"Our employers in America have an obligation not to hire illegal immigrants"--President George Bush
According to today's New York Times, President Bush toured the area near El Paso, Texas, in the jacket of a Border Patrol agent.
He said, "Our employers in America have an obligation not to hire illegal immigrants."
At Jewish Community Action, we believe that it is because of need that people cross borders without papers, or overstay tourist visas. They need to earn a living, they need to support family in their country of origin, they need to escape violence or oppression.
Many times in Jewish history, this was true. Many Jews escaped from Nazi occupied Europe, and Czarist Russia, and fifteenth-century Spain, and Plantaganet England. Even without proper papers, they managed to get across borders, desperate for better, safer, more secure lives, in which they were free to work, practice their religion, live out their natural lives.
On the other hand, some people believe that immigrants put stresses on government and social service programs, take jobs away from U.S. citizens, and are changing America in troubling ways.
What do you think? Should the Jewish community take a stand on this? And, if so, what should our stand be?
Immigrant rights has been called the "civil rights issue of the 21st century," but we want to hear what you have to say!
He said, "Our employers in America have an obligation not to hire illegal immigrants."
At Jewish Community Action, we believe that it is because of need that people cross borders without papers, or overstay tourist visas. They need to earn a living, they need to support family in their country of origin, they need to escape violence or oppression.
Many times in Jewish history, this was true. Many Jews escaped from Nazi occupied Europe, and Czarist Russia, and fifteenth-century Spain, and Plantaganet England. Even without proper papers, they managed to get across borders, desperate for better, safer, more secure lives, in which they were free to work, practice their religion, live out their natural lives.
On the other hand, some people believe that immigrants put stresses on government and social service programs, take jobs away from U.S. citizens, and are changing America in troubling ways.
What do you think? Should the Jewish community take a stand on this? And, if so, what should our stand be?
Immigrant rights has been called the "civil rights issue of the 21st century," but we want to hear what you have to say!
posted by Jewish Community Action Staff at 3:41 PM
3 Comments:
Quote:
He said, "Our employers in America have an obligation not to hire illegal immigrants."
That was actually part of a longer sentence. What Bush really said was "Our employers in America have an obligation not to hire illegal immigrants at exploitative wages."
Oops, hallucinating! Sorry!
The Star Tribune’s thankfully presents both sides of the controversy surrounding Gov. Tim Pawlenty’s so-called report on the costs of undocumented immigrants. “Bah humbug” is the un-Christmas like message of Pawlenty’s effort to trash immigrants while ignoring their contributions. In fact Latino buying power in Minnesota grew from $511 million in 1990 to $3.3 billion in 2005, but you won’t find that fact in the governor’s report. Politics of hate, fear and division are the sad subtext of this report which scapegoats undocumented immigrants in Minnesota and diverts attention from the state’s real problems which are sinking national standings in transportation, education and the environment. Legislators need to question the inappropriate use of tax dollars to “research” political propaganda.
For a detailed history of a community organizer, read "Let Them Call Me Rebel," a biography of pioneer organizer Saul Alinsky by Sanford D. Horwitt. Skip to the index to find specific campaigns and events of interest. Alinsky’s vision of neighborhood councils to advocate for immigrant meat packing plant workers began in Chicago, South St. Paul and Kansas City and soon spread to other cities and issues affecting the lives of recent immigrants. His Industrial Areas Foundation (IAF) partnered with churches, labor unions and other organizations in depressed communities to demonstrate, get news coverage and courageously stand up to power brokers for people who seek better lives for their families. A key feature is national training sessions for church and lay leaders in the IAF network. Alinksy articulated a strategy for greater social justice. His experiences could be part of a national debate on how to revitalize American democracy, Horwitt wrote.
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