IMMIGRATION IN THE UNITED STATES

by Adriana Ramos

In the last year, a visitor could spend a week in the United States, watching television, shopping and reading newspapers, then going back to their home place with no clue that immigration was a major issue in US and that more likely his next visit was going to change.

Today, Immigration is the top topic of any major newspaper in any city of the Country, describe as “The main problem” the nation is facing. In many of the minds of our population, come all types of questions. Are this immigrants helping the country in any way?, Are they truly cooperating with the economy? Are they a heavy weight to the regular citizens?

The questions can be found in many of the regular news on T.V., any entertainment host, political magazines, even Senators or Congressman have set it up in their daily Agendas. But the topic of illegal immigration not only has brought doubts, most important has brought hate and discrimination between the regular citizens.

Many policymakers gives reason and answers to the topic, that illegal immigration has a main influence in the problem of the need to secure our “Home”, our borders, the need to tight up any possibility of terrorist attack, special after the terrorist attacks of 9/11 Immigration has become a matter of “Homeland Security”.

Now the Administration has legal reasons to secure our borders by building a wall, a Wall to divided two countries, divide the citizens, divided the Nation in two different wings, one side who defend the immigrants as respond of the US economy and in the other, who reject any type the arrivals of the immigrant are helpful in any way.

Today US need to be more united, to be proud to enhance a liberty, to be proud to live in this complex and diversity Nation that we are. Be proud to be a Country of immigrants with the begging of the British Colonies until the Latin Americans in the last 20 years.

The reason illegal immigration has drive the attention in large sectors by politicians and the media is for coming elections in 2008. Any debate can become a new vote in any of the future candidates, reason why they will be so far to answer truly their own believe.

The U.S. immigration system has been broken for a long time now, and little changes, including the number of immigrants arriving the country, has change dramatically in recent years. But who should be responsible?, Illegal immigrants?, The authorities?, The Mexican government? The Latin Americans authorities?

There is a little doubt that the system need to be fix. Truly the answer will be a compromise in search a true partnership between US and Mexico governments. An option for the problem to be encounter with the reality we face.

But just how big problem immigration is? Is in fact a crisis that threatens the United States security and so fundamental questions as to be all but unsolvable?

As of this writing, Congress appears to be an impasse, after nine months of intense debate and the passage of two major bills (one in each chamber) still unable to agree on a piece of legislation. The president has made clear that immigration reform in his top domestic priority and legislators from both camps spent the summer insisting on the need of change. And yet, as the 109th Congress draws to a close, it seems unlikely that members will make a serious effort to resolve their differences before going home to face voters in November.

In fact, the nation is far less divided on immigrations, legal or illegal, than the current debate suggests. In the last six months, virtually every major media outlet has surveyed public attitudes on the issue, and the results have been remarkably consistent.

Americans continue to take pride in the United Sates heritage as a nation of immigrants. Many are uneasy about the current influx of foreigners. But and overwhelming majority –between two- thirds and three-quarters agree they help the economy.

There should be a TOLERANCE and a true commitment to resolve this issue. Tolerance to accept that if we preferred lately as fast food a “Taco” instead of a “pizza” won’t mean there’s a significant change in the new generations born in the US.

The sentimentalism arrived from the deepest part of myself not only because I am part of this Latin community, but because considering bilingual has always been a benefit in my professional life, but to be so, do not erase my identity as a true American citizen.

We are in times were major communications travel faster than ever to one Country to another, this globalization we live in is the new identity of our Generation. To be ready to accomplish any major difficult it may require different aspect to become a true “Crossover-Businessmen”.

Some words come to me “Who inside the world loves his neighbor do not commit more or less injustice than who ever in this world loves himself. Nevertheless we have to ask ourselves if the first is possible”. (F. Kafka, ZURAU, Aphorisms <p.47>)