-Caveat Lector-
The Washington Times - February 28, 2001
Immigration paradox - by Helle Bering
Those who complain that no great issues ignite the passions of
Americans the way ideology did during the Cold War struggle between
East and West, need not fear that we are running out of things to
fight about. The difference is that today's heated debates tend to
focus on problems closer to home, more likely to have a direct
impact
on personal lives than a higher theoretical or philosophical
dimension. Consider the issue of abortion, literally a life and
death
question, which echoes with religious undertones. Or free trade,
which
splits both Republicans and Democrats right down the middle and
arouses the fierce antagonisms of the ludite anti-WTO crowd.
Or consider the issue of immigration. Now, there's a topic to
start the fur flying in all directions. It all depends on whether
you
believe we about to become an "alien nation" as Peter Brimmelow
put it
starkly or whether you believe this country's destiny and path to
greatness lies in keeping the door open to the world's "poor and
huddled masses."
President George W. Bush in his first official foreign trip,
paying a neighborly visit to Mexican President Vicente Fox, waded
briskly into this thorny thicket. Under discussion were proposals
to
expand the visa program for temporary workers, the "H" visa
category
which currently is geared towards highly skilled labor, to include
unskilled temporary workers in the agricultural sector as well. For
his part, Mr. Fox is pressing the United States to agree to another
sweeping amnesty of Mexicans living illegally in this country, and
has
said that immigration is his Number One priority.
As governor of Texas, Mr. Bush acquired a better
understanding of
the human and economic costs associated with illegal immigration
than
most American would have. Texas has 27 border points with Mexico,
more
than California, Arizona and New Mexico put together and obviously
more opportunities for illegal crossings. These are the front line
states in the losing battle against illegal immigration. Making
Latin
America a foreign policy priority makes a great deal of sense, as
Mr.
Bush said as early as last August in a foreign policy
address. "Weak
neighbors export problems. Environmental problems, illegal
immigration, even crime, drugs and violence. Strong neighbors
export
their goods, and buy ours creating jobs and good will." And he
added
significantly, "This can be the century of the Americas."
Additionally, Mr. Bush has good domestic political reasons
for
grappling with immigration. In the last presidential election, the
Republican Party worked hard to change its image with minority
voters,
with only limited success. The Republican Convention showcased
minorities of all kinds, but Hispanics particularly could be
pleased.
One of the stars of the convention was George P. Bush, nephew of
the
president and son of the Florida governor, who addressed the
audience
in fluent Spanish. Hispanics will soon overtake blacks as the
largest
ethnic minority group. Strongly influenced by Catholic values and
strong families, Hispanics are a natural Republican constinuency.
In
the November election, however, the fact that the Republican
Congress
the month before declined to grant the amnesty for several Latin
American immigrant groups sought by the Clinton White House
undercut
expectations of large Republican gains. Mr. Bush is now trying to
reach these voters again. All of which makes good demographic
political tactics.
Unfortunately, it is almost impossible for Republicans to do
so,
without alienating another constituency, a more traditionally one,
the
social and Christian conservatives who tend to take a dim view of
the
inevitable cultural changes large scale immigration entails. While
the
GOP hungered for the White House, they remained quiet, but their
attendance at the polls was significantly down. As may be gathered,
both these constituencies hold a passionate view of the issue of
immigration.
It is clear, however, that with some 8.5 million Mexican
immigrants living in this country, and about 3 million of them
illegally, an orderly and legal process is preferable to one that
is
neither process nor legal. In this, Mr. Bush is absolutely right.
However, if resurrecting a temporary vise program is the answer,
and
it may be, it ought to be combined with internal enforcement
efforts
by the Immigration and Naturalization Service, something that has
been
all but abandoned by now. Once people have crossed the border
regions, they vanish into the general population without a trace.
Many
probably hope for an amnesty eventually, like the amnesty of 1986
the
third only in the entire history of the United States. In that
amnesty
2.7 million illegal Mexicans, the largest group to benefit,
received
legal residence status, only to be replaced by millions of other
illegals a decade later. The idea of amnesty becomes an attraction
in
and of itself.
Mr. Bush may have to square the circle to solve this one. It
is
to his credit however that he dares take on the problem at such an
early stage of his presidency. One thing is certain, cooperation
with
Mexico is a key to any solution, and by his neighborliness with Mr.
Fox, Mr. Bush seems to have made a good start.
Helle Bering is editorial page editor of The Washington Times. Her
column appears on Wednesdays.
<A HREF="http://www.ctrl.org/">www.ctrl.org</A>
DECLARATION & DISCLAIMER
==========
CTRL is a discussion & informational exchange list. Proselytizing propagandic
screeds are unwelcomed. Substance�not soap-boxing�please! These are
sordid matters and 'conspiracy theory'�with its many half-truths, mis-
directions and outright frauds�is used politically by different groups with
major and minor effects spread throughout the spectrum of time and thought.
That being said, CTRLgives no endorsement to the validity of posts, and
always suggests to readers; be wary of what you read. CTRL gives no
credence to Holocaust denial and nazi's need not apply.
Let us please be civil and as always, Caveat Lector.
========================================================================
Archives Available at:
http://peach.ease.lsoft.com/archives/ctrl.html
<A HREF="http://peach.ease.lsoft.com/archives/ctrl.html">Archives of
[EMAIL PROTECTED]</A>
http:[EMAIL PROTECTED]/
<A HREF="http:[EMAIL PROTECTED]/">ctrl</A>
========================================================================
To subscribe to Conspiracy Theory Research List[CTRL] send email:
SUBSCRIBE CTRL [to:] [EMAIL PROTECTED]
To UNsubscribe to Conspiracy Theory Research List[CTRL] send email:
SIGNOFF CTRL [to:] [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Om
