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Supreme Court Declines to Listen to SB1070 and I Don't Blame Them

In 2010 the state of Arizona passed legislation known as SB1070 (also known as Support Our Law Enforcement and Safe Neighborhoods Act). According to Leslie Berestein Rojas, Immigration and Emerging Communities Reporter stated that SB 1070 is a  "state measure, that would criminalize harboring and transporting immigrants who are in the U.S. illegally". In more recent news on Monday April 21st the Supreme Court declined listening to the appeal from the state, because this decision "leaves intact an October 2013 ruling by the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in San Francisco that found in part that the provision was trumped by federal immigration law". 

It is very evident that this state measure is all about race and ethnicity impacting the immigration system. Additionally, SB 1070 got Arizona to be on the map when it comes to the discussion of immigration (this is not something to be proud of). However, in March, the high court rejected similar cases in which towns in Texas and Pennsylvania which "attempted to revive local laws that, required tenants to provide identification that could later be verified with immigration authorities and penalized landlords for renting to illegal immigrants". This is just one example of how SB 1070 inspired other racist legislation that targeted immigrant populations. This decision be the high courts means that what the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in San Francisco decision is law, and shows how this racist immigration policies are not legal and not worth the courts time. 

                                  My Thoughts

Good! I am so glad that the Supreme Court did not even humor the state of Arizona's appeal. SB 1070 is an example of legislation racism, and as no place here in the United State. By the Supreme Court decided not to hear the case Arizona v. Valle Del Sol it means that the October 2013 ruling by the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in San Francisco is the ruling and law. This is a powerful move for two main reasons. The first is how this decision gives the 9th U.S. Circuit Court legitimacy in their decisions. The second reason is how this sets a precedent on laws similar to SB 1070 which racially profiles individuals. Overall, this was a move I was happy to read about. 

On a similar note individuals should become educated on issues of immigration like SB 1070. If you are still interested to learn more about this legislation than you can watch the documentary by PBS titled "State of Arizona" which looks at SB 1070 since its passing into legislation. According to a review by  Latina Lista the State of Arizona takes viewers onto the streets within the state of Arizona where Latinos are subjected to random police stops, raids by Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio and an increasingly hostile state government hell-bent on driving out the undocumented from their borders. I would strongly urge to become more educated on immigration and the laws which impact individuals lives like SB 1070. 

#SB1070 #StateofArizona

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Brown Facing

                                              In today's society Latin@s are seen as a threat to the American society. This is the logic that enforces border violence, restrictive immigration policies, and deportations. Since Latin@s are seen as a threat to american culture and way of life the film industry has also adopted said beliefs. Thus, the introduction of Brown Facing. Brown Facing is "the act of changing your skin color to resemble someone of a different race, then proceeding to mock them or just generally acting racist", and comes from the same logic of Black Facing only with a focus on the Latin@ population. One example of this is seen when Spanish actors play Latin@s, Chican@s, Mexican, and Mexican-American characters. An example of this can be seen in the film The Mask of Zorro where Antonio Banderas is meant to play a Latino character, but Banderas was born in  Málaga, Andalusia, Spain and is Spanish.  Do to how Latin@s are seen as a threat to american ideals and society brown facing as been used in Hollywood for years as a way to avoid using "Latin@ threats". 

                                                  However, this tread in film and media may be ending! One reason I say this is because of the new Cesar Chavez, and the casting done for the film. According to an interview with BBC News Latin America & Caribbean the main focus was on lead actor Michael Peña who portraying Cesar Chavez, and how Peña "was born and raised in Chicago, to an immigrant family originally from Mexico". There is no brown facing in this instance, and this might be the first step to stopping brown facing.

