Wed
22
Aug
2007
MITO, REALIDADE e IMIGRAÇÃO
Separar o mito e da realidade é o primeiro passo para um diálogo sério e produtivo sobre o tema da imigração.
Recentemente tivemos a oportunidade de conhecer o trabalho de Jane Guskin, editora do “Weekly News Update on the Americas”, do “Immigration News Briefs" e autora dos livros “What´s so wrong about Immigration?”, “The case for open borders”. Em seu último livro “The Politics of Immigration" com o co-autor de David L. Wilson, Jane contesta informações voláteis e os "mitos" que acabam por forjar as politicas de imigração nesse pais.
Pedimos à Jane que nos falasse um pouco mais sobre esses "mitos" dos quais os imigrantes são acusados.
Não podemos deixar que a falta de informação de quem acha que todos os problemas dos Estados Unidos derivam da imigração indocumentada, se sobreponha a verdade dos fatos. Com a palavra Jane Guskin.
IMMIGRATION: MYTHS AND FACTS By Jane Guskin*
Q: How come so many immigrants don’t “follow the rules?”
A: Because the rules are designed to keep them out. If they had a choice, virtually everyone who came here would do it legally. But it’s nearly impossible to get an immigrant visa, unless you are the spouse, child or parent of a US citizen–and even then it’s often difficult. (Other relatives of US citizens, like siblings, must wait 15-20 years for a visa.)
Even visitor visas are very hard to get. People from Western Europe, Canada, Australia and a few other places don’t need a visa to visit here, but everyone else does (even though US citizens don’t usually need visas to travel overseas). To get a visitor visa, you usually must own property, have a steady well-paid job, have a lot of money in the bank, and prove that you don’t intend to immigrate.
Q: How “illegal” are undocumented immigrants?
A: People can’t be illegal, only actions can be illegal. (If you broke the speed limit once, or got drunk when you were under age, does that make you “illegal”?) The act of entering the US without permission (“illegally”) is a minor misdemeanor, like “disorderly conduct.” Being present in the US without permission is not even a crime–it’s just a civil infraction, like a parking violation.
Q: Does it really matter who’s “illegal” and who’s “legal”?
A: Some people try to make a big distinction between “legal” and “illegal” immigrants. But being out of status, or “undocumented,” isn’t a permanent condition. Some legal residents have had their status taken away, and some people who arrive without permission have managed to become legal residents and eventually US citizens (although it is now very difficult for many undocumented immigrants to “become legal”). Within many immigrant families some people are “legal” and some aren’t. So isn’t it an artificial distinction? Especially since virtually everyone who is undocumented wishes they could have the opportunity to “become legal.”
Q: Do out-of-status immigrants pay taxes?
A: Immigrants pay sales taxes and real estate taxes as much as anyone else. (If you rent your home, real estate taxes are included in your rent.) Many out-of-status immigrants work on the books and also pay federal and state payroll taxes. If they use incorrect social security numbers to get their jobs, taxes are deducted from their checks but they are usually afraid to file for refunds, so they actually pay more than they should. Immigrants who work on the books also pay into Social Security, although most will never be able to claim benefits.
Q: Do out-of-status immigrants strain public services?
A: Immigrants who are out of status can’t access welfare, and even when they have US-born children who are eligible, many undocumented parents are afraid to seek benefits for their kids. Public education is a right and is mandatory for all children, documented or not. Public schools are mostly funded by property taxes and things like state lotteries, and immigrants contribute to those funds at least as much as anyone else. As for health care, the big problem is that the US has no comprehensive health care program. A majority of the people without health insurance in this country are US citizens.
Q: Do out-of-status immigrants take jobs and bring down wages?
A: Most studies suggest that immigrants create as many jobs as they “take,” since they are not only workers but are also consumers of goods and services. Out-of-status immigrants who accept lower pay than US workers probably do bring down the wage scale in certain job sectors, but that problem could be resolved by increasing labor protections and allowing all immigrants to work legally, so they could demand fair wages and more easily organize for their rights.
