 |
|
|
 Editorials | Issues | November 2007 
Immigration Issues Abroad
 Sada Farah - The Daily Collegian
go to original
There's no doubt that immigration has been getting national media coverage in the United States for at least the past few years. The central issue being what to do to prevent Mexican immigrants from illegally entering the United States across the southern border.
And, more importantly, what do we do with all of the undocumented immigrants already in the country? A variety of possibilities have been proposed, including building a "great wall" between Mexico and U.S. to keep people from getting into the country, as well as mass deportation as a solution for the immigrants already here, which would actually be a logistical nightmare.
However, those that believe that Mexican immigrants are unfairly being targeted argue that this country and its wealth was built on first the backs of slaves, and then various immigrant laborers brought here to do the dirty work - building railroads, etc. They do not see why this one group of immigrants is being targeted when they do jobs that most traditional Americans simply would not do - especially not for the wages that they are given.
Whatever your personal opinions may be on this issue, it's sure to be kept in the spotlight at least until the next presidential election, with many people believing that the presidential candidates responses to illegal immigration is going to be a deciding factor in the hearts of American citizens. But before you go criticizing the government for blowing this out of proportion - and consider this to be a unique "American" domestic issue - you should consider whether or not this is indeed just a global trend in countries where mass immigration is a concern.
According to the Pew Global Attitudes Project survey, immigration concerns were widespread (throughout 46 countries), with large majorities in nearly every country favoring tougher restrictions. According to the New York Times, in Italy, a steady flow of illegal immigrants - many arriving by sea from Africa - has been a persistent issue.
The number backing tighter immigration laws rose to 87 percent, from 80 percent in 2002. But the question is how do these attitudes translate into policy? What we've been seeing increasingly over the past year in Europe is an inflammatory situation that parallels events in the U.S., including a concentrated effort on tracking illegal immigrants, and deporting them or sending them to detention centers with horrible conditions, followed by large protests. It seems that the Europeans haven't found a decent solution to their illegal immigrant concerns either, or immigration in general.
Last month, the spotlight was put on Switzerland when electoral posters were taped on the walls at a political rally with three white sheep standing on the Swiss flag as one of them kicks a single black sheep away. Underneath read, "To Create Stability." They were put up by the most powerful party in Switzerland's federal Parliament and a member of the coalition government, an extreme right-wing party called the Swiss People's Party, or SVP.
This image has been distributed in a mass mailing to Swiss households, reproduced in newspapers and magazines and hung as huge billboards across the country. As Swiss voters prepare to go to the polls in a general election on Oct. 21, suddenly the campaign has turned into a nationwide debate over the place of immigrants in one of the world's oldest democracies, and over what it means to be Swiss. The subliminal message here is that the invasion of foreigners has in some way contaminated Swiss society, abused the social welfare system and threatened the very identity of the country. Interior Minister Pascal Couchepin, of the Liberal Democratic Party, has even suggested that the SVP's worship of Christoph Blocher, the billionaire who is the party's driving force and the current justice minister, is reminiscent of that of Italian fascists for Mussolini.
As shocking as these types of ethnocentric and racist developments might sound, all is not completely lost in Europe yet. And this point is no better illustrated then by Spain who has attempted to curb illegal migration through a legal reform.
Many African immigrants brace the Atlantic every year in hopes of going to Spain, working and making better lives for themselves and their families; however, many die on the way. This Spanish labor plan offers legal passage and a one-year work permit to some with the idea that by raising the possibility of reaching Spain legally, young Africans will be dissuaded from throwing themselves on the mercy of the Atlantic.
The work permits may be renewed, and if the persons remain in good legal standing, may eventually be integrated into the society and given full legal rights. The number of immigrants depends on simply demand of the country for its various sectors. This plan has been commended by many, and while there will always be illegal immigrants trying to get into the country- because after all, you can't let in everybody into a country - it is a great beginning that offers a legal route of entering a country.
It seems that no one country has an answer to the influx of illegal immigrants; however, a compromise must be formed by governments because illegal immigration is not going to end regardless of whatever policies or walls are put in place. Therefore there needs to be more open-mindedness to the idea of legal routes for immigrants to not only enter a country, but also be eventually assimilated into the society fully and given proper rights as well as responsibilities.
Sada Farah is a Collegian columnist and can be reached at sfarah@student.umass.edu. |
| |
|
Vallarta Weddings
Tell a Friend
Site Map
Print this Page
Email Us