Common nations
On TV a couple of weeks ago, I saw a muscular, crew-cut blonde, middle-aged guy looking right into the camera and angrily saying: “Where’s my homeland security? Who’s protecting me from the Third World?”
It’s always someone else who’s the barbarian, I thought. And the idea of immigrant hordes is hardly new.
A year ago, Tom Barry wrote in CounterPunch that the immigration debate was being framed in terms of “sides” - as in “What side are you on?” or the infamous “You’re either with us or against us!”
The American Immigration Law Foundation sums up the current immigration debates:
“The U.S. relies heavily on immigrant workers as the core of its domestic labor force. The majority of undocumented Mexicans typically work in the agricultural and service sectors performing tasks most natives regard as menial. Many Americans feel undocumented workers are taking jobs from natives who would otherwise be employed. Recent statistics show industries that employ mostly foreign, un-skilled laborers are constantly soliciting new help to fill job vacancies. Despite popular belief, plenty of jobs are still available for both natives and immigrants and this trend shows no signs of declining.
The national interests of Mexico however, are much different on the issue of immigration. As a labor- intensive country, Mexico relies on immigrants as one of the best sources of foreign revenue. The Mexican government understands that the money generated abroad will most likely be sent to family members still residing in Mexico and thus be invested in the Mexican economy. The ‘legalization’ of more Mexican immigrants signifies larger incomes for natives of Mexico and in turn larger dividends for the Mexican economy.
Apart from the obvious economic advantages, many people believe a reform in current immigration policy means immigrants will also gain respect. Previously ineligible to receive the same rights in the workplace as those afforded to natives, essential workers will no longer live in fear of being deported when they comment on poor working conditions, long hours or lack of benefits. The exploitation of Mexican immigrants is a harsh reality that few people are aware of. At a recent Senate hearing, Raul Yzaguirre, President of the National Council of La Raza commented, ‘immigration is an issue of powerful symbolism for us. The debate on immigration policy often feels like an indicator of respect — or the lack of it — for the contributions of the larger Latino community to our common nation’.”
I like that last quote, although I wonder if common nations, plural, isn’t more appropriate.
The illustration above is one of Blair Kelly’s stunning linocuts. (via)