Q: Do immigrants commit more crime?
A: Virtually every study ever done shows that immigrants tend to commit LESS crime than non-immigrants. The media seems to play up crimes committed by out-of-status immigrants, but far more crimes are committed by US citizens. In fact, out-of-status immigrants are often the victims of crime, because they fear reporting anything to the police.
Q: Is “open borders” a crazy idea?
A: No. The other option–stricter laws and stricter enforcement–only makes things worse. Border crackdowns just make immigration more expensive and people-trafficking more profitable, the same way the “war on drugs” makes drugs more expensive and the drug trade more profitable. Workplace raids make it harder for immigrant workers to organize and defend their rights. Open borders seems like a better idea: no one would have to die to come here, immigrants wouldn’t have to live in hiding or in fear, and we could start to work toward real integration.
Q: Would “open borders” solve the problem?
A: No, because it doesn’t address the root causes of migration: global economic injustice, the corporate hijacking of natural resources, and wars and political violence. Most people who migrate don’t do it for adventure but because they can barely survive, and see no opportunities for themselves or their children, in their home communities. Multinational corporations take away their natural resources and give nothing back, “free trade” treaties destroy small-scale farming and industry, and policies imposed by the World Bank and International Monetary Fund bring down wages, cut back services and increase unemployment. When people resist, they are confronted with violence and repression.
Q: What can we do?
A: Learn about the real issues of immigration, and talk to all kinds of people about these issues. When someone says something anti-immigrant, try to get them to see another point of view. Get to know immigrants, make friends, learn another language and help others learn English. Get involved in local activist campaigns in your town: against the raids, for day laborers’ rights, or against anti-immigrant laws. Take part in immigrant rights marches and rallies. Support international labor rights campaigns and anti-sweatshop efforts, take action against the World Bank and the IMF, and support global economic justice. Get involved.
* Prepared by Jane G. A flyer version of this Q&A will is available in English & Spanish at http://thepoliticsofimmigration.org along with lists of books, films, organizations and other resources. Para maiores informações visite The Politics of Immigration.
Recentemente tivemos a oportunidade de conhecer o trabalho de Jane Guskin, editora do “Weekly News Update on the Americas”, do “Immigration News Briefs" e autora dos livros “What´s so wrong about Immigration?”, “The case for open borders”. Em seu último livro “The Politics of Immigration" com o co-autor de David L. Wilson, Jane contesta informações voláteis e os "mitos" que acabam por forjar as politicas de imigração nesse pais.
Pedimos à Jane que nos falasse um pouco mais sobre esses "mitos" dos quais os imigrantes são acusados.
Não podemos deixar que a falta de informação de quem acha que todos os problemas dos Estados Unidos derivam da imigração indocumentada, se sobreponha a verdade dos fatos. Com a palavra Jane Guskin.
IMMIGRATION: MYTHS AND FACTS By Jane Guskin*
Q: How come so many immigrants don’t “follow the rules?”
A: Because the rules are designed to keep them out. If they had a choice, virtually everyone who came here would do it legally. But it’s nearly impossible to get an immigrant visa, unless you are the spouse, child or parent of a US citizen–and even then it’s often difficult. (Other relatives of US citizens, like siblings, must wait 15-20 years for a visa.)
Even visitor visas are very hard to get. People from Western Europe, Canada, Australia and a few other places don’t need a visa to visit here, but everyone else does (even though US citizens don’t usually need visas to travel overseas). To get a visitor visa, you usually must own property, have a steady well-paid job, have a lot of money in the bank, and prove that you don’t intend to immigrate.
Q: How “illegal” are undocumented immigrants?
A: People can’t be illegal, only actions can be illegal. (If you broke the speed limit once, or got drunk when you were under age, does that make you “illegal”?) The act of entering the US without permission (“illegally”) is a minor misdemeanor, like “disorderly conduct.” Being present in the US without permission is not even a crime–it’s just a civil infraction, like a parking violation.
