another bill would grant accelerated citizenship to immigrants serving in the US military. According to The New York Times, a third bill in progress, sponsored by Senators Larry Craig, R-Idaho, and Ted Kennedy, D-Mass., would grant legal status to as many as 500,000 agricultural workers as long as they commit to work in the farms for a few more years.

There is a growing bipartisan agreement on the need to address the immigration issue in a proactive and constructive manner. President Bush has a fantastic opportunity to push Congress to adopt bills helping immigrants attain legal status. By doing so he will heal the strained relations with Latin America, earn the respect of the Hispanic community in the US, and most importantly, he will allow the hard working undocumented immigrants to earn their rightful place in society as legitimate contributions to this country's success.

Rodrigo de Haro is a senior majoring in International Relations.