TJP

The immigration debate is often viewed contemporaneously. However, it should be viewed from a wider historical perspective. From a historical perspective the first non natives to the “new world” were illegal emigrants. Nonetheless, the natives helped them survive the harsh environment, but their good deeds did not go unpunished.

History indicates that natives in the “new world” lost their land through violence and, in a sense, became illegal own their own land. Natives in parts of Mexico also suffered similar land displacement and also became illegal on their own land.

The term illegal, therefore, is an interesting construct, used by settlers to erect imaginary boundaries for selected exclusion. Had the natives considered the first newcomers illegals and implemented harsh return procedures instead of feeding them, the newcomers would not have survived.

In 1845 the United States annexed Texas, which Mexico considered part of its territory. Mexico also lost California. The spear of land appropriations then, as it is now in Israel, were settlers.

Arizonians behavior with Hispanics, and in the past, with African Americans, is racist. For a number of years they refused to honor Dr. King’s birthday and now they’ve codify racial laws against Hispanics. Their actions are similar to apartheid in former South Africa and in present day Israel.

Good American citizens are reacting as they should, canceling visitations to Arizona. Moreover, Attorney General Holder on Tuesday said that the federal government may challenge the law.

It is so unfortunate that so many Republicans support the law, which will affect Republicans of Hispanic origin if they set foot in Arizona. Apparently, they believe that it is politically advantageous to support the racism and discrimination. Marco Rubio, a Republican from Florida running for the US Senate failed to strongly repudiate the law.

Republicans should realize that the growth of the Hispanics population is an asset, rather than a liability. Moreover, that conceding the Hispanic voting power to the Democrats is unwise.

Certainly, there is a border problem. However, the Arizona discriminatory law does not address the porosity of border. State and national policy makers should simultaneously concentrate on the border problem and also on developing a pathway for permanent and temporary legal status for illegal emigrants; a model similar to the H-1B visa may be effective.

The H-1B visa program is a non-immigrant visa provided to foreigners, particularly from Asia to legally work in the United States under the Immigration and Nationality Act, section 101(a)(15)(H).

Under the Act, U.S. employers can temporarily employ foreign workers in specialty occupations. It allows the foreign employee certain level of flexibility. For instance, if a foreign worker in H-1B status quits or is dismissed from the sponsoring employer, the worker can find another employer. The worker can apply for a change of status to another non-immigrant status. However, if the worker is unsuccessful in securing another employment or a change of status, he or she must leave the US.

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