Objective: Make it across the U.S- Mexico border without being sent back to Mexico, and then make it to the finish where you become a U.S. citizen.
Rules: There are three players, three game pieces. All players start at Mexico. The youngest player starts and picks a card. The game is just like candy land. Each card has a color, red, blue, yellow or green. If you have one block of a color you move to the next space that is that color. If you get two blocks of a color you can move two of that color block on the board. There are spaces on the board that either help you cross the border or bring you further back. Some even bring you back to Mexico. If you get lucky and land on the special blue piece you get to cross the border early by being smuggled.
They player who gets to the finish first and receives United States citizenship wins the game.
Lesson: This game shows that becoming a United States citizen is not an easy thing to accomplish. You can be deported, run out of money, and even run out of food. The game just gives a few exampled of the difficulties.
Thursday, December 13, 2007
Wednesday, December 5, 2007
Timed Writing
Christina Comba
Timed Writing:
The topic I choose for my project was the impacts of illegal immigration. I studied how illegal immigrants were treated and why they were treated this way. In my research I found that many times illegal immigrants are treated poorly because of their race and because they are undocumented citizens. Many acts of hate are committed upon them, and the immigrants are often to afraid of being deported to report the crime to authorities. Many of these immigrants have lost their human rights. Much of the hate is stemmed from frustrations between the citizens and the immigrants. I wanted to convey that the immigrants should not be blamed for problems in towns through out the United States, but instead the government should be held responsible. I choose to write to two organizations, the minutemen organization, and the civil liberties union. I also wrote a letter to my congressman, Tim Bishop. In my letter I supported the civil liberties union, and let them know that I hope they continue their fight to gain equal rights for everyone. When I wrote the minutemen organization, I discussed how I thought many of their actions were unjust. Writing Tim Bishop was most exciting for me because I had previously herd him speak at my high school, but I never took the opportunity for what it was worth. I should have asked him questions or stanched my opinions, and writing him gave me the chance to do this. I think the blog was effective because it is open for all Internet users to access. I like the posting blogs because you can make it your own by personalizing the page. You can add almost anything you feel is important. For instance, I posted my letters, my paper, and the organizations that relate to my topic. If people view my sight, and it inspires them to take action by writing organizations, it is easy for them to access. I like how anyone is able to view my blog, and comment on it, whether it supports or opposes my topic. For my fable, I hope to create a story or game that reaches out to the children in 5th grade. I want my fable to teach them that all humans should be treated equal, despite their race, the language they speak, or the fact that they are not a legal citizen. I want to target 5th graders because I believe that their views may not yet have been tainted by the views or prejudices or other people. I believe that the letters are very effective, if they are actually read by the people that I intended to read them. I chose a hard copy of a letter for Tim Bishop and The Civil Liberties Union because it is more formal, but I had to send an email to The Minute Men Organization because they did not list a mailing address other than email. I think I will receive a response from Tim Bishop, because that letter was more personable and relatable. I do not think I will hear a response from the Minute Men Organization because I was not supporting their views. I like the idea of creating a fable, because part of my topic of focused on was the idea of educating students about the current situation. Many students may not be aware that anything like this even occurs, and a fable is a creative way to help them learn about the treatment of illegal immigrants. A fable is no too serious for the students to grasp the concept, yet makes a moral statement that I hope will stick with them. Overall, I think this project has many good aspects. The most useful aspect was writing letters to organizations, because I feel this can really make a difference. Now, I will not be afraid to write to political figures or organizations. In the future, I hope to write letters with the skills I have learned. In doing so I now knows that I first must relate to the person I am writing to, or show them why they should take the time to read my letter. In conclusion, I think that creating a fable, posting blogs, and writing letters to organizations are all helpful to spread my views and ideas.
