You know, I can see how an argument can be made that the United States would benefit from lower immigration. For instance, some environmentalists argue that immigration is swelling our population and hurting the environment. Others argue that the influx of immigrants is "taking jobs" from Americans (I have seen no evidence for that, by the way, especially here in Northern Virginia where the unemployment rate is close to ZERO). And others obviously believe that there are adverse cultural and even national security implications surrounding all this immigration. Now, I don't agree with these arguments, but I can see how they can be made. What I can NOT see is a war on people already in this country, doing jobs that AMERICANS want them to do, that AMERICANS are paying them to do, and that AMERICANS are reaping the benefits from (e.g., lower prices on food, services, and just about everything, really). Personally, I also feel that immigrants, if rapidly assimilated into American culture, are greatly beneficial to America. As they always have been throughout our history, whether those immigrants were Irish, Scots, Italians, Poles, Jews, Russians, Germans, Vietnamese, or whatever.
Unfortunately, several Virginia Republican lawmakers don't see it that way. Instead, people like John Reid (R-Henrico), David Albo (R-Fairfax), Jeff Frederick (R-Prince William), and Thomas Gear (R-Hampton) would rather spend their time making life miserable for immigrants rather than attempting to assimilate them rapidly into life here in America - and Virginia. That's not just sad, it's mean-spirited and also counterproductive. It's also, frankly, ignorant to make comments like "This is a complicated issue, but there are some simple answers to it" (Reid). Oh really? Pray tell!
Luckily, some representatives "get it" on immigration. For instance, Al Eisenberg (D-Arlington), correctly points out:
This is not about immigration. It's all about making points with narrow specific groups who respond to these kinds of appeals.
And Tim Freilich, managing attorney for the Virginia Justice Center for Farm and Immigrant Workers in Falls Church, says:
Current federal laws do not reflect the economic reality . . . and our dependency on a large labor force of both documented and undocumented immigrants. If you hurt Virginia immigrants, you hurt Virginia.
Exactly right. So what are these Republican lawmakers attempting to accomplish by "cracking down" on immigrants? Why aren't they taking up this issue with their fellow Republicans who control both Congress and the White House? Seems to me that those people could, if they wanted to do so, increase - or decrease - immigration into the country. Or, could it be that this is all just a cynical, pandering game? That Congress, the Bush Administration, and Republicans like Albo/Frederick/etc. don't really WANT to reduce illegal immigration? That they would rather allow businesses and consumers to benefit from cheap, easily exploitable labor, while simultaneously courting Hispanic/Latino voters and also pandering to anti-immigrant sentiment? Answers? Yes. Yes. Yes.
Anyway, let's hope that these bills are defeated or vetoed. The fact is, besides being mean-spirited, they're simply not helpful in any way.