The immigration debate - no easy solution, no right answers

As I watched this morning’s “Meet the Press” on NBC I realized that there are no simple answers to the immigration debate. And, there is no one right answer, too. The hypocrisy of both sides is clear. For the most part I tend to agree with the Republicans – illegal immigrants are first and foremost illegal. But, what is legal and illegal depends on the government in power who pass the laws of the land. And, since Arizona, California, New Mexico and Texas were a few centuries back a part of Mexico can these new immigrants claim “right of return”?

Borders define a nation – its economic stature, its culture and beliefs – just like the four walls of your home define you. A porous border will dilute the definition. I don’t think that per se is a bad thing. But, are we (every one in the world) ready for it? Porous borders would mean sooner or later there will be homogenization. Just like globalization will at some point result in economic homogenization (at least, in theory).

I agree with the Republicans in that any amnesty program will only encourage similar behavior. And, I do think the guest worker program is a great idea but people who got into the country illegally should not an automatic shoo-in into this program. I agree with the Democrats that the illegal immigrants have contributed a great deal to the US economy. I also agree that they have helped keep the wages low in certain sectors and helped the US industries in those sectors to be competitive.

I think, the LA Times columnist who said that the protesters who were waving Mexican flags were “in your face” might have exaggerated a bit. I identify myself with India more than US. And, I might wave the Indian flag at a US /India cricket match. One can argue that protests over immigration are more serious than a cricket match. And, I agree. I really don’t know what I would have done if I was down there. Some of these protests were quite badly managed – there was one in Chicago that was held on a Friday evening. Imagine having your commute home on a Friday evening disrupted because of a protest by illegal immigrants. How sympathetic are you going to be for their cause? Rep. Luis Gutierrez’s assertion that these people are proud to be in America sounds hollow especially when he says, he had to tell the protestors to check in their national flags. I bet if you were to ask most of these people they would say they would be happy to be in Mexico (or, wherever they are from) if they can make a good living.

People who make the argument that this nation was built on immigration must realize that resources are limited – both for the nation and the planet. You cannot keep adding more people and expect everyone to have a better life. And, I suspect some of the folks who are on the side of the illegal immigrants are also the ones who oppose H1B etc… US government, for all its efforts to push WTO down the throats of other nations, still opposes WTO recommendations for free movement of professionals. Will the church take the case of illegal immigrants if they were from, say a Muslim country? And, I think it is not possible not to have some laws, restrictions etc… if you want to be better than the rest. If you want to be the same as the rest then tear down the borders, restrictions etc… - it will all level out, like water.

Finally, I did realize how different (and better) US is compared to India. We also have an illegal immigrant problem – the folks from Bangladesh. The far right screams about it from the hilltops and the rest stick their head in the sand and act as if nothing like that exists. There is no healthy discussion, debates on it. There is not even an acknowledgment of the issue. And, when a recent census revealed that the numbers of Muslims have increased considerably in the North East and certain other pockets of the country it was roundly criticized by the “secular” politicians and press.