In talking about the American Dream, this diary will explore what it means for some Americans who have been the target of anti-American attacks from the citizens of FarOut Right Beckistan. Yes, I am referring those undocumented Americans who have lived nearly their entire lives here, graduated from from their local high schools and in many cases have been working, paying taxes and have never committed a crime against the American people.
According to Presente.org:
Every year, 65,000 undocumented students graduate from high school with no ability to become citizens, get jobs, or attend a four-year college. The DREAM Act would change that. But despite broad bipartisan support, key leaders in the Congressional Hispanic Caucus (CHC), have yet to get behind it. Join us in asking chairwoman Valezquez and other key legislators to vote for DREAM. Your voice can give 1 million young people hope for a better future.
Many of the races in this election cycle will impact and be impacted by this important American issue - immigration. This question is complex, consists of many problems that have been compounded by many years of unwillingness to address them and will only become more compounded and complicated until we do.
Before looking at the races, a little background might be useful.
First, how we deal with immigration is in some ways a microcosm of who we deal with human rights more generally. The state of Arizona passed and on April 23, 2010, Gov. Jan Brewer signed into law AZ SB1070 which gave extraordinary powers to arbitrarily stop and demand proof from anyone in Arizona evidence of citizenship. The passage of this law was surrounded by many questionable claims about the existence and nature of violent crime attributed to illegal border crossings. However, the effect of this law was to create an intolerable view of Hispanics living or traveling in the state. In response to this threat to the growing Latino community in Arizona and other states across the US, many organizations have sprung up to stand up for the rights of the members of this community, among then, Present.org being one of the more high profile. Incidentally, Presente.org had a pledge before the Republican Party made theirs . . .
"We, the undersigned, call for an end to immigration policies that divide families, deny educational access, and exploit workers. We agree to stand up and be counted on the issues that matter to Latino communities. With a unified voice we can't be ignored. Together we will become a powerful online community that promotes justice and holds our leaders accountable. We will be Presente."
Subsequently, a US District Judge struck down a number of provisions of AZ SB1070 as unconstitutional. In spite of the legal status of SB1070, the larger issues remain unresolved. The American Dream has been deferred for millions of undocumented Americans who arrived in America through no fault of their own, have done nothing to harm anyone and who have been made the targets of scorns by others who should know better.
Now we come to the mid-term elections. We are engaged in a national debate to determine whether the American Dream will continue to be deferred for these Americans who want nothing more than to live a normal productive life, contributing the only country they have know since childhood or whether we will elect representatives with the backbone to moral fortitude to the good and just thing in the face of criticism and attack from a divisive and vocal right-wing minority. The outcome of the following races may well determine the fate of our Hispanic brothers and sisters who have fallen victim to the disease of bigotry and hate.
AZ-Gov
In governor's race, will Arizona immigration law be decisive?" asks the Christian Science Monitor. TusconCitizen.com asserts that, "Goddard is the epitome of a calm, rational leader...which is exactly what the state needs right now." Current polling shows Brewer with a commanding lead over Goddard.
Note from the author: In my work with the Arizona Major League Baseball Boycott, we discussed the irony of the fact that many of the Hispanic baseball players could be arrested and detained on their way to the game costing their team a victory.
FL-Gov
In Florida, Rick Scott, whose was CEO of Columbia HCA when it was raided by the FBI which later resulted in the largest fine in history ($1.7 billion) for defrauding Medicare, and who is facing new Medicare fraud accusations, is running against Alex Sink in this race. On his website, Rick Scott says, "Rick supports measures like the Arizona law . . ."
NV-Sen
The Christian Science Montitor asks, "DREAM Act: Is Harry Reid angling for Hispanic votes?" And what are Sharon Angles thoughts on the Dream Act? Well, here is how she characterized Reid's support of the Dream Act.
Latina.com documents 314 laws that have been passed that target the Hispanic community. Needless to say, immigration will be an issue in many of these elections.
Nebraska
Need help feeding your family or making sure you have a healthy pregnancy? Good luck: Immigrants must go through mandatory status checks when applying for government benefits and Governor Dave Heineman recently ended a prenatal care program for pregnant undocumented immigrants. And there’s more crackdown to come: Heineman announced that if reelected this fall, he would push through an SB 1070-like law to make it easier for local cops to arrest illegal immigrants.
Oklahoma
In the Sooner State, babies born to the undocumented basically don’t exist: Under HB 1804, undocumented immigrants are not entitled to birth certificates, or any other form of ID. The law also prevents undocumented students from receiving scholarships and financial aid.
Mississippi
Like laws in other states, the Mississippi Employment Protection Act requires that businesses use the federal E-Verify program to check employees’ immigration status, but it goes a huge step farther, making it a felony for an undocumented worker to accept work in the state on penalty of up to five years in prison and a $10,000 fine.
Minnesota
The state’s recently amended S 460 law makes undocumented immigrants ineligible for general assistance medical care, including health care and consultation.
Missouri
Like all but three states, Missouri makes it illegal for an undocumented immigrant to hold a driver’s license. But it also refuses to recognize driver’s licenses from states where it is not illegal (New Mexico, Washington and Utah).
The Dream Act is just one more reason why we should not sit out the election this year. We are not just Hispanic or white or black or Greek or Muslim or Christian or Jew or male or female or native American. We are all Americans, whether our parents came here 400 years ago or 4 days ago. Help us restore the American Dream. GOTV 2010.