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We asked you about Illegal immigration, you responded.
“Immigration control is one of the most urgent issues facing Arizona
Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., and Sen. Edward Kennedy, D-Mass., have introduced “The Secure America and Orderly Immigration Act.” This bill is touted as a bipartisan solution to our country’s illegal immigration problems.
Do you think this bill is the solution?
If not, how else can we fix the U.S.
“Immigration control is one of the most urgent issues facing Arizona
Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., and Sen. Edward Kennedy, D-Mass., have introduced “The Secure America and Orderly Immigration Act.” This bill is touted as a bipartisan solution to our country’s illegal immigration problems.
Do you think this bill is the solution?
If not, how else can we fix the U.S.
Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., and Sen. Edward Kennedy, D-Mass., have introduced “The Secure America and Orderly Immigration Act.” This bill is touted as a bipartisan solution to our country’s illegal immigration problems.
Do you think this bill is the solution?
If not, how else can we fix the
MEDIA MYTHS
Illegal immigration is only an issue for a xenophobic minority in our great society. Unfortunately, much of the media (including this magazine) has focused on this “problem” rather than dealing with the real issues that face this state and our nation. Where are the stories about the incredible expansion of the federal government in the last few years? Where are the stories about the numerous scandals and illegal incidents in our White House? What about the fact that we are wasting our natural resources at a breakneck pace?
The greatest complaint that the anti-immigrant crowd has is the depletion of social services by a mythical non-tax paying immigrant. Mythical, to be sure. Every one of these people pays taxes at the pump, at the store, and through their landlords as part of their rent. Most of these folks will even pay payroll taxes using legitimate taxpayer identification, or fake Social Security numbers. Most of them will never have a chance at getting a refund. How many of the anti-immigrant crowd can say that they will never file for a tax refund? Without this economic impact argument, the anti-immigrant crowd has no foundation for their complaint except their fears that one day they might have to broaden their mind and learn a new language.
We have an immigration problem in this country – too many people forget the lessons and gifts that prior immigrants have given to this great nation. The U.S. is great because of its diversity, not in spite of it. Lastly, please focus future Zócalo questions on the real issues that face our Society – not the problems that the Right Wing wants to create for their own political gains.
Adrian P. Fontes
A START
I view this bill as a partial solution. I fear, however, that if it is not passed and there are attempts to compromise with other extant bills, many of the good provisions will be modified to the extent that we will have next to nothing. For that reason I would strongly support passing this bill as a starter and ironing out some of the problems with it with amendments at a later time.
Manuel T. Pacheco, Ph.D.
President Emeritus,
University of Missouri System
President Emeritus, University of Arizona
BULLY VOTE
Unfortunately, while the illegal immigration issues are serious ones that require some sane economic and humane solutions, the subject is being used as a political bully pulpit by politicians in both parties. You can tell the politicians without brains from the intelligent ones by the issues they focus on. When you hear illegal immigration referred to as “terrorist acts waiting to happen,” “invasion,” “a flood,” or “a threat to our way of life,” you know you are listening to the underachiever who can think of nothing better to appeal for your vote.
Unfortunately, they are doing it because it is a surefire way to get elected, as the message is one voters across the nation respond to like a bull seeing red. And both politicians and voters are whipped into a frenzy by print and TV media that blare out the anti-immigration message to sell newspapers and increase ratings. It amazes me how people respond to these rantings. In a scary way it reminds me of George Orwell’s novel 1984. Meanwhile, brown people are dying in the deserts and working in our shops, yards and homes by day and hiding in the shadows by night so they don’t get deported – or worse, killed by people smugglers. Knowing that our so-called leaders and fellow citizens are so blindly led is more depressing to me than any so-called “problems” stemming from illegal immigration.
Ralph Carbajal
NO EASY WAY
Tancer Law Firm,
PLC Of Counsel, Galbut & Hunter, P.C.
Is there a lack of Latino leadership in
Arizona? If so, what can be done about it?
I could not agree more that the immigration issue is one of the most important ones currently facing our policy makers. Although the McCain-Kennedy bill is not perfect, it more than any other proposal puts immigration into a broader perspective and attempts to chart a path through which we may be able to find both short- and long-term solutions. Immigration is not a single issue, but affects our society and our economy in so many different ways that a single-prong approach would be meaningless and actually defer any real answers.
Shoshana B. Tancer