Q: Does it really matter who’s “illegal” and who’s “legal”?
A: Some people try to make a big distinction between “legal” and “illegal” immigrants. But being out of status, or “undocumented,” isn’t a permanent condition. Some legal residents have had their status taken away, and some people who arrive without permission have managed to become legal residents and eventually US citizens (although it is now very difficult for many undocumented immigrants to “become legal”). Within many immigrant families some people are “legal” and some aren’t. So isn’t it an artificial distinction? Especially since virtually everyone who is undocumented wishes they could have the opportunity to “become legal.”
Q: Do out-of-status immigrants pay taxes?
A: Immigrants pay sales taxes and real estate taxes as much as anyone else. (If you rent your home, real estate taxes are included in your rent.) Many out-of-status immigrants work on the books and also pay federal and state payroll taxes. If they use incorrect social security numbers to get their jobs, taxes are deducted from their checks but they are usually afraid to file for refunds, so they actually pay more than they should. Immigrants who work on the books also pay into Social Security, although most will never be able to claim benefits.
Q: Do out-of-status immigrants strain public services?
A: Immigrants who are out of status can’t access welfare, and even when they have US-born children who are eligible, many undocumented parents are afraid to seek benefits for their kids. Public education is a right and is mandatory for all children, documented or not. Public schools are mostly funded by property taxes and things like state lotteries, and immigrants contribute to those funds at least as much as anyone else. As for health care, the big problem is that the US has no comprehensive health care program. A majority of the people without health insurance in this country are US citizens.
Q: Do out-of-status immigrants take jobs and bring down wages?
A: Most studies suggest that immigrants create as many jobs as they “take,” since they are not only workers but are also consumers of goods and services. Out-of-status immigrants who accept lower pay than US workers probably do bring down the wage scale in certain job sectors, but that problem could be resolved by increasing labor protections and allowing all immigrants to work legally, so they could demand fair wages and more easily organize for their rights.
Q: Do immigrants commit more crime?
A: Virtually every study ever done shows that immigrants tend to commit LESS crime than non-immigrants. The media seems to play up crimes committed by out-of-status immigrants, but far more crimes are committed by US citizens. In fact, out-of-status immigrants are often the victims of crime, because they fear reporting anything to the police.
Q: Is “open borders” a crazy idea?
A: No. The other option–stricter laws and stricter enforcement–only makes things worse. Border crackdowns just make immigration more expensive and people-trafficking more profitable, the same way the “war on drugs” makes drugs more expensive and the drug trade more profitable. Workplace raids make it harder for immigrant workers to organize and defend their rights. Open borders seems like a better idea: no one would have to die to come here, immigrants wouldn’t have to live in hiding or in fear, and we could start to work toward real integration.
Q: Would “open borders” solve the problem?
A: No, because it doesn’t address the root causes of migration: global economic injustice, the corporate hijacking of natural resources, and wars and political violence. Most people who migrate don’t do it for adventure but because they can barely survive, and see no opportunities for themselves or their children, in their home communities. Multinational corporations take away their natural resources and give nothing back, “free trade” treaties destroy small-scale farming and industry, and policies imposed by the World Bank and International Monetary Fund bring down wages, cut back services and increase unemployment. When people resist, they are confronted with violence and repression.
Q: What can we do?
A: Learn about the real issues of immigration, and talk to all kinds of people about these issues. When someone says something anti-immigrant, try to get them to see another point of view. Get to know immigrants, make friends, learn another language and help others learn English. Get involved in local activist campaigns in your town: against the raids, for day laborers’ rights, or against anti-immigrant laws. Take part in immigrant rights marches and rallies. Support international labor rights campaigns and anti-sweatshop efforts, take action against the World Bank and the IMF, and support global economic justice. Get involved.
* Prepared by Jane G. A flyer version of this Q&A will is available in English & Spanish at http://thepoliticsofimmigration.org along with lists of books, films, organizations and other resources. Para maiores informações visite The Politics of Immigration.