FOR OPEN BORDERS AND AGAINST IMMIGRATION BILL

I am against the Senate immigration bill S.1348, not because it confers amnesty, but because it is too harsh on immigrants and immigration. I want open borders for the United States that allow anybody to come and go, freely without restriction, for peaceful purposes. In contrast, S.1348 wants heightened border patrol and elimination of open borders.

I had lunch yesterday with a law school classmate who does lots of immigration work. Even he was arguing against open borders, claiming that a nation's sovereignty would depend on maintaining border control, as to who can and who cannot enter the country. For me, open borders has no effect on whether or not a state is "sovereign." For example, each one of the 50 states is a sovereign, yet each state must maintain open borders to anyone living and residing in another state. No, control of immigration does not define whether a state or country is "sovereign."

My point to him was that the United States has had de facto "open borders" along the Mexican-American frontier, and that it has worked rather well. "Open borders" has been the reason why we have so many Latino and other workers who have contributed so much to the U.S. economy and social fabric.

So why does the right want "closed borders?" It could not be because some undocumented Mexican poses a security threat. For one thing, there has not been one Mexican who has been shown to be a jihadist or member of Al Qaeda. Nor do we have any evidence whatsoever that Latinos are entering the United States with bombs.

The only reason I can think of is that the people screaming for more border security are anti-Latino and anti-Spanish-speaking. After all, there is no clamor for a 20-foot wall along the Canadian border. If these nativists really were concerned with control of the border, they should be concerned about the open spaces along the northern frontier with Canada. But they are not. They don't seem to mind Canadians who speak English sneaking across. What bothers them are dark-skinned Mexicans and other Latinos who speak Spanish rather than English.

I favor open borders and citizenship for any person who migrates to the United States for peaceful purposes. Already the 12 million undocumented immigrants have contributed mightily to the U.S. economy by their taxes and Social Security contributions, notwithstanding that they will never reap the benefits of social security retirement income and other American privileges and immunities.

DEFEAT UNFAIR UNJUST IMMIGRATION BILL

The more I look at the provisions of the immigration bill being considered in the U.S. Senate - S.1348- the more I want Bush's immigration "reform" to be defeated. It is grossly unfair to immigrants, especially the 12 million undocumenteds already in the U.S.

One, it continues to fund the hated wall along the Arizona border. Not only is this wall a serious impediment to wildlife and an environmental disaster, it makes people throughout all Latin America hate Americans and view the U.S. as exclusionary and racist. The U.S. is not building a wall along the Canadian border. It should not build a wall along the Mexican border.

Second, it forces the 12 million undocumenteds to jump through hoops if they want to become legal permanent residents. They must pay fines/application fees of at least $5,000, the head of the family must return to his/her country of origin to make official application, and there will be a long waiting period. These provisions are excessive. Let the undocumenteds already in the U.S. remain here without having to return to their countries. Let's not stigmatize the process of becoming permanent residents. Let's give everyone already here the chance to become citizens, and let's expedited and simplify the whole process.

Third, the temporary guest worker problem will force workers to return to their countries of origin after every two-year period and remain there for at least one year. Furthermore, after a total of six years working in the United States, workers are barred from returning. This is unfair to the workers. It removes any hope of becoming permanent residents or citizens. It treats foreign workers as worthless cogs who have no rights to stay in the U.S. or to put down roots.

For all the above reasons - the hated wall, the return to country of origin, the barring of any citizenship rights from temporary workers - this immigration bill is a nasty bill that is is inimical to immigrants, especially those already in the U.S. without documents. Work to defeat Bush's immigration bill.