Timed Writing:
The topic I choose for my project was the impacts of illegal immigration. I studied how illegal immigrants were treated and why they were treated this way. In my research I found that many times illegal immigrants are treated poorly because of their race and because they are undocumented citizens. Many acts of hate are committed upon them, and the immigrants are often to afraid of being deported to report the crime to authorities. Many of these immigrants have lost their human rights. Much of the hate is stemmed from frustrations between the citizens and the immigrants. I wanted to convey that the immigrants should not be blamed for problems in towns through out the United States, but instead the government should be held responsible. I choose to write to two organizations, the minutemen organization, and the civil liberties union. I also wrote a letter to my congressman, Tim Bishop. In my letter I supported the civil liberties union, and let them know that I hope they continue their fight to gain equal rights for everyone. When I wrote the minutemen organization, I discussed how I thought many of their actions were unjust. Writing Tim Bishop was most exciting for me because I had previously herd him speak at my high school, but I never took the opportunity for what it was worth. I should have asked him questions or stanched my opinions, and writing him gave me the chance to do this. I think the blog was effective because it is open for all Internet users to access. I like the posting blogs because you can make it your own by personalizing the page. You can add almost anything you feel is important. For instance, I posted my letters, my paper, and the organizations that relate to my topic. If people view my sight, and it inspires them to take action by writing organizations, it is easy for them to access. I like how anyone is able to view my blog, and comment on it, whether it supports or opposes my topic. For my fable, I hope to create a story or game that reaches out to the children in 5th grade. I want my fable to teach them that all humans should be treated equal, despite their race, the language they speak, or the fact that they are not a legal citizen. I want to target 5th graders because I believe that their views may not yet have been tainted by the views or prejudices or other people. I believe that the letters are very effective, if they are actually read by the people that I intended to read them. I chose a hard copy of a letter for Tim Bishop and The Civil Liberties Union because it is more formal, but I had to send an email to The Minute Men Organization because they did not list a mailing address other than email. I think I will receive a response from Tim Bishop, because that letter was more personable and relatable. I do not think I will hear a response from the Minute Men Organization because I was not supporting their views. I like the idea of creating a fable, because part of my topic of focused on was the idea of educating students about the current situation. Many students may not be aware that anything like this even occurs, and a fable is a creative way to help them learn about the treatment of illegal immigrants. A fable is no too serious for the students to grasp the concept, yet makes a moral statement that I hope will stick with them. Overall, I think this project has many good aspects. The most useful aspect was writing letters to organizations, because I feel this can really make a difference. Now, I will not be afraid to write to political figures or organizations. In the future, I hope to write letters with the skills I have learned. In doing so I now knows that I first must relate to the person I am writing to, or show them why they should take the time to read my letter. In conclusion, I think that creating a fable, posting blogs, and writing letters to organizations are all helpful to spread my views and ideas.
Friday, November 30, 2007
Letters to Organizations
Dear the Civil Liberties Union,
I am currently a student Eckerd College and while researching the topic of illegal immigration I came across your organization. I have grown up in the heart of a town, Farmingville, where there have been great tensions between the U.S. citizens and the illegal immigrants. Living in a town with such problems and prejudices I was always aware that there were some tensions, but I did not pay much attention and started to become immune to the terrible situations that have arisen. I always knew that the racism in Farmingville was at extreme heights, but I never took the time to find out how severe it actually was. When given the opportunity to research a topic of my choice, I decided that to study the problems that have occurred due to Illegal Immigration; what better topic to chose than one I have grown up with the majority of my life, but had never actually explored. Upon my discoveries I became very upset, and thus I am writing you.
I wanted to let you know that I totally support your organization and the efforts it makes to achieve civil liberties. I do not think anyone should be harmed or viewed as an inferior just because of their race or because they are not legally documented citizens. They are still human beings, and most are not trying to harm anyone. Many illegal immigrants are trying to support their families back in their native countries, and should not have to be punished because of this. The government should take the brunt of the frustrations that the U.S. citizens feel, instead of the immigrants. From my experiences and research, I have noticed that although the public is aware of the conflicts, they are not properly informed. I think this is especially the case with students in school. They hear bits and pieces from their family members and friends and then make judgments without actually knowing the facts. Therefore, I think these problems should be integrated into the school system, so students can learn without bias. Also, I have found that many of the immigrants who are subjected to acts of hate and violence do not take legal action because they are afraid of being deported. After looking into your organization, I agree with your opinions, that the best way for the immigrants to receive civil rights is by educating the public, trying to pass laws to protect these rights, and for those who have lost their civil liberties to take legal action.
Thank you for your time and concern. I support your organization and believe you already have and will continue to make great accomplishments for the protection of civil rights. I encourage you to keep trying to educate the public and to continue fighting for the protection civil liberties, not just for illegal immigrants, but also for all of humanity. I look forward to hearing your response.