Another reason that brown facing and the idea of Latin@s being seen as a threat are ending is because of how Latin@s are becoming ingrained in American culture. This can be seen by how "Latinos are the biggest moviegoers compared to other ethnic groups, according to a recent report" by Motion Picture Association of America. According to Griselda Nevarez a journalist for The Huffington Post "Latinos made up 17 percent of the U.S. population, they accounted for 32 percent of frequent moviegoers in 2013" For this reason Hollywood will need to cater to this large population, and for this reason maybe brown facing will end, and will become just as unacceptable as black facing. 

My Thoughts

Brown facing is an example of how Americans see Latin@s as a threat to their way of life, and as a result Hollywood and the film industry replicate this thought and don't hire Latin@s in films and T.V. shows. I think that this idea that Latin@s are a threat to American society will end. The reason I think brown facing will end first is because the film industry will have to cater to the Latin@ population since they are the highest moviegoers in the U.S. Because we live in this capitalistic world the film industry will no longer use brown facing. However, I don't think this will solve the way Americans view Latin@s as a threat to their way of life. Latin@s are constructed as threats in film and media, so maybe through this change in Hollywood this threat construction will decrease. I hope that is the case. 

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ACT. FAST. RESULTS

Last week I discussed the fasting that was scheduled to take place between April 4-6 in hopes to have immigration reform in the United States. According Emmarie Huetteman and Julia Preston two journalist for the New York Times discussed how "advocates of an immigration overhaul ended their water-only fasts on Tuesday in a tent on the National Mall". The start of the fast differed for each individual, but each individual involved in the fast united at the National Mall this past weekend. For example, one faster was  Eliseo Medina who was 67, and he "drank only water over the last three weeks and each  lost more than 20 pounds". Then there was Dae Joong Yoon who was fasting, but was hospitalized briefly Sunday because of low levels of sodium in his body; but he kept fasting until Tuesday because this was an issue that was so important for him. 

The main goal of the ACT. FAST. movement was to acquire immigration reform. Through out the fasting First Lady Michelle Obama, Vice President Joe Biden, and President Barack Obama all visited the fasters to hear there stories, and issues they were fighting for. In my previous blog I discussed how I was concerned that the fasters would not grab the medias attention, and that politicians would ignore them. ACT. FAST. did grab the attention of major political leaders, and even grabbed the ear of the President of the United States. Additionally, the "House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) and two California Republicans, Reps. David Valadao and Jeff Denham" all went to the National Mall to hear the fasters words. 

My Thoughts

I was pleasantly surprised that so many individuals with power went to hear the fasters. However, this event was a liberal echo chamber where the individuals just talked to like minded individuals with no real political action. The above picture depicts Vice President Biden listening to a faster, and discussing the need for immigration reform. However Biden has been saying this since Biden supported the 2007 Comprehensive Immigration Reform Bill. The fast did not reach new ears. Due to how the fast was this type of liberal echo chamber it means that immigration reform is not occurring. 

IMMIGRATION REFORM NEEDS TO OCCUR! And I want to make it very clear that I respect what these individuals did this past weekend. However, this fast did not create the change they wanted to create. This movement needs to grab new ears, and to get the attention of those who are against immigration reform in order to get the gears turning. Now we wait and hope that reform will occur soon, and lets hope I am wrong and this fast did grab the attention of the GOP, and reform is on its way. I really hope I am wrong. 

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Fast for Families

This upcoming April 7-9 there will  be a 48-hour Women's Fast for Families on the National Mall.Women's Fast for Families is an organization who is dedicated to fighting against deportation and the separation of families through advocating for immigration reform. According to the We Belong Together website "women comprise 51% of people migrating to America" which means that immigration reform is a women's issue. Through the uses of public protesting through the tactic of fasting through the United States the hope is that these protest while ignite immigration reform. 

Currently, the movement has seen "1200 women fasting through 70 events in 35 states as well as in Washington, D.C., and Mexico City" in the past month of March. The hope is that through the fasting that is said to take place this upcoming weekend that the National Mall Republican leaders like John Boehner and Eric Cantor will see the need and importance for immigration reform today. Terry O'Neill  (President, National Organization for Women) will be attending the event, and wrote about her plans for the Huntington Post in hopes that more individuals man or woman will attend the event. 

