Illegal immigration isn't immoral
Notes from Underground
Adam Roberts
Issue date: 12/8/08 Section: Opinion
Whenever anyone talks about assisting illegal immigrants, they're met with angry opposition. Opponents of being nice to illegal immigrants seem to think that they are being helpful when they point out the fact that people are "here illegally" and "breaking the law."
Guess what? We already knew that.
Just because you break a law doesn't mean that you're automatically a horrible person who deserves no charity or consideration. I wonder - how many of the people who cry out that any leniency or assistance given to illegal immigrants is amnesty turn around and advocate the greatest possible mercy when they become illegal parkers?
People complain that illegal immigrants "cut in line" in front of those who go through the process legally. This is bunk. For immigrants from Latin America, there is no "line." The citizenship process is more like a giant bureaucratic blender operated by the pencil pushers at the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (now in its third incarnation in just five years).
First, you try to apply for a green card. Six different desk clerks tell you to bring your papers to six different offices in six different cities - all tell you you're at the wrong place. You then wait somewhere between five and eleven years, depending on how many people lost your paperwork and who wants copies of mysterious, probably nonexistent forms with names like "XJ2781." The people at the USCIS phone number give you different instructions every time you call. Assuming you can afford an immigration attorney, you learn that no one really has any idea how the process is even supposed to work.
If you are lucky enough to get a green card, the road to citizenship will still take several more years and countless trips to alphabet soup agencies that no one has ever heard of. One day, you receive a notice in the mail informing you that you are now in the country illegally. This comes a week after receiving a notice informing you that you are not allowed to visit your home country.
Guess what? We already knew that.
Just because you break a law doesn't mean that you're automatically a horrible person who deserves no charity or consideration. I wonder - how many of the people who cry out that any leniency or assistance given to illegal immigrants is amnesty turn around and advocate the greatest possible mercy when they become illegal parkers?
People complain that illegal immigrants "cut in line" in front of those who go through the process legally. This is bunk. For immigrants from Latin America, there is no "line." The citizenship process is more like a giant bureaucratic blender operated by the pencil pushers at the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (now in its third incarnation in just five years).
First, you try to apply for a green card. Six different desk clerks tell you to bring your papers to six different offices in six different cities - all tell you you're at the wrong place. You then wait somewhere between five and eleven years, depending on how many people lost your paperwork and who wants copies of mysterious, probably nonexistent forms with names like "XJ2781." The people at the USCIS phone number give you different instructions every time you call. Assuming you can afford an immigration attorney, you learn that no one really has any idea how the process is even supposed to work.
If you are lucky enough to get a green card, the road to citizenship will still take several more years and countless trips to alphabet soup agencies that no one has ever heard of. One day, you receive a notice in the mail informing you that you are now in the country illegally. This comes a week after receiving a notice informing you that you are not allowed to visit your home country.
Viewing Comments 1 - 10 of 37
Bruce
posted 12/07/08 @ 11:34 PM CST
Just so much hogwash in this write up. illegal is illegal and when ikt is another nations peoples taking advantage of our country then it is even worse. (Continued…)
Jeremy
posted 12/07/08 @ 11:38 PM CST
The only way you can say that immigration laws are unjust is to say that we have no right to decide how and when to allow people into our country.
I encourage you to come right out and say that. (Continued…)
Jeremy
posted 12/07/08 @ 11:42 PM CST
The only way you can say that immigration laws are unjust is to say that we have no right to decide how and when to allow people into our country.
I encourage you to come right out and say that. (Continued…)
Bob Tiberius
Jeremy
posted 12/07/08 @ 11:43 PM CST
The only way you can say that immigration laws are unjust is to say that we have no right to decide how and when to allow people into our country.
I encourage you to come right out and say that. (Continued…)
Bob Tiberius
Jeremy
posted 12/07/08 @ 11:46 PM CST
I apologize for the multi-post.
My computer attacked me with its strangeness.
DominicBox
Dominic Box
posted 12/08/08 @ 12:31 PM CST
Haha I am so glad my letter to the editor warranted this completely ridiculous response in the paper. Adam, in this article you show complete disregard for the law "yes overstaying a work visa or green card is illegal, but so what" if you disregard the law here where does it end. (Continued…)
Dominic Box
posted 12/08/08 @ 2:21 PM CST
I'm not attempting to have a petty argument so if I came off as offensive I do apologize. However, we are discussing issues of fact and that's what I want to talk about. (Continued…)
Daniel
posted 12/08/08 @ 2:22 PM CST
Talk about falsehoods, misinformation and distortion of the facts. Unfortunately, this writer's beliefs are typical of those favoring amnesty, open borders and unfettered immigration. (Continued…)
Vinh Le
posted 12/08/08 @ 2:55 PM CST
Mr. Roberts,
You claim there is no line for immigrants from Latin America (untrue). Your narrative about the green card process is a similar lie. (Continued…)
josefina
posted 12/08/08 @ 3:42 PM CST
Roberts wrote.
"For immigrants from Latin America, there is no "line." "
He knows this is a complete lie. It is also offensive to those of us who waited in line to emigrate LEGALLY to the US. (Continued…)
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