Sincerely,
Christina Comba
Dear the Minute Men Organization,
I am currently a student at Eckerd College and while researching the topic of illegal immigration I came across your organization. With the recent influx of illegal immigrants, it is easy for me to understand why your members are concerned with the heightened number of illegal immigrants. I have grown up in a town where many illegal immigrants have been used as a source of cheap labor and where tensions have been high between illegal immigrants and the U.S. citizens. After studying your organizations website I noticed that instead of directing your frustrations and problems on the government you have been targeting the illegal immigrants. It is understandable to not want illegal immigrants entering the country and I do agree that the border must be secured to stop immigrants or even terrorists entering the country, but violence and tormenting the immigrants to prevent them from crossing the border is not the solution.
I am aware of many of the problems that have resulted from the large numbers of illegal immigrants, but I do not feel that violence and prejudice is the answer. In my town there have been numerous racist acts that have occurred because of hate, including the firebombing of a house of illegal immigrants and the beating of a pair of day laborers. Just because these immigrants are not legally documented does not give any one the right to injure or taunt them. They are still individuals are should receive equal treatment. All humans deserve to have civil liberties despite their race, or the fact that they are undocumented. I feel it is sad that people must resort to violence, instead of finding other means to work out their frustrations. If your organization spent as much time and effort trying to make the government take action, instead of attempting to secure the border yourself through force, you would find there is potential for real change. I know your members are frustrated with the government for not taking proper action, but if your organization solely used civil disobedience you may be able to gain the support of the masses and make a real impact.
Thank you for your time and concern. I encourage you to modify your actions of using force and seek nonviolence as the way to change. I hope you speak and take political action, instead of using violence. I look forward to hearing your response.
Sincerely,
Christina Comba
Dear Tim Bishop,
I have graduated from Sachem East High School and now attend Eckerd College. When I was a student at Sachem East you visited my school and I received the pleasure of hearing you speak about your ideas and future plans as the New York State congressman. At the time I did not realize what a wonderful opportunity that was to learn and to have the availability to receive answers to any inquiries I had or make suggestions. I have grown up in the heart of a town, Farmingville, where there have been great tensions between the U.S. citizens and the illegal immigrants. Living in a town with such problems and prejudices I was always aware that there were some tensions, but I did not pay much attention and started to become immune to the terrible situations that have arisen. I always knew that the racism in Farmingville was at extreme heights, but I never took the time to find out how severe it actually was. When given the opportunity to research a topic of my choice, I decided that to study the problems that have occurred due to Illegal Immigration; what better topic to chose than one I have grown up with the majority of my life, but had never actually explored. Upon my discoveries I became very upset and thus I am writing you.
After assessing the situation in Farmingville, I found that many of the problems have arisen because of frustrations that the U.S. citizens have with the illegal immigrants. Many of the citizens turn to hate acts and violence as a way to fix their problems, but in reality only makes matters worse. I believe that these frustrations could be alleviated if solutions for the problems were found and of the blame for the U.S. citizen’s problems were redirected towards the government instead of the immigrants. In my experiences, I have noticed that although the public is aware of the conflicts, they are not properly informed. I think this is especially the case with students in school. They hear bits and pieces from their family members and friends and then make judgments without actually knowing the facts. Therefore, I think these problems should be integrated into the school system, so students can learn without bias. After looking at your website I found that you agree with increased border control, which I also feel is the first step in the proper direction. I think local government should create workstations where immigrants can be picked up for work. Also, I think the government should enforce housing laws and monitor hiring practices of landscaping and construction companies. I know there has been a bit of an increase in the enforcement of housing laws, but nothing on a remarkable scale.
Thank you for your time and concern. I encourage you to keep a close eye on the situation in Farmingville and other towns on Long Island with similar situations. I have proposed several options to help the situation including increased awareness and education in schools, the creation of workstations, and the enforcement of laws. I hope you consider these options when you are making future decisions. I look forward to hearing your response.
Sincerely,
Christina Comba
I am currently a student Eckerd College and while researching the topic of illegal immigration I came across your organization. I have grown up in the heart of a town, Farmingville, where there have been great tensions between the U.S. citizens and the illegal immigrants. Living in a town with such problems and prejudices I was always aware that there were some tensions, but I did not pay much attention and started to become immune to the terrible situations that have arisen. I always knew that the racism in Farmingville was at extreme heights, but I never took the time to find out how severe it actually was. When given the opportunity to research a topic of my choice, I decided that to study the problems that have occurred due to Illegal Immigration; what better topic to chose than one I have grown up with the majority of my life, but had never actually explored. Upon my discoveries I became very upset, and thus I am writing you.