My Thoughts

I believe that this is a unique way to fight for immigration reform. The importance to fight so that families can stay together is crucial! The above photo is of one women who will be attending the fast this weekend and her reason for attending the protest. I agree with her completely!!! However, my concern is that this will not change the minds of the GOP and will not lead to a timely immigration reform. The only way that this will move immigration reform quicker is if the media latched onto the story. If the National Mall is lined will individuals who will sit and wait for 48 hours straight and the national media covers the story than there might be political shifts. I hope that immigration reform occurs and families no longer face separation because of deportation, and I hope this protest is successful. 

If you believe in this movement and what they are doing and can not attend the fast this weekend there are other ways to get involved. One is to sign their petition Speaker Boehner:Move our Country Forward! Additionally, there are multiple fasting sites that you can attend that are closer to where you live you just have to go to their website We Belong Together.  What this organization is fighting for is noble, and I plan on getting involved, and I hope you readers are too. 

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Listen Please

On October 2008 Roxana Santos was arrested in Frederick County in Maryland. She was arrested for being an undocumented individual, and Santos was unafraid to fight the arrest because she believed she was racially profiled, and "violated her Fourth Amendment rights against illegal search and seizure". For these reasons Santos was able to have her story and case heard at the 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals. She discussed how in 2008 she was a Salvadoran immigrant eating lunch when police officers aggressively arrested her. This brings up the issue of local law enforcement getting involved in immigration. 

Due to how the two Frederick County police officers who detained Santos raised the issue of local police being involved in immigration procedures. Santos largest issue with her arrest is how she felt they checked her immigration status only because she looks Hispanic. According to the Washington Post  Santos's case went all the way to the 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals where she won the case and was not facing deportation, and the local law enforcement was facing legal repercussions for their involvement in immigration. The  Frederick County still wanted to take the case to the supreme court in order to allow local law enforcement freedom to deal with immigration. As of March 24th the Supreme Court ruled that they will not hear the case and will let the decision in the 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals stand. 

My Thoughts

First off, Santos's story is no unique! The ways in which immigration is handled in the United State means that undocumented individual face discrimination, violence, and oppression. Santos is a hero for speaking out against the the two police officer for not following the laws. They racial profiled her! They did illegal search and seizure! By taking her case to the court it means that other individuals become aware of the rights individuals have, and the ways to fight back. She can inspire other undocumented individuals to fight against the discrimination and violence. 

Secondly, my issue is that the Supreme Count doesn't want to hear about the case. The U.S. Supreme Court declined Monday to review a Frederick County case  because they don't want to upset the system. I believe that the Supreme Court is weak for not listening to the case. This is an issue that would impact the immigration process in the United State. However the Supreme Court doesn't want to rock the boat, and decide to not hear the case. I am disappointed in the Court for not listening to the case.

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Good Intentions?

On March 3rd the Council for American Job Growth produced a 60 second ad discussing immigration reform in the United States. The ad was targeting the House Republicans to finally do something about immigration reform. The ad was unafraid to address multiple issues around immigration. For example the ad highlighted the economic benefits of immigration reform, and the social positives like families being able to stay together. The end of the ad is a call to action for the audience to “Call House Republicans today. Tell them we’ve waited long enough — pass immigration reform.” 

                         Here is the link to the ad 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zSsdSf_XrAc#action=share

On the outside this sounds like a positive ad with good intentions, but this begs the questions why would a organization like Council for American Job Growth want to put time, money, and energy into this ad? According to  Alex Wilhelm a journalist for Tech Crunch  is orginization is an affiliate of the Zuckerberg-founded and financedFwd.us group. Through more research you realize this organization is a controversial group in Silicon Valley; with individuals like Bill Gates and Mark Zuckerberg involved with this group it become clear that this organization has much invested in immigration reform. It is estimated that the Council for American Job Growth has spent  $500,000 on the ad buy, running the spot in all 50 states. This money is being spent for a specific reason. 

