Conservative or Liberal views of immigration

Throughout American history, pro- and anti-immigrant voices have co-existed and public policy has generally responded to whichever voice commanded the majority of public opinion at the time. The various perspectives on the immigration debate cannot adequately be described as “conservative” or “liberal” nor as Republican or Democrats: the debated has, throughout history just as it does now, divided otherwise homogeneous ideological blocs. [Immigration Legal Resource Center, A Guide to Immigration Advocates (San Francisco: Immigrant Resource Center, 2006), 2:21-22.] Cited in
Welcoming the Stranger: Justice, Compassion & Truth in the Immigration Debate, p. 49.

Misinformation and our work to make meaningful change

It is difficult to have a conversation with people about immigration. This is at least part of the reason why. Entertainment programs which promote themselves as new programs make statements that contradict the simple truth.

Recently, Sean Hannity of Fox "News" stated that the National Council of La Raza has called for the annexation of southwestern states. This would be ridiculous if it were true. This is what Hannity said:



National Council of La Raza issued the following in response today:


February 27, 2009

John Moody
Executive Vice President, News Editorial
FOX News Channel
News Corporation
1211 Avenue of the Americas
New York, NY 10036

Dear John Moody:

On the February 25, 2009 edition of Hannity, Sean Hannity stated that my organization, the National Council of La Raza (NCLR), has called for Mexico to annex southwestern states. NCLR is the largest national Hispanic civil rights and advocacy organization in the United States and last year celebrated its 40th anniversary as an American institution.

NCLR has never made the statement and does not support the views Mr. Hannity attributes to us, as even a cursory review of our public statements or website would substantiate. Such conspiracy theories would be silly if they were not so often used to create fear and distrust of all Hispanics living in America. While Mr. Hannity is well within his rights to disagree with the views of our organization, he is not entitled to lie about us. In light of this, we are asking in the strongest terms possible for an immediate on-air correction.

. . .

Sincerely,

Janet Murguía

I would care so much what Sean Hannity says on his program if there was some way to know if what he says has any merit. However, and this applies to other news outlets as well, there seems to be no way of knowing what gets said on the air is true or not. I am more inclined to believe Comedy Central's fake news program than I am inclined to believe the so-called "real news."

When people believe these things they repeat them as if they were true. Larger portions of the population think they an informed opinion about immigration or any other issue. This makes real policy making more difficult or even impossible. Even if Fox were to retract or correct this misinformation, it will likely be repeated for some time as if it were true.

May God have mercy!

Welcoming The Stranger

Welcoming the Stranger: Justice, Compassion & Truth in the Immigration Debate

Overstayers

". . . approximately 45 percent of the estimated 11 to 12 million people who are undocumented came on a valid visitor visa but overstayed. These visa “overstayers” come from every country in the world. For obvious geographic reasons, undocumented immigrants from countries other than Mexico, Canada, and Central America are more likely to have entered on a visitor visa and overstayed than to have crossed a border illegally.)

(Soerens and Hwang, p. 67)

George Washington addressing Irish immigrants in 1783:

“The bosom of America is open to receive not only the opulent and respectable stranger, but the oppressed and persecuted of all nations and religions, whom we shall welcome to participate in all of our rights and privileges, if by decency and propriety of conduct they appear to merit the employment.”
(from Roger Daniels, Guarding the Golden Door: American Immigration Policy and Immigrants since 1882, quoted by Soerens and Hwang)

Getting advice as an immigrant.

I know many immigrants. I write about immigration and people's experience and faith. On more than one occasion I have been asked a question to which I have responded that I think I am not qualified to answer and the question should be asked of someone who knows more than I do.

I am reading Welcoming the Stranger: Justice, Compassion & Truth in the Immigration Debate
by Jenny Huang and Matthew Soerens. A footnote on page 38 has this to say, and I repeat it here for your information:

In order to avoid receiving inaccurate and possibly unethical legal advice, immigrants should not accept immigration advice from anyone other than an immigration attorney or nonprofit organization that is recognized by the Board of Immigration Appeals (BIA). A list of BIA-recognized organizations and accredited individuals at those organizations is maintained by the Executive Office for Immigration Review of the U. W. Department of Justice and can be found at www.justice.gov/eoir/statspub/raroster.htm . Churches and other nonprofit organizations that want to assist immigrants with immigration legal services should undergo the training necessary to become recognized by the BIA, because without adequate knowledge well-meaning people can actually do irrevocable harm to an immigrant seeking advice.

Tell the DOJ to Investigate Sheriff Joe Arpaio

Imagine the police targeting and arresting your neighbors simply because they are Latino. Then imagine them parading undocumented immigrants in shackles across town to publicly humiliate them in front of media cameras. Sheriff Joe Arpaio of Arizona's Maricopa County creates dehumanizing scenes like these on a regular basis.

Sheriff Arpaio's flagrant racial profiling tactics could spread beyond Maricopa County unless we send a clear message that they will no longer be tolerated. As Christians, we must speak out against the violation of the basic human dignity of our neighbors, whom Jesus has called us to love.

I have just asked the Department of Justice to investigate Sheriff Arpaio. Will you join me? Just click here:

http://go.sojo.net/campaign/arpaio/

Another important book about Immigration and Christians

Welcoming the Stranger: Justice, Compassion & Truth in the Immigration Debate
by Jenny Huang and Matthew Soerens of World Relief with introduction by Leith Anderson. Book review will follow.

25th Anniversary Edition: El Norte

Gregory Nava's movie about a brother and sister's journey from Guatemala to the US, El Norte, came out in 1984. The civil wars in Central America, the ensuing movement of people north to the US, and what initiated the "sanctuary movement" of the 1980's for Central American refugees and immigrants. This film helped many of us understand the lives of immigrants during that time. I think the film is work watching and would like to see it again.