2008 Woodie Awards
IMMIGRATION ISSUES HIT HOME
Megan Tucker
Issue date: 3/12/08 Section: Opinion
Imagine yourself 10 years or so from now.
Will you have children and a spouse?
Imagine, for a moment, that you do.
What if you didn't have the money to send your kids to college?
Or worse still, what if you could barely support your family?
If you could make your family's future better, would you seize the opportunity?
I don't think anyone could answer "no" to that question.
If you were in this situation, you would be like millions of Mexican immigrants that have made the United States their home in past decades.
But, it seems with a recently more noticeable rise of Hispanic immigrants (evident by the local appearance of various Mexican restaurants and Latino-centered grocery stores) many Rock Hill civilians, and Americans, are working themselves into froth; and becoming increasingly intimidated by our friends south of the border.
When I tell people I study Spanish, I often receive the raised eyebrows and a disapproving, "Well, that will be useful these days, won't it?"
I suppose I shouldn't be surprised given the fears many people have with the U.S.'s recent economic pains. Legalized citizens are fearful of losing jobs, and are pointing fingers at non-tax-paying immigrants as the scapegoats for many problems in America.
Yes, there are illegal immigrants living here, and, yes, these people are often paying little or no income taxes compared to naturalized citizens. I would be ignorant not to acknowledge that; yet, at the same time, I feel there is a strong case to be made for American support of Mexican immigration, especially as a student of their language and culture.
Of course, allowing anything illegal to continue happening is against the way of the American justice system, but think about the future for a moment.
Whoever is the next U.S. president is very likely to add a stricter and heavy-handed immigration policy, as well as force these illegal immigrants to pay some sort of fine to make up for unpaid taxes and earn their citizenship.
Will you have children and a spouse?
Imagine, for a moment, that you do.
What if you didn't have the money to send your kids to college?
Or worse still, what if you could barely support your family?
If you could make your family's future better, would you seize the opportunity?
I don't think anyone could answer "no" to that question.
If you were in this situation, you would be like millions of Mexican immigrants that have made the United States their home in past decades.
But, it seems with a recently more noticeable rise of Hispanic immigrants (evident by the local appearance of various Mexican restaurants and Latino-centered grocery stores) many Rock Hill civilians, and Americans, are working themselves into froth; and becoming increasingly intimidated by our friends south of the border.
When I tell people I study Spanish, I often receive the raised eyebrows and a disapproving, "Well, that will be useful these days, won't it?"
I suppose I shouldn't be surprised given the fears many people have with the U.S.'s recent economic pains. Legalized citizens are fearful of losing jobs, and are pointing fingers at non-tax-paying immigrants as the scapegoats for many problems in America.
Yes, there are illegal immigrants living here, and, yes, these people are often paying little or no income taxes compared to naturalized citizens. I would be ignorant not to acknowledge that; yet, at the same time, I feel there is a strong case to be made for American support of Mexican immigration, especially as a student of their language and culture.
Of course, allowing anything illegal to continue happening is against the way of the American justice system, but think about the future for a moment.
Whoever is the next U.S. president is very likely to add a stricter and heavy-handed immigration policy, as well as force these illegal immigrants to pay some sort of fine to make up for unpaid taxes and earn their citizenship.
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