That reason according to Wilhelm is that "American technology firms are keen to increase the number of H1-B visas, making it easier for them to hire", and this is why this group is so invested in immigration reform. Nearshore America explains in their article Immigration Reform: Why Tech Companies Drive Demand for H1B Visas that H1-B visas are a non-immigrant visa in the United States that allows US employers to temporarily employ foreign workers in specialty occupations. This means the corporations like Facebook or Google can bring in foreign workers for certain amounts of time to work for the corporations, with no hassle from immigration procedures. Currently there is a limited number of H1-B visas that are allotted; however this ad advocates for a strong push in favors for an increased limit of (or limitless) qualified H1-B visas candidates, and an expedited process in the U.S. This highlights how this ad was created for a specific purpose and intent. 

My Thoughts 

I am in favor if immigration reform, but after this research of H1-B visas I think that there should still be a limit of how many are given each year. My biggest issue is how corporations like Council for American Job Growth  hides behind this nice sounding name, but is really only invested in benefits for corporations. In the ad it never once discusses H1-B visas, or the need for an increase or limitless number of visas allotted each year. Clearly, this ad is tool to get public opinion on their side, but hides the reasons for the immigration reform. This secrecy is scary, and makes the American public vulnerable. Bellow is an image for Represent Us who are trying to fight the increase of H1-B visas. Reader please read more on this issue, and become aware of this visas and the pros and cons. Do not be ignorant to issues, and stop the spoon-feeding of media like this ad aims to do. 

#immigration #represntus #councilforamericangrowth

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The Worst State Ever Goes (Once Again) To Arizona

                           Arizona has gain national attention for their legislation once again. As many individuals are aware of, the State of Arizona has passed or written controversial laws, and as a result it has opened the state to national criticism. The first was SB 1070 which was passes into law by Jan Brewer in 2010. SB 1070 or Support Our Law Enforcement and Safe Neighborhoods Act was a push to incriminate and capture undocumented individuals through law enforcement needing proof of I.D. This legislation not only got media attention, but faced legal repercussions such as sections of the bill being condemn unconstitutional. 

This February the state of Arizona has now proposed legislation known as SB 1062 which is also known as the religious-freedom legislation that opponents say would sanction discrimination against queer bodies. Through the use of religious freedom and protection laws in place in the United State this law could allow businesses (focus on restaurants) to not serve an individuals because of their sexual orientation.  According to Tucson News Now highlighted how Arizonians had "just lived through SB 1070. Things have somewhat come back to normal though the economy is still very tough. In this economic downturn, businesses don't need an additional hurdle or challenge like this" when we've just started recovering that is bound to occur with SB 1062. Additionally, the article discussed how SB 1070 and SB 1062 targets the same individual because they are the "other" in society. These laws are in place to support the normal standards for Americans to live up too.

As a result, many individuals are now turning to the same women who signed SB 1070 to veto SB 1062. Joe Martin a journalist for the Tucson Sentinel spotlights how business leaders are calling for Jan Brewer to veto the bill. As of February 23rd, The Arizona Chamber of Commerce and Industry sent Brewer a joint letter urging a veto because this law would have negative impacts on business across the state. First, SB 1062 could cause individuals to boycott or not shop at any business which follows this law. Secondly, individual would boycott coming to the state, and when Arizona relies on tourism this would kill the economy for the state. Currently this bill become a law all rides on the Jan Brewer, Brewer has until the end of the week to sign the bill, veto it or allow it to become law without her signature. Now Arizonians are calling, protesting, and writing about this issue so that a repeat of SB 1070 does not occur again. It is currently, just a waiting game to see what Jan Brewer decides to do. 

