As I write this column, the details regarding “immigration reform” have yet to be released. As one who has very strong feelings regarding illegal immigration, I await with trepidation what the so-called “reform” will be. Unlike the Civil Rights Act, which was designed to reform this country’s behavior towards its citizens who were the descendants of enslaved Africans, “immigration reform” is the “40 Acres and a Mule” for those who have come to this country and remain here without permission.
I use that terminology simply because a large percentage of illegal aliens came into this country on visas to “see Disneyland” then remained. Those individuals even include President Obama’s aunt, who was living in a government-subsidized senior citizen apartment. So although many want to paint a picture of people walking all night through the desert just to get here, that is a just a percentage of the picture, not the complete picture.
The “reform” that will be introduced shortly is designed to right the wrongs of those here illegally, and my question is, “What effect will that reform have on all American citizens?” I no longer expect that black politicians will address the issue and monitor it on our behalf, simply because the majority of them have adopted the “black and Hispanic” line for so long that all problems, in their view, are equally shared.
Yet when construction sites in the black community are predominantly Hispanic, I haven’t heard any of the leadership advocate for black folks to get some of those jobs!
I’d like to suggest some reform that should be in the “reform” bill to make sure that in another 30 years, we don’t find ourselves in this same situation again. As a country, we need to address the issue of “birthright” citizenship. My suggestion is that if the woman is not a U.S. citizen at the moment of birth, we confer on her temporary diplomatic status. Children of diplomats born in this country do not get U.S. citizenship and thus we can eliminate the problem of women who come here simply to give their children U.S. citizenship. We also need to address the dual citizenship that is currently allowed. One should either be a citizen of this country with no ties to any other nation or a citizen of that other nation.
I also don’t believe that “immigration reform” should automatically confer on those individuals any status that was designed to right the wrongs perpetrated by this country on its citizens. For example, they should not qualify for any Affirmative Action or EEOC benefits. They and their descendants aren’t owed anything for past discrimination committed by this country and their choice to come here puts them in not a minority status but a part of the majority.
We should also impose a tax on remittances sent out of this country. Remittances are the funds, usually earned in the underground economy or via someone else’s SSN. That money should be taxed at 20 percent and the person who sends it can apply to have their taxed monies returned at the end of the year when they file their income taxes. If they don’t file income taxes, no refund of remittance taxed monies.
It is also time for those who benefit from “immigration reform” to begin to follow the laws of this country. This city especially has ignored its own food and sanitation laws by allowing hundreds of illegal carts to roam or station themselves on city sidewalks, selling food prepared in who knows what kind of kitchens. This city has put the owners of food trucks though hell in a handbasket so they could sell food, and yet those white carts are everywhere selling food cooked in we-don’t-know-what-kind-of-conditions. Otherwise we should all get a cart and begin selling things and forget the system we have in place since the rules don’t apply.
This country has over the past 20 years become bilingual. While I applaud individuals who can speak more than just English, it should be legally mandated that all children born in this country come to kindergarten able to speak English. It is unfair to taxpayers to ask us to continue to support ESL when parents purposely choose to give their children a foreign language as their first language, then expect the public school system to teach the kids English.
