THE ISSUE OF IMMIGRATION, MEXICAN MIGRANTS ©

Give me your tired, your poor,
Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free,
The wretched refuse of your teeming shore.
Send these, the homeless, tempest-tost to me
Emma Lazarus, "The New Colossus, 1883.

When we think of America, of what we fondly call the melting pot, when we reflect upon the masses that entered our country, this poem often comes to mind. It is inscribed on the pedestal of "Lady Liberty," this statue is forever linked to our concept of immigration. However, immigration is often not as sweet as this poem implies. Migrants to the United States were never fully welcome; few were greeted with open arms. Those that were here first often felt threatened and immigration laws throughout our history reflect this.

In 1790, Congress ratified the first immigration bill, the Naturalization Act. This measure stated, “Any alien, being a free, white person, may be admitted to become a citizen of the United States." Borders were open; yet, only to whites. In 1875, “idiots," "lunatics," convicts, and those that were likely to become a financial burden on society were excluded. In essence, people needed to be pure in blood, of sound mind, and somewhat affluent. People came, yet there were questions and qualms. What passed for white was not exactly what the founders and their progeny expected. Racial tension became a reality.

In 1882, The Chinese Exclusion Act was endorsed and enacted. The first quota systems came into being in 1917. The foreign born were required to prove literacy before entering the United States. By 1921, restrictions were refined. The United States Congress ratified a “National Origin Quota System.” Then, in 1954, “special” racial quotas were enacted. Ironically, in this same year, the Supreme Court ruled on Brown versus Board of Education. Separate was no longer equal.

However, in America, there was, and is, much separation. There were Italian ghettos, China towns, German villages, and the Irish section of the city, Jews lived here and Blacks there. Indians were placed on reservations; some question whether they are Native Americans, or also immigrants. Native Americans and Mexicans have long lived on this North American continent. Yet, each group is considered “alien” in America. Each is being mistreated in a manner similar to that of other immigrants.

Every “group” goes through this, discrimination, and recrimination. Now, the Mexicans are the focus; it seems to be their turn. Their travel will be as all those before them, different, and yet, similar. Their travel will be as all those before them, different, and yet, similar.

The similarities may be as the Pew Charitable Trust Hispanic Center recently discovered, Mexicans will survive and do well. Many are already prospering. They will, as each of the earlier groups has, ultimately, thrive in America.

The United States is a country of immigrants; we are all descendants of those born in other countries. Legends are heard everywhere. We all have our own story. The narrative is passed down from generation to generation; each yarn is well spun. They are all believable and virtuous. They are often romantic tales.

Our great grandparent was a political prisoner, a dissident, a maverick, or the person responsible for supporting the family. S/he was older, wiser, more creative, or more adventurous then other kin. Therefore, relatives placed all their hopes on this one individual. They suppressed their dreams and invested in securing passage for this fortunate soul. Parents sacrificed, siblings too. The family raised the necessary funds for transit.

There were those families that came together; the idea of being apart was too painful. Once here they sent monies home so that more could join them. Some forbearers did it alone. They chose to stow-away. They came here on their own. No one helped them. Yet, they did well, very well. They went to school, married, built a life and a family. Look what they created. How noble.

Few if any of those that migrated to America wanted to leave their families behind. Those that did rarely left a life of luxury. They traveled because circumstances were not good. Politics in homelands were punitive. Religious practices were restrictive. Money was tight. Freedom and, or abundance were but a dream. They wanted more; they were seeking answers.

Some saw the answer as schooling; others supposed a job will satisfy their needs. Money was often the great motivator. It still is. Immigrants come to the United States in hopes of fulfilling their dreams, dreams that could not be realized in their homeland. What was true for our forefathers is true for the Mexicans.

Sadly, just as our relations were once blamed for all societal ills, simply because they were the newcomers, the strangers, and the yet to be assimilated, we now blame the Mexicans. These latest émigrés, as those before, them are ostracized for not speaking, reading, or writing the language, American English. They are accused of taking jobs from [white] Americans. It is said that these [“those”] Mexicans are using services meant for [white] Americans. They do this; they do Not do that!

The discussion of Mexican immigration is ubiquitous. People are positioning themselves in numerous camps.

President George W. Bush chose an interesting and unexpected position. In 2004, he proposed giving guest-worker status to Mexican migrants, at least temporarily. He surmised that this would end the practice of employing illegals. Mr. Bush intended to affirm that Mexican immigrants, 8-12 million of these illegal, are actively contributing to American society. He thought that the people would embrace his proposal; however, this was not the case.

At the mere mention of this plan, there was much uproar. The Republican base was livid. Many of these persons do not want Mexicans in America. The idea of validating their presence was unthinkable. If the President continued to pursue this plan, he would definitely lose support.

People such as these take the issue of Mexican immigration seriously. Some are up in arms; actually, they have literally taken up arms. Nearly five hundred volunteers, self-identified Minutemen, chose to post themselves at the Mexican-Arizona border. These self-appointed civilian border patrol agents are determined to stop the flow of immigration from Mexico. They believe that the federal authorities have been ineffective. These vigilantes have elected to take matters into their own hands. They have pledged to end the Mexican invasion.

Governor of California, Arnold Schwarzenegger thinks their idea a good one. He suggested that California do the same. However, California citizenry protested loudly. The Governor felt forced to retract his words. He claims that he misspoke; it was a language problem. He did not mean to suggest that we should “close California borders” or institute a policy that would allow for individual activism. After all, he, as an immigrant has no desire to abolish immigration. He appreciates that people wish to come to America. However, he does see Mexican entry into the United States as quite a problem.

Many feel as the Minutemen do, as the Governor does. They believe that any Mexican in America is here illegally. They may not state it openly; however, it is implied. Citizens of the United States deduce and suppose that Hispanics are all expatriates from Mexico. They arrived in the States alone, are single, and mostly male. They live in hovels with numerous others of their ilk. It is thought that they have little, or no education. Americans wonder if Mexicans have any scruples.

Recently, the Pew Charitable Trust Hispanic Center addressed these concerns. They surveyed Mexicans in America and discovered that the stereotypes are untrue.

Contrary to popular belief most Hispanics in America live with their families. Actually, most Mexicans fled to this country with their families. 13.9 million persons live in a family where the head of the household is an unauthorized migrant. 4.7 million of these are children, and 3.2 million of these children are United States citizens by birth.

Few are employed as manual laborers. Mexicans, while living in the United States, fare quite well. They are not among the lower echelon. Numerous, documented and those that are not, have achieved great financial success. While most from this community came to the States with virtually nothing, now, “nearly 80 percent live above the poverty line. 68 percent of those who have lived here for 30 years or more, own their own homes.”

A quarter of these immigrants have some college education. Mexican Americans, those that are citizens and those that are not, serve, and die in the military in equal proportion to those of all other groups. Currently, Mexicans comprise 10 percent of our armed forces.

The Mexican culture often helps to create success. Not unlike other ethnicities, Hispanics hold dear a philosophy of hard work. Mexicans are able to rise from poverty. They are as your, mine, or our forbearers, noble and courageous.

However, in this period of transition, they experiencing and meeting the same painful and powerful challenges that our ancestors did. Just as those that came before them, they will survive. They will even thrive! It is important to remember that melting is a slow process. Immigrants are sturdy souls. Think of your own great grandparents and trust, that though gradually, immigrants become Americans.