My Thoughts

Accroding to Urban Dictionary SB 1070 "is racist legislation created by the KKK, Neo-Nazis, and White Supremacists targeting Hispanics in Arizona. The evil White Devils try to justify the law by saying that it merely reinforces the federal law, when, in fact, the law will only encourage harassment, racial profiling, and discrimination towards marginalized Latinos". 

My definition of SB 1062 is homophobic legislation created by the KKK, Neo-Nazis, and White Supremacists, closeted homosexuals targeting Gay, Lesbian, Bi-Sexual, and anyone who looks Queer. The laws is said to protect religious beliefs when in fact it discriminates Queer individuals in the same fashion as segregation based on race or ethnicity in the 60's. 

These laws demonstrate how scared the white, heterosexual, rich, male majority is so scared of losing their control and power. These laws were created to combat the re-shaping of America where individuals who are "othered" due to race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, gender, disability. I believe that Jan Brewer will veto SB 1062 because of the states history with SB 1070 backlash, and all the economic impacts if SB 1062 goes into law. I hope that the veto occurs so Arizona doesn't win worst state ever award again. Finally, Rick Kidder, president and CEO of the Scottsdale Chamber of Commerce, said “If you put this on the heels of 1070, it paints Arizona as not very attractive to some folks", and that the veto is the only hope. 

#sb1070 #sb 1062 #Arizona #immigration #jan brewer #Pleaseveto

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Detention Centers more like Hell

        Immigration Detention Centers are a new enterprise in the private sector which is dedicated to making a profit off of holding undocumented individuals. In recent events, these detention centers are being questioned for human rights abuses. According to New America Media/ Law and Justice discusses how "detention center's deaths raises immigrant rights questions". On February 19th, 2014 the Adelanto Immigration Center located in the Mojave Desert, about 90 miles northeast of Los Angeles is just one detention center which is being scrutinized. Since 2003 there have been more than 130 deaths of inmates in the detention center. This is just one detention center that is clearly abusing the individuals they are detaining 

              In the past there has been groups and organizations who have been dedicated to exposing the human rights abuses that take place in the detention centers located across the United State. Immigration detention centers have been home to sexual assault, rape, mental neglect, violence, and many other human rights abuses. An activist group called The North Carolina Dream Team is a group of individuals who in July 2012 broke into a detention center in Florida with the goal to expose the horrors that occur in the immigration detention center. The activist found individuals who were suppose to be released due to either low-priority cases or should be released because of new deferred action policies. The reason these individuals were still be held is due to how having bodies filling beds in the detention centers it means that the corporations are making money. Fill the bed means you are making money. 

My Thoughts

In my eyes Hell is a place where you are loss all your agency, and where abuses mentally and physically occur, and is the birth place for dehumanization. Now knowing this definition it is clear how it can apply to immigration detention centers. This profit making industry is a product of privatization of the prions system, and is an industry who cares less about human right if it interferes with the profit margins. The activist group from North Carolina  is an example of individuals who are fighting to expose the Hell that is present on US soil. There needs to be more activist like this one; who are exposing the horrors that are occurring here in the United States.

              If you want to learn more about the Hell of detention centers you can watch the documentary Lost in Detention which came out in October 2011 with the hope to "investigate the Obama administration's controversial get-tough immigration policies" that make these immigration detention center occur. This documentary highlights the human rights abuse that is occurring in the United States, and if you want to learn more about the immigration detention centers watch this Frontline documentary. Please watch this video, and do NOT hesitate to become active in the fight against immigration detention centers. Looking into the detention centers located in your state, an fight to prevent other detention center from being built. I am not asking you to break into the centers; just to become educated on this issue. 

Here is the link to the film 

http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/lost-in-detention/

  .

