US Features
Children become face of US immigration debate
By Anne K Walters Jun 20, 2007, 0:04 GMT
Washington - A swarm of baby strollers descended on the White House Tuesday accompanied by hundreds of children, their parents and organizers hoping to put children at the forefront of a push for US immigration law reform and to protest policies that separate families.
The march of about 2,000 people brought together groups of immigrants from across the country just as the US Congress is set to again tackle controversial legislation that would overhaul US immigration laws for the first time in decades.
As the immigration issue has come to the political forefront, children born with US citizenship who have watched their parents forced to leave the country have drawn attention and put a human face on an issue that most politicians say needs to be fixed - even if they disagree on how.
One such child, Kunal Sah, 13, who has US citizenship because he was born here, saw his parents return to India after being denied political asylum, but chose to stay with his aunt and uncle in Utah. He went on to compete in the National Spelling Bee last month, and the competition became a hook for international media attention, including articles in Indian newspapers and on the front page of the New York Times.
However, the vast majority of those at Tuesday's march were Hispanic, reflecting the onslaught of immigration by those in Latin America seeking higher wages in the US.
At the march, the children carried posters with the face of a crying child separated from her parents in prominent immigration raids earlier this year.
The crying girl symbolized the outrage after a raid at a factory in New Bedford, Massachusetts in March left children scared and abandoned after their parents were apprehended at work and detained for being in the country illegally.
The march was timed to coincide with the political debate on the issue and to tug on politician's heartstrings after the US celebration of Fathers' Day on Sunday, by urging children to protest on behalf of their parents, many of them here illegally.
'I don't like what they are doing to separate families,' said Rosa Marina Alvarez, 52, 'That's half a life here and half a life there.'
Alvarez, a native of El Salvador, brought her three grandchildren to the march. She pushed one child in a stroller and waved a sign proclaiming in English and Spanish: 'The government doesn't support me, I support them.'
The quote was a retort to critics who feel immigrants could become a drain on society. In fact, many illegal immigrants pay taxes.
Organizers say immigration raids have to stop, but have focused most of their energy on pushing for immigration reform they believe would make such actions unnecessary by granting illegals a chance to stay in the United States.
Some marchers carried posters showing a small boy and his father next to a Christmas tree under the words, 'Where's my daddy on Fathers' Day?'
The theme continued with a giant, symbolic Fathers' Day card for US President George W Bush. Showing the president with his daughters on the outside, it wished him a happy fathers' day, but noted 'it isn't one for us.'
Deportations go largely unnoticed across the country. More than 200,000 foreign nationals were removed from the US in 2005 through formal channels, and another estimated 1.3 million were turned back at or near the border, according to the office of immigration statistics.
No numbers were available on how many of those cases separated family members who are US citizens from those who were here illegally.
In the same year, nationals of 188 countries were apprehended by authorities - with Mexicans making up 85 per cent of the group. Other Latin American countries made up much of the rest of the top 10.
'I wouldn't like to get separated from my mother and my dad,' said Luis Vargas, 19, who came to the rally with several siblings whose parents immigrated from Mexico. 'Everyone had to come from somewhere.'
Senator Edward Kennedy, a key sponsor of the legislation, brought the crowd to its feet at a rally in a Washington church before the march.
'It is not right to divide families as we have seen in New Bedford, Massachusetts' and other locations, he said. 'That is not American.'
The bill championed by Bush appeared to die earlier this month, before being revived in a congressional compromise late last week. It would overhaul immigration laws, providing for an expanded 'guest worker' programme and a path to citizenship for an estimated 11 million or more people living illegally in the United States.
Bush's own Republican Party rejected his previous efforts to push through the bill. It stands a better chance with the new Democratic- controlled Congress, but still faces tough opposition from both sides.
