The undocumented illegal immigrant issue is coming to a head here in the city and there doesn’t seem to be a compromise available to solve everyone’s concerns.
There are valid arguments from city leaders, taxpayers and both the legal and illegal immigrant communities, which makes the issue itself all the more sticky, because it’s hard when there are just two segments of the population who disagree, never mind three or four segments.
Ward 1 Alderman Bill Roche was right that we can’t just blindly pass resolutions welcoming illegal immigrants who don’t pay for the resources that the taxpayers carry the burden for.
On the other hand, we can’t ignore that they’re here and as human beings we need to provide vital services such as police, fire and emergency medical care.
Like all great debates, it has an ugly side when people make wild and uncalled for accusations that the city’s inability to issue an “open door” policy is racist and discriminatory in nature. That’s just silly.
The mention of racism comes up far too easily today – whether it’s about this issue or recently in the local alderman-at-large race – the thought of someone running for office in this city actually having anti-immigrant views is beyond preposterous.
The issue is so complex in nature that it would be impossible to deal with on a local level at this point – the Sanctuary City Resolution was created when there was an estimated 2,000 to 4,000 illegal immigrants – a fraction of what the number is today.
The issue really needs to be dealt with on a national level through wide reaching immigration reform, so that many of the undocumented immigrants already here have some kind of reliable mechanism to convert themselves into a more legal status, whether that be through visas, green cards or permanent citizenship.
And so the debate will rage on, because it has become apparent that people are tired of waiting and leaving the issue alone and letting it run its course, which is a shame because it’s still better in this city for an illegal immigrant than it would be in say, Andover or Lexington. Watch, we will probably now be called a racist paper. Give us a break.
So until the federal government gets its act in gear with Immigration Reform, we as a local municipality should really wait and see what happens and then address local concerns at that time. Stop trying to put the cart before the horse – because there is no way at this point to come to a compromise that will satisfy everyone locally without some kind of federal direction, period.
Illegal Immigration 101
1. Illegal immigrants come to the US with the hope for a better life.
2. Employers exploit them with sub-standard wages, no benefits, and unsafe work conditions.
To support the status qup on illegal immigration is to support of human rights of people who came to the US illegally.
In Arizona, my new home (still no paper like the Somerville News), a law was recently enacted where an emplyer who knowingly hires an illegal immigrant is punished by suspension, and for a second offense termination of its license to do business in the state.
Under the law, if Store X, with 300 locations in Arizona, violates the law twice, ALL 300 stores must close.
That is effective legislation that will cure the real evil in illegal immigration: employers.
Posted by: Dominic Santos | July 07, 2007 at 10:38 AM
My understanding of the Sanctuary City Resolution is that the local police would not help ICE if they want to take someone from their home to deport them. ICE can just have the Middlesex Sheriff's Department officers to help with the arrest (as they have done before).
This ordinance would mainly be symbolic in that it would show that the City of Somerville is a welcoming place for everyone.
I like the law that Dominic writes about. Immigrants, both legal and illegal, come here to make a better life for themselves and their families and will keep coming as long as there are jobs for them.
Posted by: 5 | July 07, 2007 at 02:31 PM
We need "comprehensive enforcement", not "comprehensive immigration reform". The problem is illegal aliens breaking the laws. That's what started the debate which has gone on now since 1986. Promises were made to crack downafter the amnesty and those promises were broken. Crossing borders illegally, lying on a tourist visa application, and fake document peddling are not "complicated"issues. They are lawbreaking behavior and Americans don't want lawbreakersin the country...PERIOD!
We allow 1.1 million legal immigrants into this country annually and they come in the LEGAL way. That's the most generous of any country in the world. Illegal aliens are not "immigrants". Time for Chertoff to do his job and enforce the laws of the country or resign.
Just waint until something happens, then heads will roll.
Posted by: Grog29 | July 13, 2007 at 02:45 PM