Issues & Views:The battle for immigration reform heats up

April 18, 2005

Fighting the good fight

The battle for immigration reform heats up

What is happening to the once taboo subject of immigration? Is this the same country where as short a time as a year ago one could get socked with the "racist" tag for suggesting that reforming immigration laws might not be such a bad idea? This is the land where complaints even against illegal aliens would bring on a barrage of sentimental tales about the industrious, productive immigrant and clichés about the U.S. being an "immigrant nation." (Which country is not an immigrant nation?)

In some European countries the establishment has come close to locking up citizens for expressing exasperation with what amounts to mass invasions from Third World regions. In Canada, one must be careful not to get busted for a "hate crime" when publicly opposing the government's lax immigration policies.

In recent years, in the U.S., there were no distinctions between liberals and most people who called themselves "conservative" when it came to the subject of immigration. Members of each side would gallantly defend what they perceived as the disparaged immigrant, whenever the subject of closing the borders or limiting immigration came up. For years, most conservative talk show hosts would hardly allow the subject to be broached on their air time, causing consternation to those who believed this was an urgent matter that inevitably would develop into a crisis.

Joe Guzzardi, a California schoolteacher, who writes for the Lodi News Sentinel and the Vdare website, has been a champion of immigration reform for almost 20 years. In "Immigration Becoming An Issue--Whether Politicians Like It Or Not" (Vdare, 4/15/05), he writes that in the mid-1990s, he often received mail from readers asking why he was "harping on illegal immigration." What was the big deal, they wanted to know. It should be pointed out that back then, Americans who insisted on being forthright on the issue sometimes did damage to their careers and reputations. Such antagonism to truthful explorations of immigration's consequences is now diminishing. Guzzardi writes:

But our persistence paid off. Illegal immigration is high on the list of every concerned American. And for those who understand how it is interwoven with our faltering economy and collapsing schools, illegal immigration is the number one social problem--by a wide margin.
Before the immigration reform movement can take the next big step forward, we have to persuade those who are on the fence--that significant block of Americans who are uncomfortable with illegal immigration but who fear charges of racism or who somehow buy into the notion that illegal immigration is a victimless crime.

Guzzardi says he receives lots of mail from fence sitters. He responds with hard facts and a pointed question or two. How does the fence sitter think illegal immigration ties in with rising health care costs, a weak job market and urban sprawl? Why should the U.S. play the role of caretaker of the world, instead of tending to the needs of its own citizens? Did you know that according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics immigrant job growth (up 14.3%) has exceeded non-immigrant job growth (up 0.3%) by a factor of 45? This means that immigrants, including illegal aliens, are getting jobs and Americans are not.

Guzzardi suggests that all Americans educate themselves with the information on Brenda Walker's website, Immigrations Human Cost, where they will discover much unreported news about what and who is coming over our broken borders.

One talk show host who has never shirked the subject of illegal immigration is California's Terry Anderson. Speaking his mind on the Los Angeles station KRLA-AM, he fulminates against the disruptions caused to schools, medical facilities, and other public services by unchecked immigration. As a black man, he has a special grievance against the black politicians, who are finding it politically expedient to cozy up to the growing Hispanic population, instead of taking a stand to protect California's borders.

Anderson is an early and staunch supporter of the current Minuteman Project, as well as all the prior reformers who attempted similar ventures on the border. His website is chockfull of news about every organization and/or individuals who are engaged in reforming U.S. immigration policies.

The Minuteman Project is composed of hundreds of volunteer citizens, who are monitoring the U.S.-Mexico border along a 23-mile stretch of desert in southeastern Arizona. These volunteers wish to act as a presence to discourage illegals from entering, and to be the eyes and ears for the woefully understaffed U.S. Border Patrol. Their effort began three weeks ago, and is already being viewed as successful in assisting Border Patrol agents in the apprehension of migrants.

Praised and supported by many residents in nearby areas that are most immediately impacted by illegals, the Minutemen also take their share of insults. Although tired, worn-out epithets like "vigilantes" still fall from the lips of those who promote open borders, the Minutemen are persistently getting out their message of America's right to have total control over who comes into this country.

Some of the top brass of the U.S. Border Patrol have expressed misgivings about the Minuteman Project, while many of the foot soldiers, the men who actually guard the border, express gratitude to the volunteers.

Here's an April 8 report from the Minuteman Project:

Jim Gilchrist spoke with two Border Patrol agents today. They said they tremendously appreciate what we are doing to bring attention to our porous borders and they very much appreciate our help. They said that in the 23-mile area that MMP is observing, Border Patrol apprehensions have dropped from approximately 1,000 per day to less than 20 per day during this past week. The agents both insisted that their names not be mentioned because they would be fired if it was known that they were releasing this information to the MinuteMan Project. Jim has had similar very supportive conversations with about half a dozen other agents.

And here are some statistics:

US Border Patrol apprehensions of illegals that members of the Minuteman Project have monitored (as reported by KVOA Eyewitness News, Tucson):
April 5: 74 apprehensions
April 4: 145 apprehensions
April 3: 103 apprehensions
April 2: 91 apprehensions
April 1: 205 apprehensions
March 31: 296 apprehensions
March 30: 302 apprehensions

Just a few months ago, Chris Simcox, a founder of the Minuteman Project, was not certain how many people were likely to answer his call for volunteers to be trained to serve on the border. Today, there are so many citizens who want to help that Simcox has had to suspend the call. He advises prospective activists to sponsor rallies and town hall meetings, in order to spread the word, and to hold their political representatives' feet to the fire on the issue.

Immigration reform organizations

Federation for American Immigration Reform (FAIR) - Advocates a temporary moratorium on immigration

Project USA (Director, Craig Nelsen) - Specializes in outdoor billboards, forums, and other alerts

Californians for Population Stabilization (CAPS) - Research on impact of immigration on overall quality of life

Center for Immigration Studies - Research and policy analysis

California Coalition for Immigration Reform - Issues of illegal immigration

American Patrol (Voice of Citizens Together)

NumbersUSA - Details overall influence of immigration on American society; information on relevant actions of legislators and other government officials; executive director Roy Beck is author of book, The Case Against Immigration

Ranch Rescue - Defending private property rights