The United State Congress faces an historic opportunity to meaningfully address the issue of immigration in this country. This opportunity should not be lost due to partisanship or lack of will. Regardless of one’s place on the political spectrum, we can all agree that the current system has failed and must be reformed. I urge Congress not to put off this important work to another time. This is the moment.
The enactment of this necessary reform will not be easy and only the naïve believe that there are easy fixes. There are huge challenges ahead, but if this issue is confronted with honesty and courage, it will hold great promise for our future. It will make our country better.
As various bills, amendments and compromises are considered at this crucial juncture, we would do well to ask ourselves this fundamental question: how do we treat the most vulnerable among us?
In the Judeo-Christian tradition, we see that Scripture tells us that the Lord “befriends the alien, feeding and clothing him. So you, too, must befriend the alien, for you were once aliens yourselves in the land of Egypt.”
For Christians, Jesus’ own words are clear: “For I was a stranger and you welcomed me.” Note that Jesus was not ambivalent about the necessity of caring for the least among us. He does not condition it on whether it is politically expedient, whether it fits within our zone of comfort, or whether it is permitted by law.
Surely, all people of good will, regardless of faith tradition, instinctively know that men and women have a right to live in conditions worthy of their human dignity. So, when persecution or economic plight drives men and women to our country for a better life, what do we do?
In the past we welcomed those who left their own countries in the face of oppression, conflict, famine, religious intolerance, and every kind of hardship. Between 1840 and 1860, over three million Irish and Germans came to America. Between 1880 and 1920, more than four million Italians came to the U.S., joined first by immigrants from Northern and Western Europe and later by those from Southern and Eastern Europe. As they arrived here at Ellis Island, they were greeted by the inscription at the base of the Statue of Liberty: “Give me your tired, your poor.”
These tired and poor were our grandparents and great grandparents. Sadly, they were often times greeted with hostility and even violence, driven by the unfounded fears and insecurities of American citizens, some of whom saw the newly arrived as competition for jobs and others who were put off by their customs and religious traditions. And yet, few today would deny that despite enormous obstacles these immigrants—who assimilated quickly through hard work and tenacity—greatly enriched our country and helped fuel this country’s growth.
Today, many men, women and families have come here from Latin American countries, in particular, from Mexico. While this recent migration is not identical to that of the past, the aspirations of these immigrants are the same. The response of some U.S. born citizens to the new immigrants also carries an echo of the past: unfounded hostility, suspicion and fear.
Fear often is based misconceptions. The reality is that immigrants pay tens of billions a year in state and federal taxes, including the more than $2 billion a year paid by the undocumented. They work hard and help fuel economic growth. Within ten years of arrival, more than 75 percent of immigrants learn to speak English.
We cannot ignore the fact that many of those who have come to the United States in recent years—a quarter of all immigrants—have not done so legally. There are many reasons for this, but such violations of the law cannot be encouraged or excused. At the same time, those who have not entered this country legally must be treated humanely. People do not give up their human dignity or the right to due process because they—often compelled by forces that left them with no other option—entered this country without proper documentation. The human rights abuses of intercepted migrants is a deplorable and far too frequent reality, as is the fact that thousands of migrants have died trying to cross the border.
And yet, the United States House of Representatives passed a bill last December that would only make matters worse. It would make what is now a civil violation a felony. It also would make it a crime for religious and social service organizations to assist undocumented workers in need of humanitarian care. These are punitive, draconian provisions that must be rejected. Fortunately, Senate versions of the bill have been far more sensible and have not contained these shameful provisions.
It also must be emphasized that the United States not only has the right but the obligation to its citizens to protect its borders. This is especially true in the aftermath of the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001. While there is legitimate debate as to what security measures are most effective, it is clear that during the very time the United States stepped up its border enforcement efforts the undocumented immigrant population actually surged. This is because the avenues to legal immigration are inadequate and the demand for employment (and the number of jobs in this country in need of workers) is so high. Effective border enforcement must be coupled with expanded opportunities for safe entry and legalized status, with provisions for the protection of worker rights.
It also is imperative that reform legislation include provisions for legalizing the status of the millions of undocumented workers who are already here. It is not only logistically and economically impossible to deport all undocumented workers to their native countries, but this provision would recognize the contribution these workers have already made to our society. Undocumented workers already here would be required to pay a fine, undergo background checks and security screenings, and demonstrate that they are working, paying taxes and learning English. The workers then would be eligible after a period of time to apply for permanent residency. This cannot be mistaken for amnesty. It is “earned legalization.”
It is also essential that our immigration laws include provisions that will expedite and make it easier for families to be reunited. It is tragic and unacceptable that spouses and children are forced to wait eight years or more to be reunited.
Finally, any kind of real, comprehensive immigration reform must include economic reforms that address the root causes of migration, in particular, the poor economic conditions in sending countries, which force many to leave their native countries to survive and support their families. In Mexico, where wages are 80 percent lower than in the United States, there are not nearly enough jobs for those who are eligible and willing to work. The United States can help here through trade policy, debt relief and other policies which will help bolster the economies of sending countries.
Other reforms will also be necessary and any future reconciliation between House and Senate bills will mean compromise. In the meantime, let us urge the Senate to overcome the current impasse which stands in the way of a fair, comprehensive immigration bill. Let us seize this moment in time and commit ourselves to work together for real immigration reform. Let us abandon complacency and political maneuvering, prejudice and fear, and welcome the stranger among us.