I wanted to let you know that I totally support your organization and the efforts it makes to achieve civil liberties. I do not think anyone should be harmed or viewed as an inferior just because of their race or because they are not legally documented citizens. They are still human beings, and most are not trying to harm anyone. Many illegal immigrants are trying to support their families back in their native countries, and should not have to be punished because of this. The government should take the brunt of the frustrations that the U.S. citizens feel, instead of the immigrants. From my experiences and research, I have noticed that although the public is aware of the conflicts, they are not properly informed. I think this is especially the case with students in school. They hear bits and pieces from their family members and friends and then make judgments without actually knowing the facts. Therefore, I think these problems should be integrated into the school system, so students can learn without bias. Also, I have found that many of the immigrants who are subjected to acts of hate and violence do not take legal action because they are afraid of being deported. After looking into your organization, I agree with your opinions, that the best way for the immigrants to receive civil rights is by educating the public, trying to pass laws to protect these rights, and for those who have lost their civil liberties to take legal action.
Thank you for your time and concern. I support your organization and believe you already have and will continue to make great accomplishments for the protection of civil rights. I encourage you to keep trying to educate the public and to continue fighting for the protection civil liberties, not just for illegal immigrants, but also for all of humanity. I look forward to hearing your response.
Sincerely,
Christina Comba
Dear the Minute Men Organization,
I am currently a student at Eckerd College and while researching the topic of illegal immigration I came across your organization. With the recent influx of illegal immigrants, it is easy for me to understand why your members are concerned with the heightened number of illegal immigrants. I have grown up in a town where many illegal immigrants have been used as a source of cheap labor and where tensions have been high between illegal immigrants and the U.S. citizens. After studying your organizations website I noticed that instead of directing your frustrations and problems on the government you have been targeting the illegal immigrants. It is understandable to not want illegal immigrants entering the country and I do agree that the border must be secured to stop immigrants or even terrorists entering the country, but violence and tormenting the immigrants to prevent them from crossing the border is not the solution.
I am aware of many of the problems that have resulted from the large numbers of illegal immigrants, but I do not feel that violence and prejudice is the answer. In my town there have been numerous racist acts that have occurred because of hate, including the firebombing of a house of illegal immigrants and the beating of a pair of day laborers. Just because these immigrants are not legally documented does not give any one the right to injure or taunt them. They are still individuals are should receive equal treatment. All humans deserve to have civil liberties despite their race, or the fact that they are undocumented. I feel it is sad that people must resort to violence, instead of finding other means to work out their frustrations. If your organization spent as much time and effort trying to make the government take action, instead of attempting to secure the border yourself through force, you would find there is potential for real change. I know your members are frustrated with the government for not taking proper action, but if your organization solely used civil disobedience you may be able to gain the support of the masses and make a real impact.
Thank you for your time and concern. I encourage you to modify your actions of using force and seek nonviolence as the way to change. I hope you speak and take political action, instead of using violence. I look forward to hearing your response.
Sincerely,
Christina Comba
Dear Tim Bishop,
I have graduated from Sachem East High School and now attend Eckerd College. When I was a student at Sachem East you visited my school and I received the pleasure of hearing you speak about your ideas and future plans as the New York State congressman. At the time I did not realize what a wonderful opportunity that was to learn and to have the availability to receive answers to any inquiries I had or make suggestions. I have grown up in the heart of a town, Farmingville, where there have been great tensions between the U.S. citizens and the illegal immigrants. Living in a town with such problems and prejudices I was always aware that there were some tensions, but I did not pay much attention and started to become immune to the terrible situations that have arisen. I always knew that the racism in Farmingville was at extreme heights, but I never took the time to find out how severe it actually was. When given the opportunity to research a topic of my choice, I decided that to study the problems that have occurred due to Illegal Immigration; what better topic to chose than one I have grown up with the majority of my life, but had never actually explored. Upon my discoveries I became very upset and thus I am writing you.
