More thoughts about immigration
I can't stop thinking about this issue.
I realised today that probably the majority of Americans have absolutely no idea what is involved with trying to apply for visas and work permits. I don't expect that they would know either. But, I think for the average person they probably envision a system similar to the way the DMV operates. Meaning, most folks probably assume that getting a work permit, "doing things legally" is no more involved than applying for a new drivers licence.
If only it was that simple. It isn't of course.
In fact, I think if the average American had to deal with the INS (now the DHS) on a regular basis, immigration reform would get taken care of in no time at all.
Let me put it this way - applying for just about anything via the INS makes filing your taxes look easy.
I am fortunate to have a Green Card. I was also fortunate to have been able to afford a lawyer to help me with the process. Even so the paperwork was astonishingly confusing, and the entire process took 4 years and numerous visits to the INS office. Not many people are as lucky as me.
Just as a side note, the INS office in San Jose, where I lived, would only allow 200 or so people inside every day (the exact number varied). So, if you wanted to stand a chance of getting inside the office, you would have to start lining up way before the office actually opened. It was normal practice for people to literally camp out over night to ensure that they could get in the office the next morning. And I'm not talking about "occasionally some obsessed people would camp out overnight." I mean, EVERY NIGHT there were people sitting on the ground outside the INS office waiting in line for the office to open the next morning. The earliest I got there was I think 4am one time. That's because I showed up at 6am once and didn't make it in the building.
So, yes, technically speaking, as long as you entered the country legally, and fall into one of a very number of categories of people who are eligible for a work permit, it is possible to do things the legal way.
That said, it doesn't surprise me in the slightest that so few people choose to go this route.
The other fallacy I hear a lot on the radio and around town is that "illegals just need to apply for work visas the proper way".
Unfortunately if you are in this country illegally that automatically means you cannot apply for any kind of legal work visa or residency permit. If you enter illegally there is no process available to you to become legal. The last time I checked the law, if the INS found you to be in violation of the terms of your visa, or if you were found to be here illegally, you would be deported and barred from re-entering the country for 10 years.
OK, I'll get off my soap box now.
My friend Dave wrote a blog today about the wedding of one of his close friends, Scott. He says that Scott is a funny guy, and as evidence he shared Scott's comments on this whole immigration issue. It made me laugh:
"We need to get rid of all illegal aliens. Especially Alf. Man, that guy eats cats. Get him out of here. Once you're done with him, let's move on to Mork. Anyone who travels in an egg is no good."
Hah - Mork. Impressive cultural reference considering Scott's youth.
I realised today that probably the majority of Americans have absolutely no idea what is involved with trying to apply for visas and work permits. I don't expect that they would know either. But, I think for the average person they probably envision a system similar to the way the DMV operates. Meaning, most folks probably assume that getting a work permit, "doing things legally" is no more involved than applying for a new drivers licence.
If only it was that simple. It isn't of course.
In fact, I think if the average American had to deal with the INS (now the DHS) on a regular basis, immigration reform would get taken care of in no time at all.
Let me put it this way - applying for just about anything via the INS makes filing your taxes look easy.
I am fortunate to have a Green Card. I was also fortunate to have been able to afford a lawyer to help me with the process. Even so the paperwork was astonishingly confusing, and the entire process took 4 years and numerous visits to the INS office. Not many people are as lucky as me.
Just as a side note, the INS office in San Jose, where I lived, would only allow 200 or so people inside every day (the exact number varied). So, if you wanted to stand a chance of getting inside the office, you would have to start lining up way before the office actually opened. It was normal practice for people to literally camp out over night to ensure that they could get in the office the next morning. And I'm not talking about "occasionally some obsessed people would camp out overnight." I mean, EVERY NIGHT there were people sitting on the ground outside the INS office waiting in line for the office to open the next morning. The earliest I got there was I think 4am one time. That's because I showed up at 6am once and didn't make it in the building.
So, yes, technically speaking, as long as you entered the country legally, and fall into one of a very number of categories of people who are eligible for a work permit, it is possible to do things the legal way.
That said, it doesn't surprise me in the slightest that so few people choose to go this route.
The other fallacy I hear a lot on the radio and around town is that "illegals just need to apply for work visas the proper way".
Unfortunately if you are in this country illegally that automatically means you cannot apply for any kind of legal work visa or residency permit. If you enter illegally there is no process available to you to become legal. The last time I checked the law, if the INS found you to be in violation of the terms of your visa, or if you were found to be here illegally, you would be deported and barred from re-entering the country for 10 years.
OK, I'll get off my soap box now.
My friend Dave wrote a blog today about the wedding of one of his close friends, Scott. He says that Scott is a funny guy, and as evidence he shared Scott's comments on this whole immigration issue. It made me laugh:
"We need to get rid of all illegal aliens. Especially Alf. Man, that guy eats cats. Get him out of here. Once you're done with him, let's move on to Mork. Anyone who travels in an egg is no good."
Hah - Mork. Impressive cultural reference considering Scott's youth.
posted by Jonathan Ziman at
8:47 PM
3 Comments:
I live in Morocco where sub-Saharan Africans wait for the opportunity to slip illegally into Spain. 75% of those who go are Moroccans so it is like sitting in northern Mexico with most who cross over being Mexicans.
My first three years here I worked a lot with this community of migrants but have become disillusioned. I am particularly disturbed by those who claim to be Christians and believe that by having enough faith, praying hard enough, praising fervently enough, God will get them into Europe. (A sea, not a river separates us here.) As the Red Sea was parted by Moses, so will the border guards separate so they can slip in. They use God as a tool to get what they want.
There are lots of arguments used to justify this illegal migration. The Europeans did not have visas when they came to Africa. God has called me to come so I can disobey the law of the land. But when it comes down to it, it is illegal. One can disobey the law of the land in an act of civil disobedience, but then it must be clear that it is a case of God’s law contrasting with civil law and that is not the case here. Everyone claims that they are here because they are refugees. But the truth is that someone came to town from Europe with enough money to buy a house and car and start a business and those working in the factory said, “I want to get me some of that.”
God did not call it was the euro that called.
I tell people that if it is God’s plan for them to go to Europe, then go back to their home country and apply for a visa. If that does not happen then find something else to do. If I want to go to a certain college and my application is rejected, do I go anyway and sit in on classes and hope the school will give me a degree? If I ask a woman to marry me and she says no, do I sit on her doorstep until she lets me in?
What happened to consequences for actions? Someone comes illegally to the US and find that they are taken advantage of (which happens all over Europe) and then complain that they cannot get what citizens get. Why should a step of disobedience be rewarded?
If this world is all that there is, then by all means, break every law you can to get what you want. But if there is an eternal existence, then it is the responsibility of Christians to urge people to take steps of obedience.
If someone has been in the US, then they need to take a lesson from Paul’s letter to Philemon. Onesimus was a slave who fled to Rome. He became a Christian and was a valuable help to Paul. What did Paul say? “Let bygones be bygones?” No. He told Onesimus he had to go back to Philemon and settle things with him.
That is my message to any illegal immigrants in the US. Go back to your home country and then pursue legal means to come to the US.
By
Anonymous, at 7:56 AM
Thanks for the post, Jonathan. I think you're perspective on the issue is needed. Hope you'll do more posting now that finals are over!
By
Chaka, at 11:56 AM
This month's First Things has a thoughtful article by Mary Ann Glendon, who is a conservative-leaning Catholic at Harvard Law.
http://www.law.harvard.edu/
news/2006/05/25_glendon.php
By
Anonymous, at 7:02 PM
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