Contrary to the wishes of the Congress, several immigration laws promulgated in the last ten years promote the discrimination. If we analyzed American history, we can observe that its population coexisted under a principle of honor. The organizations of government, commerce, and the population itself, believed in the word of their people. A perfect example is that immigration used to allow citizens to enter its territory, showing only their birth certificates, which does not identify to the carrier. In order to open a current account in any bank, it was not necessary to present/display any identification, only fill a form. But to start of the 1990s, the governor of California, Pete Wilson, began the most successful national anti-immigrant campaign. The virus of his movement motivated the promulgation of the Immigration laws of 1996 and others that affect all the population.
Being carried away by this anti-immigrant feeling, the American congress continues to forget that the implementation of these laws are impossible, as millions of North American citizens, continue forming the biggest undocumented population. In order to understand the irony of these laws we must observe that the Welfare Act, that was promulgated in 1996, to cut the public benefit to undocumented and legal immigrants; and the DNA Fingerprints Act, requires that the DNA of all immigrant stopped by any criminal or civil violation be taken, but these laws harm millions of citizens who cannot prove who they are, for not having the documentation required by the Department of Homeland Security.
As we can point out, these laws could be implemented without discrimination only when all the inhabitants of the American territory, have a national identification. Meanwhile, keep alert to any new proposals for immigration reform.
Remember that there’s always much more to analyze before formulating a legal strategy.
INTERNATIONAL IMMIGRANTS FOUNDATION
33 years, Guiding, Legalizing, and Educating Immigrants since 1973
O.N.G. UNITED NATIONS E.C.O.S.O.C.
IMMIGRANTS BUILDING: 7 W. 44th St., New York, N.Y. 10036
(212) 302-2222 – email: www.InmigrantsFoundacion.com
*Edward Juarez Studied sociology, International laws, and specialized in immigration. In 1973, established the International Immigrants Foundation, a non-profit institution created to educate, help, and defend immigrants. In 1984, he established the American Multicultural Coalition and the International Cultures Celebration, conferences in the United Nations, and the Parade and Festival to promote intercultural relations. With the goal of emphasizing the contributions of immigrants, Juarez established the “Immigrants Building” in 2003, located at 7 West 44th Street in Manhattan, NYC, where the Foundation continues developing programs that improve the quality of life for immigrants. Currently, he is am active writer, speaker, immigration columnist in El Diario la Prensa, and host of The Immigrants Voice radio and television programs.
