30 Days. 30 Issues: Immigration

A bit of a sensitive subject for our home. A topic we would probably be judged as being "left leaning". I believe this country needs immigrants. I believe that immigrants, legal or illegal, do work that many Americans would not do. I believe this country is built on the back of our working class and our immigrant population. But most of all, I believe that these things are clear cut and that were it not for our xenophobic view of the world, this issue of immigration would not even be discussed beyond organizing rights for migrant workers.

That said, I do not agree with Barack Obama on this issue. I believe his view is too conservative and rooted in his urban experience. This is the one issue that made me love John McCain during the Republican primaries. John McCain is from a border state and when it comes to immigration, he understood the complexities and advocated for a more even keel, fair minded approach. That is until he became the nominee. Such a shame.

Below is a photo of my husband, Tevita (on the right) when he was 6 yrs. old (so cute). He's with his grandfather, his older sister, and his younger brother. All immigrated to Utah from Tonga some 30 years ago. Tevita is the oldest boy of nine but it was these three along with a younger sister that came to Utah to be raised by Grandpa Tonga. Tevita now has a PhD from the University of Washington, is a professor, and the really wonderful Bishop of our ward. His older sister is a very happy homemaker with 3 children. His brother is a successful computer geek and he and his wife just had children 5 and 6 (twins) this year. They are all successful and ethical and happy contributors to the America economy now, raising little successful future tax payers, as their grandparents did when raising them. And they're just good people to know. They were here legally, but does that matter? They still had to deal with (and overcome) the class, xenophobic, and race/ethnicity issues that has plagued this country for centuries.


My own parents are immigrants to America. They came here illegally and have the craziest story of how they became legal. Another story for another day. Suffice it say, it had to do with my Mom having a temp job, the CIA approaching her, her collecting forms instead of shredding them, and then getting green cards from a thankful US government. Scarecrow and Mrs. King-Brooklyn style.

So below is Barack Obama's plan. Like I said, I'm not entirely in agreeance with the premise of even having a "plan" to deal with the "problem". I don't see hard working people as a problem. But this plan is the best one extended so far.
Here it is:

The Problem:

Undocumented population is exploding: The number of undocumented immigrants in the country has increased more than 40 percent since 2000. Every year, more than a half-million people come illegally or illegally overstay their visas.

Immigration bureaucracy is broken: The immigration bureaucracy is broken and overwhelmed, forcing legal immigrants to wait years for applications.

Immigration raids are ineffective: Despite a sevenfold increase in recent years, immigration raids only netted 3,600 arrests in 2006 and have placed all the burdens of a broken system onto immigrant families.

Obama/Biden Plan:

Create Secure Borders Obama and Biden want to preserve the integrity of our borders. He supports additional personnel, infrastructure and technology on the border and at our ports of entry.

Improve Our Immigration System Obama and Biden believe we must fix the dysfunctional immigration bureaucracy and increase the number of legal immigrants to keep families together and meet the demand for jobs that employers cannot fill.

Remove Incentives to Enter Illegally Obama and Biden will remove incentives to enter the country illegally by cracking down on employers who hire undocumented immigrants.

Bring People Out of the Shadows Obama and Biden support a system that allows undocumented immigrants who are in good standing to pay a fine, learn English, and go to the back of the line for the opportunity to become citizens.

Work with Mexico Obama and Biden believe we need to do more to promote economic development in Mexico to decrease illegal immigration.

Barack Obama for President