After assessing the situation in Farmingville, I found that many of the problems have arisen because of frustrations that the U.S. citizens have with the illegal immigrants. Many of the citizens turn to hate acts and violence as a way to fix their problems, but in reality only makes matters worse. I believe that these frustrations could be alleviated if solutions for the problems were found and of the blame for the U.S. citizen’s problems were redirected towards the government instead of the immigrants. In my experiences, I have noticed that although the public is aware of the conflicts, they are not properly informed. I think this is especially the case with students in school. They hear bits and pieces from their family members and friends and then make judgments without actually knowing the facts. Therefore, I think these problems should be integrated into the school system, so students can learn without bias. After looking at your website I found that you agree with increased border control, which I also feel is the first step in the proper direction. I think local government should create workstations where immigrants can be picked up for work. Also, I think the government should enforce housing laws and monitor hiring practices of landscaping and construction companies. I know there has been a bit of an increase in the enforcement of housing laws, but nothing on a remarkable scale.
Thank you for your time and concern. I encourage you to keep a close eye on the situation in Farmingville and other towns on Long Island with similar situations. I have proposed several options to help the situation including increased awareness and education in schools, the creation of workstations, and the enforcement of laws. I hope you consider these options when you are making future decisions. I look forward to hearing your response.
Sincerely,
Christina Comba
Wednesday, November 28, 2007
Organizations
Organizations i have located that relate to my topic include:
American Civil Liberites Union www.ACLU.org
Contact:
New York Civil Liberties Union
125 Broad Street New York, Ny 10004
Immigrationequality.org
National Council of Raza www.NCLR.org
US border Control Organization USBC.org
Contact the chairman:
Ednelson@usbc.org
Contact legislative director:
pearson@usbc.org
AIC www.americansforimmigrationcontrol.com
you can also contact your local congress. My local congressman is Tim Bishop
Contact:
Tim Bishop
3680 Route 112 Suite C
Coram, NY 11727
American Civil Liberites Union www.ACLU.org
Contact:
New York Civil Liberties Union
125 Broad Street New York, Ny 10004
Immigrationequality.org
National Council of Raza www.NCLR.org
US border Control Organization USBC.org
Contact the chairman:
Ednelson@usbc.org
Contact legislative director:
pearson@usbc.org
AIC www.americansforimmigrationcontrol.com
you can also contact your local congress. My local congressman is Tim Bishop
Contact:
Tim Bishop
3680 Route 112 Suite C
Coram, NY 11727
Monday, November 19, 2007
Project Two Paper Illegal Immigration
Illegal Immigration in the United States Society
In recent years, the number of illegal immigrants from Mexico and other Latin countries into the United States has been rapidly increasing, creating tension and frustration between the immigrants and the U.S citizens. This crisis is occurring in many cities and towns throughout New York, California, and Texas. Many Americans feel that the presence of these illegal immigrants is negatively impacting the quality of their lives by making their towns unsafe and undesirable to live in. Their frustration is turning into hate, and some have even resorted to racist acts involving violence. In order to lower tensions and create tranquility in areas where illegal immigration is generating a problem, the blame must be taken off the immigrants and pressure must be placed upon the government to enforce immigration laws.
Currently American citizens view illegal immigration as a serious problem with the number of Hispanics entering the country rising. Hispanics are becoming America’s largest minority group; in 1990 the number of Mexicans in the U.S labor force was 4,298, 000, the largest of all the foreign countries (Coronado). In light of these numbers, it is not surprising that the culture of America is being changed by the influx of illegal immigrants. Social change is manifested in the increase in Spanish language radio and television stations, as well as popular music and ethnic foods. Although this influence of immigrants broadens the diversity and enriches the culture of the United States, many citizens are beginning to feel threatened. Americans fear that Spanish will challenge English as the dominant language. As Heer states, after collecting data from immigrants from many different countries that are currently working in the U.S., “Almost all immigrants gave Spanish as their native tongue; less than half were native born citizens of Mexican Descent considered English their native tongue” (197). This shows that most of the Hispanic immigrants still feel very strong ties to their homeland. The increasing number of illegal immigrants into the United States has potential to impact the future of the U.S., creating concern in many citizens.
