Will this question decide America’s immigration policy?
I have been meaning to write on the immigration issue for a while, especially after it has begun to slowly emerge as an issue that just might energize America. Let us, for the moment, ignore the chatter in Washington and among pundits-airwavists everywhere. Their interest is to play immigration as a wedge issue and do electoral math on that basis.
What we have here is an issue in which at least some people have a lot at stake and it might open up a serious conversation from grounds up, in a way Civil Rights movement or anti-Vietnam war mobilization did. If draft is reintroduced, then Iraq war (and Iran adventures) too might possess that potential. If nothing else, people are out in the streets in significant numbers.
We will obviously talk more on this issue in the weeks and months to come but today I want to draw your attention to one obvious and much talked about substantial issue in the debate on immigration: skills. Well, the question is a simple one: what you got? If you are a poor Latino or an Afro-Asian cabbie, then not much in terms of skills, if you don’t take into account the capacity to work for long hours, live on very little and be away from the family. We have twelve million of these illegal aliens, who are now on the streets.
At the other extreme, we also have highly skilled (legal?) immigrants, who are on the Hill, lobbying the Congress and doing what needs to be done. Skill and money, that’s a great combination. Mitra Kalita’s interesting story on the lobbying efforts of (brown) Indians in the WAPO brings out this new form of focused mobilization a few skilled people will achieve.
Obviously, what interests me here are modes of mobilization and struggle. Resourceful and educated Indians, Chinese and such will go to the Hill and retain lobbyists whereas the millions of illegal aliens will march in the streets. We all know who will have a greater impact but still it will be interesting to watch how all this might unfold.
Well, in the meanwhile, let us march on May 1st.
2 Comments
I am one of them waiting endlessly.The system is ridiculous .I dont find much difference between administration in India and here .There the work is deliberately delayed because of corruption here they just never want to work .The administration is found short of excpectations on innumerable instances but all that ends is a committee which looks into it and then nothing happens . In india after every bad thing there is a JPC,CBI inquiry,Judicial inquiry then nothing happens .
On Illegal immigration everybody needs labor at lesser cost .But nobody wants to own accountability for the mess. Its one confused nation
Today across america , all the immigrants who are here illegally would go on a protest march thus boycotting partcipation in work and business . This reminds me of the similar protest we had during independance day of boycotting all british goods with assumption that it would hurt the economy of the colonial power.We also had the ‘Non-Co-operation’ movement to signal the non participation in the economy and with administration.
Well the demonstration today signals the arrival of a more active voice to demand amnesty for all the illegals which otherwise was a latent force till today.there are many legals like me ofcourse waiting for years to acquire a greencard( Not sure I might need one ) .Eventually LEGAL or ILLEGAL ,the common american doesnt find much time to either protest or support such a cause except feel frustrated on the happenings .
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