#immigration #immigrationdetentioncenter #lostindetention

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Canada Showing the US How to do it in the Olympics…and Immigration

Six days into the 2014 Winter Olympics Canada had won four gold medals, four silver medals, and 2 bronze medals three positions above the United States in total medal count. It really is no surprise that the Winter Olympics would cater to Canadian athletics. However, what some might view as a surprise is that Canada’s immigration system is better than the United States.  As of Feb. 6th 2014 the chief economist at Gluskin Sheff in Toronto David Rosenberg explains in Canada Real Time that the only way for the US to deal with the economic issues is to accept immigrants, and reform the current immigration policies. Rosenberg is calling for the US to look at how helpful immigration has been for Canada to rise above economic stress. 

Rosenberg highlights that Canada has created polices and legislation that is dedicated to attracting skilled foreign workers in multiple different field of work. According to Canada Real Time interview Canada’s experience in attracting foreign workers with skills and education, through its Immigrant Investor is something that the United States should replicate. Additionally, Rosenberg discussed how data and numbers supports this theory and recommendation. As of 2014 the United States has an unemployment rate of %6.7 but Canada is only at %5.7.  Through allowing individuals to enter the country individuals are able to stimulate the economy which then leads to the creation of jobs  and a stable economy. 

This commentary is very similar to the rhetoric President Obama used during the 2014 State of the Union Address. The speech was highly criticized for the lack of discussion of immigration reform; however President Obama did highlight the economic benefits of immigration reform. President Obama spotlighted how immigration reform will grow  the United States' economy, and shrink the deficits by almost $1 trillion in the next two decades. It is very evident that through both individuals (a chief economist at Gluskin Sheff in Toronto and the President of the United States) immigration reform can be an economic benefit. 

My Thoughts

The United States tends to shy away from the fact that cheap labor is key to the economy. I understand the immigration reform can be extremely beneficial for the economies of the United States and Canada. However, I believe that the polices that were implemented in Canada is problematic due to how it is meant to attract skilled workers who are educated. This excludes a larger portion of immigrants, and perpetuates elitist rhetoric that priorities one body over another. Immigration reform is needed in the United States, but Canada's immigration is not something that should be replicated. Through using this rhetoric it ignores the issues behind immigration such as colonization and United States exploitation of third world/ developing nations (such as the dirty wars all through our Latin Americas). I believe that the United States needs to adopt the concept that "WE DIDN'T cross the border, the border crossed

us".  

#immigration #canada #wedidntcrosstheborderthebordercrossedus #state of the union #united states

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Robots the Monster for Immigration

                                      Through media and films robots taking over the world is a sci-fi story that some argue is becoming a reality. Due to films like The Day the Earth Stood Still and the Robot Monster in the 1950's it introduced the American population to the horror genre of robots. The concept that technology is evil has popped off the screen and into American politics and economics. In recent years the argument that technology is taking Americans' jobs is heard often with the idea that 60 million jobs will be lost.  According to a survey conducted by Forbes it is estimated that 45 percent of American jobs are at high risk of being taken by computers within the next two decades.  With new technological advancements this means jobs replaced by the technology. Obviously technology has pros and cons. However, should the conversation of immigration included robots and technology? 

According to David Frum a journalist for The Daily Beast he discusses how immigration debate should take technological advancement into the discussion in his article Robots vs (Illegal) Aliens . Frum highlights how technology is destroying jobs not only in the United States, but across the globe. When technology is created to do a task that task can no longer by a job for a human. This concept can be seen in the example that "much of what junior architects do will be robotized. Ditto bookkeepers and accountants. Ditto pharmacists. Ditto lawyers" and this list can also included jobs that are stereotypically applied to undocumented individuals. With jobs being taken over by robots, and 700,000 and 800,000 immigrants each year migrating to the United States, Frum argues that that means that undocumented individuals will face even more poverty and inequality. In the most basic level Frum's argument is that robots will take over the jobs for undocumented individuals, and will hurt immigration even more. 

According to Frum there will be a progression with technology where photo A will be photo B than finally to photo C. 

