I watch them scurry around the restaurant busing tables, delivering meals and seating patrons. They work, not only in restaurants, but also in many other labor-intensive businesses such as landscaping, drywall installations, painting, construction and food preparation plants. They come from Mexico, Guatemala, Panama and Nicaragua. These undocumented workers work diligently while paying local, state and even federal taxes with no hope of filing for returns. Many even pay social security payments without the possibility of ever benefiting from the investments. They come here to the United States to work and find a better life (
http://movies.yahoo.com/movie/1810158037/info). As most of you know, these Hispanic immigrants have become the target of many slurs, social attacks and legislation. Immigration has emerged as a prominent, national political issue. The resolution has international, national and local implications. We must construct an immigration policy that resolves the issues. (
http://www.stateline.org/live/ViewPage.action?siteNodeId=136&languageId=1&contentId=51473)
I know much about Hispanic migrant workers: I've translated for them over the past many years. Late at night I travel to State Police Posts, the County Jail or village detention centers in order to make sure that these Spanish speaking folk understand their situation, charges that may be brought against them or circumstances they face. Generally the person in question has had a little too much to drink and made a bad choice: driving under the influence. From there, the person must hear and understand his/her rights, take a breathalyzer test, sign various documents (mostly in English) and either post bail or go to jail. I generally follow them through the entire process, making sure they hear their options along the way (in Spanish). I've gotten to know numerous Spanish speaking migrants and I must say none has posed a threat to the security of the United States of America. Most work hard, keep a low profile and send money back to her/his home. In my twenty years of advocating and translating, none of the Hispanics have carried weapons, caused harm or endangered neighbors or communities. Naturally most of my experiences have been in Southern Ohio, but I must tell you that these folk have always been polite, considerate, respectful and gracious. I have always tried to ensure that they receive fair treatment. I believe in justice for all...regardless as to status.
The police and the court system in Southern Ohio have been very fair and just with migrants arrested for DUI. Almost without exception, the police here (local or state) treat Hispanics with respect and justice. The courts (municipal and common pleas) make every effort to supply translation and clear instructions for those incarcerated or accused. My concern does not center on Southern Ohio law enforcement or the courts. My worry comes from the national temperament and federal approach to enforcement. I present here four precautions. These represent my worries and fears over an overreacting national consciousness concerning immigration. One size does NOT fit all. What may work in Arizona may not work in Ohio. Please take time to consider my thoughts...my concerns. I write this out of a heart-felt desire to see US as humane.
Precaution One: Let us not target the Hispanic immigrant as the sole cause of our faltering economy, the demise of Wall Street or the reason for unemployment in our country. Nazi Germany tried to point blame at one cultural segment of the population and few in the United States would defend their actions or the result of such evil attitudes. We must look passed the the influx of migratory humans and ask ourselves "why do they come?' and "what do they want?" With these questions we can better understand our own national soul. We have always welcomed the downtrodden right? As a nation we say, "
Give me your tired, your poor, your huddled masses yearning to breathe free, the wretched refuse of your teeming shore. Send these, the homeless, tempest-tost to me, I lift my lamp beside the golden door!" (
http://libertystatepark.com/emma.htm).
Precaution Two: Let us not forget history. In our efforts to claim our territory and mark our borders, we should not forget the raw truth of history. Texas belonged to Mexico. I'm sure you know where I'm going with this! New Mexico, California and, yes, Arizona once belonged to Mexico too. The Caucasian sheriff, senator and governor live there as a result of immigration. I'm not saying they don't belong...I'm just saying we should remember (
http://academic.udayton.edu/race/02rights/guadalu3.htm). Culturally I am not sure we can blame people for migrating across the Americas. People have done this for time eternal. Migration served as the way we all came to this continent. Be it land bridge, boat or border, all of us in one way or another have migrated here in some form or fashion...even if we were born here...our ancestors immigrated.
Precaution Three: Let us remember to be human. I'm tired of the anger, malice, violence and hatred spewed out as moral justice. We must determine and decide if we stand as a society of justice and dignity or a mob of social militants. Many undocumented workers serve us meals, cut our grass, clean the pool, cook our food, work in manufacturing and housekeeping. They do jobs many average Americans refuse to do. I do not argue for amnesty or deportation. I merely point out to you that we must decide if we are human and want to be humane. Philosophically and nationally we must decide where we stand and where we want to go. Do we seek to take in the masses yearning to be free? If so, let's come together as sane, civilized people and solve this problem. We cannot incarcerate people merely for seeking a better life. Surely we will not criminalize the hopes and dreams of thousands because of ignorance.
Precaution Four: Let us seek solutions. I understand politics. I understand agendas. Yet, if we do not get this self-serving, jealous, mean-spirited, hedonic set of tendencies under control in America, we will lose the very social fabric that makes us strong. We celebrate freedom, dreaming, hope and what we call the American Way (
http://voices.yahoo.com/the-american-way-1621481.html). Lately I sense that Congress does not seek solutions...only private agendas. I think that people many people in the country have galvanized their thinking about cultures, people and migration. Even the federal government cannot mold a national policy that satisfies state and local governments. What a quandary. What a mess. We need a solution but we kick the can down further down the road. I like that cliche. We should confront the issues and make a plan. (
http://www.forbes.com/sites/investor/2010/12/20/kicking-the-can-down-the-road/)
And so let us make a pact, you and me. Let us seek to treat all people with dignity, honor and justice. Whether at home or abroad, let us stand for the ideals of our founding fathers. We've always embraced a powerful work ethic...let's not punish people for seeking to do the same. Recently, a Mexican young man drank a little too much, drove a car down the street in a local town, got pulled over and went to jail. He spend Christmas in jail. Our local courts fined him, put him on probation and released him (this was his first offense). Within hours of his probation orders (after being set free by our local municipal judge) INS came, picked him up, took him away and flew him back to Mexico. He left a kitchen job, six very good friends and his new life (his better life) behind. The term? Deported. Gone. Disappeared. Kicked out. Rejected. Pick one and think about who we are and who we want to be. These people constitute the silent, transparent folk we have selected as our new target. I'm not sure what we're aiming at...all I know is that this does not feel like a solution. Yes he drove under the influence...but under what influence are we acting?