One town where the issue of illegal immigration is causing great controversy is in Farmingville, New York where there has been an increase of illegal aliens. In Farmingville, racial tensions have become so high that there have been hate acts, protests, and even a documentary filmed illustrating how severe the problem is and how much attention needs to be drawn to the issue. The citizens’ anger stems from the fact that illegal immigrants take the jobs of the U.S. citizens, do not pay taxes and increase the citizens’ taxes. Landscapers and construction workers hire illegal immigrants as cheap labor making less job opportunities available for Americans (Woodbury ). Because most of the day laborers are not documented and work off the book, they do not pay taxes (Woodbury). When they get injured their hospital bills must be paid off by the citizens causing taxes to be raised (Woodbury). Some Americans feel that the increase in illegal immigration is tied to an increase in crime. Illegal immigrants often loiter on street corners in search of work, and there have been reports of them harassing woman and committing criminal acts. Also, many illegal immigrants live in highly overcrowded houses, which often become unkempt. Loitering and unacceptable housing conditions make the neighborhood less desirable to live in, and decrease property values. Similar to the situation in Farmingville, many towns in the U.S. are experiencing controversy over the impact of having large amounts of illegal immigrants. The building frustrations in towns that occur because of uncontrolled immigration, and the hate crimes that result from this tension should not be ignored by the U.S government.
As a result of the problems that have arisen because of the increase of day workers, many place the blame on the immigrants instead of the government. As a result of prejudice, many acts of hate have occurred. There was an incident in Farmingville where two illegal immigrants were looking for work and instead taken to an abandoned warehouse and beaten by two white men. As Leduff states while discussing this occurrence, “ The confrontation which police are investigating as a bias crime has become the talk of the hamlet of 15,000, which was already electric with racial tensions” (Para. 10). Another hate act that occurred was the firebombing of a house in Farmingville where a family of illegal immigrants lived. Although these specific incidents were reported to the police many bias crimes go unreported because illegal aliens are undocumented and fear they may be deported. As Coronado and Pias state, “It is widely known that immigrants are both more likely to be victimized by crime and less likely to report “ (4). It is devastating to think that society is only aware of a small portion of the crimes that immigrants are subject to. Immigrants are just trying to support their families; they should not be targeted (Lambert). Illegal immigrants come to the U.S. in order to send money back to their families in their homeland. Because they come from such poor countries, even the worst and lowest paying jobs can change their lives. The citizens of the U.S should realize that most illegal immigrants are not here to hurt anyone or ruin towns, but to help their families survive. Anger for the towns’ problems should not be directed at the immigrants, but instead pressure should be placed on the government to enforce laws and find solutions.
The government has the capability to solve many of the problems that result from illegal immigration. The government needs to enforce existing immigration laws. The Federal Government needs to make border control stricter, which would decrease the number of illegal immigrants entering the country. Local governments could create workstations where the immigrants could be picked up for work, which would help eliminate loitering. These solutions would make the towns safe and could help bring up property values (Jacoby). Also, the government should enforce housing laws and monitor hiring practices of landscaping and construction companies. The simple act of insuring that housing laws are enforced would increase property values because less people would be living in the houses. If the companies were forced not to hire illegal aliens, the number of them in the U.S. would probably decrease because jobs would not be available to them. The government needs to enforce immigration laws and take action to lessen tension in towns in the U.S.
Since there has been a heightened number of Illegal Immigrants of Hispanic decent entering the country there has been increased hostility between the U.S citizens and illegal aliens. Hispanics have become the largest minority group in the United States, creating fear in many American citizens over the influence these immigrants will have on the future of the country. In many towns similar to Farmingville controversies over the impact of illegal immigrants have created frustration that sometimes leads to racist acts. Blame should not be placed on immigrants, but instead pressure should be placed on the U.S. government to improve enforcement of immigration laws. To reduce tensions in many U.S. towns and to improve the quality of life the government needs to take more action on immigration polices.
In recent years, the number of illegal immigrants from Mexico and other Latin countries into the United States has been rapidly increasing, creating tension and frustration between the immigrants and the U.S citizens. This crisis is occurring in many cities and towns throughout New York, California, and Texas. Many Americans feel that the presence of these illegal immigrants is negatively impacting the quality of their lives by making their towns unsafe and undesirable to live in. Their frustration is turning into hate, and some have even resorted to racist acts involving violence. In order to lower tensions and create tranquility in areas where illegal immigration is generating a problem, the blame must be taken off the immigrants and pressure must be placed upon the government to enforce immigration laws.
Currently American citizens view illegal immigration as a serious problem with the number of Hispanics entering the country rising. Hispanics are becoming America’s largest minority group; in 1990 the number of Mexicans in the U.S labor force was 4,298, 000, the largest of all the foreign countries (Coronado). In light of these numbers, it is not surprising that the culture of America is being changed by the influx of illegal immigrants. Social change is manifested in the increase in Spanish language radio and television stations, as well as popular music and ethnic foods. Although this influence of immigrants broadens the diversity and enriches the culture of the United States, many citizens are beginning to feel threatened. Americans fear that Spanish will challenge English as the dominant language. As Heer states, after collecting data from immigrants from many different countries that are currently working in the U.S., “Almost all immigrants gave Spanish as their native tongue; less than half were native born citizens of Mexican Descent considered English their native tongue” (197). This shows that most of the Hispanic immigrants still feel very strong ties to their homeland. The increasing number of illegal immigrants into the United States has potential to impact the future of the U.S., creating concern in many citizens.