Photo A

Photo B

Photo C

My Thoughts

First off lets get one thing straight the word "illegal" should never be used. Look at the heading for my blog "No Human Being is Illegal", and I true believe this. This term should never be used (especially by a "news" organization). I am not the only one who believes this; as of 2013 The Associated Press, the largest news-gathering outlet in the world, will no longer use the term "illegal immigrant". The title Frum's article is Robots vs (Illegal) Aliens, which is beyond insulting and problematic. "Illegal" is one issue I have. The next issue that I have with the title of this article is "alien". By calling undocumented individual an alien this makes them the "other", and has a negative impact on the ways individuals view themselves. And lets be blunt by calling individuals "aliens" you are an intricate part in them feeling and being dehumanized. 

Now that I have fully critiqued the title of the article, I will now discuss the problem of the article as a whole. The issue of immigration is not that these individuals will loss their jobs to machines, and than will be in poverty. Newsflash if you are undocumented you mostly likely are already in poverty. You are already facing discrimination based on race, ethnicity, education, class, "ability", gender, and citizenship. You are not making a livable wage. The immigration discussion in the United State should be focused on how to allow individuals who have migrated into the United State to make a livable wage, and can survive economically, socially, and psychologically. The conversation should not be about how robots will take over "their" jobs, but discuss how society need to acknowledge the need for cheap labor, and ways to help individual to not only survive in the United State but thrive. 

#undocumented #immigration #the daily beast #david frum #robotsmyass #the associated press #no human being is illegal

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When Discussing Immigration DON'T Use Bieber

             Justin Bieber was arrested and charged with DUI, resisting arrest and having an expired driver's license after he was pulled over for drag racing on January 23rd this year. As a result, a petition was created to deport Bieber, and as of January 29th the petition has gotten 100,000 signatures. However, this push for deportation of Bieber highlights the lack of understand of the immigration system in the United States. By bringing Bieber into the conversation of immigration it demonstrates how US citizens are unaware of the processes of immigration (similar to the argument that undocumented individuals need to wait in line to receive documentation). 

        The main example of this misunderstanding of immigration is addressing Bieber's "citizenship". Bieber is in the United States on an O-1 visa, which is only available to individuals with extraordinary ability or achievement like a musician, actors/actress, or athlete. There are only two ways in which someone in the United States with a O-1 visa can be "deported". The first is if the individual committed a violent crime, or sentence longer than a year which would call for a re-evaluation of the visa status. The petition is calling for the deportation of the Canadian pop singer; this is clear that as a society as a whole American's are unaware of the immigration system. This lack of knowledge leads to the abuse and exploitation of undocumented individuals, and fuels the misinformation portrayed in pop culture, media, and politics. 

          On the other hand, there are those who believe that the attention Bieber is receiving will spark discussion of immigration, and will lead to individuals becoming educated on the subject. Andrew Rosenthal a journalist for The New York Times discussed how Bieber's immigration status "in a small way emblematic of the capricious, unbalanced and racially charged" the ways in which immigration policies are viewed and enforced in the United States. Rosenthal sees this as an opportunity to have an honest discussion about the immigration process in the public sphere. Bieber's story could jump start conversations about the issues and problems in the United State's immigration procedures and policies. Rosenthal argues that  picture A would lead to discussing picture B.

Picture A 

Picture B

        My Thoughts

        First off Rosenthal is wrong! Beiber cannot be viewed as an "example" of the United State's immigration issue. Beiber is a white, rich, privileged individual who is not even an accurate example of an immigrant when he is here in the United States based on a work visa. A work visa that is only given to privileged musicians or athletes, and is completely elitists. Additionally, photo A will never lead to photo B! However, I do believe that this incident administrates how little the public knows about immigration in the United States, The petition is proof that the United States public has no idea about the immigration processes and policies. When you discuss immigration in the United State Bieber can never be an example. Please reader do not use Bieber as an example or reason behind your opinion about immigration in the United States. 

#justin bieber #immigration #deport bieber #greencard;thoughtyouwouldalwaysbemine