This is yet another reason why I find myself questioning the fairness of illegal immigration. I've read how involved our immigration process is, how long it takes and sometimes how difficult it can be to get a foot through the door. I sympathize with Yves. But I'm glad he believes in America enough to continue working hard for the American Dream.
Our immigration process isn't easy. But I believe this weeds out those who are not prepared to renounce citizenship in their homeland and become Americans in every way. I don't care if you can't speak good English or not (many born citizens can't. I live in Georgia, I should know!!). I don't care if you don't celebrate christmas or easter, I just don't give a fuck. Just invite me over for Cinco de Mayo ok?
I only want people living here who believe in our approach to government. Despite Shrub and Co. it is still the best example of democracy in the world. I don't take that lightly. I only want people immigrating here who understand the importance of organized Labor, and who are willing to join other workers of all cultures and backgrounds, legal or illegal immigrants, citizen or non, to fight for better pay and working conditions.
Greek immigrant Louis Tikas came here in 1906 as a laborer. He was hired as a strikebreaker (scab) by mine companies in the Midwest. Because he spoke many languages he was used as an interpreter between different ethnicities and Business, especially where matters of safety and fairness came into play. Soon he realized he was being used as a pawn by Business, and began organizing a hodgepodge of illegal and legal immigrant miners. Few could understand what the other was saying, but they all spoke the same language of fairness and justice. Tikas, despite coming here as a strikebreaker, shifted his views immigrant workers; scabs were not helping advance the needs of existing workers and were being taken advantage of. He probably didn't take pleasure in sometimes violently confronting his own brothers from Greece and elsewhere, but knew it had to happen for conditions to improve for everyone (including the strikebreakers!)
During the 1914 coal mine strike leading up to the Ludlow Massacre, Tikas fought off strikebreakers who were brought in by Colorado Fuel & Iron. Mother Jones and other strong women and men believed that unions and strikes were absolutely necessary. Which side are you on? (btw, Natalie Merchant covered Guthrie's 1946 anthem recently.. it's amazing).
Of course every attempt was made to educate and convince strikebreakers that they were being exploited by Business. Had Tikas and United Mine Workers of America adopted some of our modern views of illegal immigration we would still be working 12 hour days, right beside our children. He understood the plight of immigrants - he was one himself - but immigration had to come with loyalty to America and Labor.. not Business.
There appears to be solidarity amongst illegal immigrants in modern times, but seemingly only amongst their brothers and sisters. Where is Louis Tikas? Where is Mary Jones? I long to hear these voices, now. If illegal immigrants are that important to our economy, they should walk the path Tikas and many other immigrants took - fighting for better pay and better working conditions through worker solidarity, regardless of ethnic background or legal status.
I hear little of that now.. other than an attempt at unionizing illegal immigrants in New York recently (which I wholeheartedly support!) I see marches demanding citizenship, but no marches demanding better pay for all Americans.
Sadly, most illegal immigrant labor is used by Business to lower wages and workplace conditions for existing workers. That's not xenophobic or CT, it's happened from 19th century strikes through today. Heck, Business purposefully hired very diverse workforces (and strikebreakers) under the assumption that language barriers would prevent organization. Business plays us like fools to lower their bottom lines.
Labor may be changing, but labor arbitrage is as strong as ever. Business is winning the battle of public opinion. Unless illegal immigrants stand up against Business and demand better pay and treatment I have a hard to standing up in support of their being here.
At the same time, and to make myself perfectly clear, I oppose mass deportation. You deserve deportation if you murder or rape, or have the same background in your homeland.
Corn subsidies paid to big agribusiness has decimated Mexico's poor - which is why so many are here to begin with. NAFTA probably hasn't helped nearly as much as was hoped when it was signed. Well, Business is profiting from NAFTA and other free trade deals, but that's a topic for another diary.
I don't have the answers for illegal immigration. It seems to me that shortcuts to citizenship is a real affront to those who immigrated legally. But I could change my tune if I saw a real Labor movement building amongst illegal immigrants. It almost seems many are satisfied with just being here, and do not want to rock the boat. Business has us between a rock and a hard place. Organizing and working together is the only way out of this mess.
We can change the economic conditions that brought about massive illegal immigration in the first place. Can and should. We also need to think about fair ways to handle the millions of illegal immigrants here now. Illegal immigration does not exist in a vacuum. Labor is compromised if strikebreakers agree to do the same job for less pay and no benefits.
Like Louis Tikas, we need to reach out to illegal immigrants and convince them that organizing is in everyone's best interests. All people, not just illegal immigrants, stand to benefit.
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