The immigration law adopted in Arizona a few days ago has again put this complex issue, which has important political implications for the United States as well as for the other countries in the Americas, back into the center of the debate.
The new law gives law enforcement agents the authority to stop and solicit documents from any immigrant, simply on the suspicion of their being an illegal immigrant. Hence, the new law denies civil rights and discriminates against a specific group of people regardless of their legal status.
The United States is a country founded and built by immigrants, a citizenry whose roots, in most cases, can be found in other lands.
During the early ninth century, immigrants (mostly Europeans) arrived to the United States through Ellis Island*. Today, most of them come from Latin America and the Caribbean. The majority of immigrants arrive via international flights. Nevertheless, millions of them put their lives at risk to enter the country.
Accents and skin color may have changed, but the dream that inspired and drove those individuals remains intact: the best quality of life.
The reasons for global migration vary, but for Latin America and the Caribbean, it is mainly led by socioeconomic conditions. The migratory flow of people from this region will continue to take place, as long as they can find better opportunities in the United States than in their countries of origin.
According to the Pew Hispanic Research Center, in 2009 there were a total of 10.8 million illegal immigrants in the United States. Other sources estimate that this figure is substantially higher. While we recognize the sovereignty of the laws enacted by states to address this problem, we believe that there needs to be an effort to stick to the fundamental principles that dictate that every human being should live without fear.
The Organization of American States (OAS) has, on several occasions, reaffirmed that “all migrants, despite their immigration status, should be accorded the full protection of human rights and the full observance of labor laws applicable to them.”
Unfortunately, the spirit of this Arizona law is having a chilling effect among Hispanics.
There is significant concern that this law will lead to discriminatory practices, affecting all minority groups. Authorities should intervene on the basis of individual behavior and comportment, not on the basis of officials’ suspicions regarding their place of birth, nor with prejudices based on racial or cultural traits.
*Editor’s Note: Ellis Island processed immigrants beginning January 1, 1892 and was closed on November 12, 1954.
There is something that you don’t understand, the government of the U.S. and the governments of the various states are only responsible for their own citizens. If you look at Mexico’s immigration laws, they are far more restrictive.
People in the U.S. illegally need to be deported immediately. If they want better lives, they need to address the corruption, ineptitude and abuses of their own governments, and stop preying on America to solve their problems.
Best regards,