Fact: As of the 1996 Welfare Reform Bill, "Legal immigrants are barred from all federal means-tested public benefits for five years after entering the country and barred from SSI and food stamps until citizenship. They are also barred from all federal means-tested public benefits for five years. Benefits available to immigrants include school lunch and breakfast programs, immunizations, emergency medical services, disaster relief, and others programs that are necessary to protect life and safety as identified by the attorney general, regardless of immigration status. Illegal immigrants are barred from the following federal public benefits: grants, contracts, loans, licenses, retirement, welfare, health, disability, public or assisted housing, post secondary education, food assistance, and unemployment benefits. States are barred from providing state or locally funded benefits to illegal immigrants unless a state law is enacted granting such authority."
I guess welfare can't be used as an excuse to want illegal immigrants out of the United States. It can be used as an excuse to want legal immigrants out, though.
miércoles, 28 de abril de 2010
Do all Americans have Civil Rights?
It seems like everywhere I look immigration and race are the topic of choice; whether I'm turning on the television, checking my Facebook or sitting down to have dinner. The passage of the SB1070 bill in the state of Arizona put the focus on these issues. The problem seems to be the method in which they'll "crackdown" on illegal immigrants. When the bill goes into effect authorities will be allowed to "demand proof of legal entry" to anyone they suspect is in the country illegally. How will they effectively identify such suspects? The answer is pretty obvious: racial profiling.
Imagine the following: Put aside the fact that it is now legal to profile someone based on the color of their skin. Forget that there are legal immigrants and residents in the Unites States that look like illegal immigrants. And for a second lets all believe that illegal immigrants are here to destroy the United States of America. But we forgot something: There are Americans, born and raised, who look like illegal immigrants. And there are plenty of Americans that sound like illegal immigrants. What about them? Is it right that these Americans will now be stopped, questioned and possibly detained because of the color of their skin and the sound of their voices?
This is a civil rights issue as much as it is an immigration issue. As citizens of the United States of America we should be outraged that a state in our country has taken action to take away our liberties. Not even a decade ago we allowed our leaders to use our fear of another terrorist attack to take our rights away. Does the Patriot Act ring a bell? A half century ago Americans were living in segregation. Weren't people of a certain skin color forced to ride in the back of buses? Isn't there a whole month dedicated to remembering this? How is it possible that the country that describes itself as a "Melting Pot," "a country of immigrants," and "a country of hope and opportunity" is presently allowing the passage of a bill that strips its core away? Isn't it our responsibility, as Americans, to make sure this doesn't happen again? I feel like I woke up in another time, another place.
But I am not a pessimist. I know this country is full of educated, informed people that know their history, respect the Constitution and advocate the humane treatment of others. It is time for the educated and informed to come together and change this. Lets use the attention the world has on us now to not just revoke SB1070 but bring to light other issues that need to change. Don't forget you have the power to change things. You take that power everytime you vote and every time you shop.
Imagine the following: Put aside the fact that it is now legal to profile someone based on the color of their skin. Forget that there are legal immigrants and residents in the Unites States that look like illegal immigrants. And for a second lets all believe that illegal immigrants are here to destroy the United States of America. But we forgot something: There are Americans, born and raised, who look like illegal immigrants. And there are plenty of Americans that sound like illegal immigrants. What about them? Is it right that these Americans will now be stopped, questioned and possibly detained because of the color of their skin and the sound of their voices?
This is a civil rights issue as much as it is an immigration issue. As citizens of the United States of America we should be outraged that a state in our country has taken action to take away our liberties. Not even a decade ago we allowed our leaders to use our fear of another terrorist attack to take our rights away. Does the Patriot Act ring a bell? A half century ago Americans were living in segregation. Weren't people of a certain skin color forced to ride in the back of buses? Isn't there a whole month dedicated to remembering this? How is it possible that the country that describes itself as a "Melting Pot," "a country of immigrants," and "a country of hope and opportunity" is presently allowing the passage of a bill that strips its core away? Isn't it our responsibility, as Americans, to make sure this doesn't happen again? I feel like I woke up in another time, another place.
But I am not a pessimist. I know this country is full of educated, informed people that know their history, respect the Constitution and advocate the humane treatment of others. It is time for the educated and informed to come together and change this. Lets use the attention the world has on us now to not just revoke SB1070 but bring to light other issues that need to change. Don't forget you have the power to change things. You take that power everytime you vote and every time you shop.
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