Un Dia Sin Immigrantes

This is a belated response to the May 1 "A Day Without Immigrants" event. For those not in the USA, the day was an attempt to influence legislator's decisions regarding impending immigration law changes. It was basically a boycott in which immigrants were absent from school and work and refused to buy anything.

***I want to make sure that I'm understood. I don't have a problem with immigrants or minorities. What I do have a problem with is people who break the law to enter or stay in the country.***

The May 1 event didn't affect my store....AT ALL. Everyone came to work, we made a normal amount of money for the day, and life continued as normal. After work I accidentally ended up in the middle of a rally that drew quite a few people, but it was peaceful, with almost a party-like atmosphere.

I do not support amnesty for those here illegally. They broke the law, and should not be given the easy route to citizenship when it took many years for others to become citizens while following the law. Do we need illegals? Well, cleaning hotel rooms, picking fruit, gardening, doing heavy construction work.....not on most people's favorites list. But, perhaps paired with welfare reform, those now milking the unemployment or disability systems could take over some of the undesirable jobs.

Historically, Americans haven't handled immigration well. I was recently reading about immigration in the 1890s-1920s; many of the same issues debated in that time period are being debated now.

I know one person here illegally (most people are fairly quiet about their status). He makes more money than I do, yet doesn't pay a single cent in income taxes. However, he can't get health insurance because of his legal status. If he's sick, he uses the local emergency room or walk-in clinic. For everyday things, he pays out-of-pocket. But if he were to be seriously injured, he wouldn't be able to pay. Yet the hospital would still have to treat him, then end up charging more to everyone else, leading to an increase in insurance premiums.

Schools are already full beyond full, struggling to provide even an adequate level of education; social services are stretched thin; in many ways we're having trouble taking care of the people already here. There are legal ways to come to the USA. Certainly it's a long and complicated process, but it is possible in some cases. It's not our fault that Mexico's economy is in bad shape. They shouldn't make their poor our responsibility.

A related issue is what language the immigrants should speak. A long time ago English was chosen as our language. Ballots should NOT be printed in any other language, since English proficiency is necessary to become a citizen and only citizens can vote. With the possible exception of visa applications, government forms should NOT be printed in any other language. Hospitals and schools should NOT have to provide a translator. It's called English. If you live in the USA, LEARN IT.

(I speak, to some degree, two other languages, so I'm not the stereotypical American who can only speak English. But it's impractical to provide translations/translators in every language and if you only provide translations in some languages, then that's not equal......it becomes problematic.)

That's only a tiny bit of what's going on. The issues are complicated and will continue to be discussed both in and out of legislative chambers.

Any thoughts?