Deborah Wilkinson | Staff writer
Recent months have brought many new ideas, productions and legislation. Our nation is a growing power; we push for financial stability, economic growth and military power. This land, where everything seems too grand and great is one that many people strive to make their home.
There are many ways in which one could become a resident here in the United States, but the most popular by a show of numbers has been by illegal means. Many undocumented immigrants make a home for themselves within this country and a large amount of them eventually seek citizenship.
To prevent unlawful entrance into this land of freedom and wealth, there are thousands of immigration laws which prevent social services and benefits from being given to illegal immigrants.
Many of these laws are to protect the services taxpaying citizens provide and quite a few laws place restrictions on labor and job availability for illegal immigrants.
Recently, a bill was proposed creating unprecedented immigration control. The Support Our Law Enforcement and Safe Neighborhoods Act, Arizona Senate Bill 1070, is an anti-illegal immigration law that presses unusually stiff consequences.
Federal law mandates that certain immigrants register with the U.S. Government, (8 U.S.C.§ 1302) and to have registration documents in their possession at all times ( 8 U.S.C.§ 1304e).
Arizona SB 1070, in addition to the federal law, makes it a state misdemeanor crime for an illegal immigrant to be in Arizona without carrying the required documents. The bill also cracks down on those sheltering, hiring and transporting illegal immigrants.
Our nation has been one built on immigration, shaped by people coming in and taking over. There have been issues with immigrants before: Irish immigrants in the 1930s and 1940s, Chinese immigrants and many other peoples that have rushed into our borders.
Any person not born within the United States’ borders is considered an immigrant. Former President Jimmy Carter said it best, “We become not a melting pot, but a beautiful mosaic. Different people, different beliefs, different yearnings, different hopes and different dreams.”
It makes little sense to look down upon a people that have migrated here to find a solace when that is just what our forefathers did. The idea that pilgrims are only limited to men from the 1600s is a hilarious idea, every person that takes a step toward something greater is a pioneer.
Anyone who comes to this great land should get the treatment that the pilgrims got; hostility from the natives, lots of work to do to get things started and difficulty in attempting to create a new life. TAS
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