The laws that are currently being kicked around in Congress and the protests they sparked are what led me to this blog. This is the first blog I have ever registered for. It is also the only one that has held my attention for more than 5 minutes. I watched the protests, read both bills, and have missed many hours of sleep in the past week reading the opinions and arguments of the everyday democrats here.
Then in a conversation with an old highschool friend, it was brought to my attention that my supporting immigration reform of any kind could lead to my losing quite a few friends. This would not be because of arguments or differences of opinion, but because they wouldn't be here any more. I'm not saying I prefer to associate with criminals. I just work a crap job whose only apparent benefit is learning cuss words in several languages.
I spoke to 29 immigrants (legal, illegal, and somewhere in between) from 16 different countries. I asked them why they came here, why did they stay (or overstay), and what do they think of the immigration laws that may or may not soon be passed. Some didn't want anything they said to be on here. None of them wanted their names on here. Some got angry at me for asking them "personal" questions and wanting to talk about their situation publicly. Here are some of the answers I got.
"they told me get out two time already. They gonna tell me again?" - North Africa
"If Bush let me stay, I will vote for him or whoever he choose" - South America
"I've paid over 30 thousand dollars to go to school here and when I finish I can mabey get a job and stay. I want to be allowed to work legal to pay for my school but if somebody here illegal and they get to stay after what I did...."(she threw a towel on the floor and left)- Asia
"I don't care. Nobody listen to this law." - Central America
"It depends on which law. One say stay, one say go." Middle East
"if the new one goes through I will bring my family $2000 is worth it to come here and not have to be a student" Middle East
"I hate this job. If I can't get a real job I will go back to my country soon anyway" Anonymous - he didn't want the boss to read it.
There were more responses but like I said some were afraid to have anything written about them, but here is what the owner said (a naturalized citizen who hired these people) "F@#$ing foreigners! send them all back" (in his heavy accent) That was the only one that surprised me.
comments welcome