One town where the issue of illegal immigration is causing great controversy is in Farmingville, New York where there has been an increase of illegal aliens. In Farmingville, racial tensions have become so high that there have been hate acts, protests, and even a documentary filmed illustrating how severe the problem is and how much attention needs to be drawn to the issue. The citizens’ anger stems from the fact that illegal immigrants take the jobs of the U.S. citizens, do not pay taxes and increase the citizens’ taxes. Landscapers and construction workers hire illegal immigrants as cheap labor making less job opportunities available for Americans (Woodbury ). Because most of the day laborers are not documented and work off the book, they do not pay taxes (Woodbury). When they get injured their hospital bills must be paid off by the citizens causing taxes to be raised (Woodbury). Some Americans feel that the increase in illegal immigration is tied to an increase in crime. Illegal immigrants often loiter on street corners in search of work, and there have been reports of them harassing woman and committing criminal acts. Also, many illegal immigrants live in highly overcrowded houses, which often become unkempt. Loitering and unacceptable housing conditions make the neighborhood less desirable to live in, and decrease property values. Similar to the situation in Farmingville, many towns in the U.S. are experiencing controversy over the impact of having large amounts of illegal immigrants. The building frustrations in towns that occur because of uncontrolled immigration, and the hate crimes that result from this tension should not be ignored by the U.S government.
As a result of the problems that have arisen because of the increase of day workers, many place the blame on the immigrants instead of the government. As a result of prejudice, many acts of hate have occurred. There was an incident in Farmingville where two illegal immigrants were looking for work and instead taken to an abandoned warehouse and beaten by two white men. As Leduff states while discussing this occurrence, “ The confrontation which police are investigating as a bias crime has become the talk of the hamlet of 15,000, which was already electric with racial tensions” (Para. 10). Another hate act that occurred was the firebombing of a house in Farmingville where a family of illegal immigrants lived. Although these specific incidents were reported to the police many bias crimes go unreported because illegal aliens are undocumented and fear they may be deported. As Coronado and Pias state, “It is widely known that immigrants are both more likely to be victimized by crime and less likely to report “ (4). It is devastating to think that society is only aware of a small portion of the crimes that immigrants are subject to. Immigrants are just trying to support their families; they should not be targeted (Lambert). Illegal immigrants come to the U.S. in order to send money back to their families in their homeland. Because they come from such poor countries, even the worst and lowest paying jobs can change their lives. The citizens of the U.S should realize that most illegal immigrants are not here to hurt anyone or ruin towns, but to help their families survive. Anger for the towns’ problems should not be directed at the immigrants, but instead pressure should be placed on the government to enforce laws and find solutions.
The government has the capability to solve many of the problems that result from illegal immigration. The government needs to enforce existing immigration laws. The Federal Government needs to make border control stricter, which would decrease the number of illegal immigrants entering the country. Local governments could create workstations where the immigrants could be picked up for work, which would help eliminate loitering. These solutions would make the towns safe and could help bring up property values (Jacoby). Also, the government should enforce housing laws and monitor hiring practices of landscaping and construction companies. The simple act of insuring that housing laws are enforced would increase property values because less people would be living in the houses. If the companies were forced not to hire illegal aliens, the number of them in the U.S. would probably decrease because jobs would not be available to them. The government needs to enforce immigration laws and take action to lessen tension in towns in the U.S.
Since there has been a heightened number of Illegal Immigrants of Hispanic decent entering the country there has been increased hostility between the U.S citizens and illegal aliens. Hispanics have become the largest minority group in the United States, creating fear in many American citizens over the influence these immigrants will have on the future of the country. In many towns similar to Farmingville controversies over the impact of illegal immigrants have created frustration that sometimes leads to racist acts. Blame should not be placed on immigrants, but instead pressure should be placed on the U.S. government to improve enforcement of immigration laws. To reduce tensions in many U.S. towns and to improve the quality of life the government needs to take more action on immigration polices.
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