© 2007 dpa - Deutsche Presse-AgenturCOMMENT
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Older Talkback
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Send their children back to their homeland with them (wherever it is)! Teach the children what happens when they commit crimes. Just what are these criminals thinking? That it's okay to be a criminal just because you have a child (or 5)? That if you scream and whine long enough, people will forget about punishing you for what you've done wrong? These illegals are some of the most pathetic people I've met in my life. Grow up and quit breaking the law! I wouldn't dream of doing what they're doing. If I wanted to move to Germany when I retired, I would have done it the right way! Not sneak in as a tourist, steal somebody's identity, and then try to hide within their society so that nobody knows I'm illegal! What's so hard about that? Being a good member of society is EASY. Just simply follow the rules. Why can't these people understand what rules are? Is it a cultural difference? Do what you want no matter who you hurt? Who cares that you ruin somebody's life by taking their SS number and abusing it? Low life trash is all they are.
who cares about the kids ?
kill them before they spread
Don't split families up. If staying together is of the utmost impotance, then take your children when you're deported. They're still US citizens. They can return when they're adults and can contribute to society. They'll be legal citizens. But don't come into the country, have an anchor baby, and then expect to be allowed to stay. You've committed a crime by coming here. NO AMNESTY!! I could rob a bank and say 'It's OK that I broke that law because I plan to spend the money I stole. It'll be good for the economy.' Would that excuse my breaking the law? Of course not. After I'm convicted, I could say 'I have two children. Don't send me to jail and seperate me from my family.' I realize that comparing robbing banks and illegal immigration is comparing apples and oranges. But in my possibly warped mind there are similarities between the two and the defense being used. I also realize that my family does not have the option of going to jail with me and that the anchor baby did nothing wrong to deserve to be deported. That too is a comparison of apples to oranges. But the original issue is seperation of families. If the punishment for robbing that bank was deportation, you better believe that I'd take my family with me.
The American Republic supports the Mexican People
America was unfortunately developed by the murdering of the indigenous inhabitants (Various tribes of Indians) and by lies and deceit.
The Dutch had great ideas for America, the French wanted a new home, Spain was addicted to blood, religion and gold, and Britain was expanding due to overcrowding and disease. The Jews brought in the Irish to manage, and the Negros to work, then came the Asians. The Mexican people were always in America and thru crafty means they were systematically pushed back into their continent. Poncho Villa was trying to save the Mexicans from the lies of oil, and the rest is still history.
Now the so called Minute Men are attempting to drive the Mexican people back across their original border. California, New Mexico, Arizona, Texas, etc was originally Mexico. The illegal government of Mexico has forced their people into slavery forcing them to cross over their borders into America to look for work to feed their families. The current US government does not recognize these facts as do others.
We of the American Republic respect the Mexican people and will help them regain their dignity and respect due any human being on this planet.
Under our new government, the Mexican people will be welcomed to enter our land and to work, prosper and provide for themselves and families. They can either stay or return to their country without the threat of deportation. America was invaded by immigrants from around the world looking for a better life and was built on that fact. We will offer the same opportunity for all who seek freedom and a new way of life.
Viva La Raza
We are a Legion of many, who will live a life of peace, and have respect for all living things, while having considerations for those who are different, and look for ways to truly accommodate those who are slow in understanding.
We support the poor, helpless, and defenseless people. We support the freedom of Women, we support the sane treatment of animals and the environment, we support the freedom of religion and expression. We do not support ignorance, period.
We are a growing nation of people that encourage anyone or Nation anywhere to become part of the New American Republic!
Sincerely,
Judah Ben-Hur
Ambassador
The American Republic
American Mujahideen Army Council
Headquarters: United States of America
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ConfusedJun 20th, 2007 - 13:39:52
I just don't understand the mentality then. So let's so I was an illegal immigrant. I knew that any day I could be deported. So what do I do, I have a child? Isn't that selfish? I knew what the potential consequences would be.
The law is the law and if you are an illegal immigrant, then you have to realize that it is a reality that you might be deported and you have to accept that. Having a child is an unwise move.
Now some might say that the law is bad. Maybe, but that is besides the point. The law is the law and if they illegal immigrants want to be accepted, they can start by accepting and abiding the laws of the country they want to live in.
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