This piece was reprinted by OpEd News with permission or license. It may not be reproduced in any form without permission or license from the source.
One-quarter or more deported are parents of children born in America. They're US citizens. It doesn't matter. They can stay. Parents can't. Policy separates families trying to stay together.
Claiming "immigration reform finally began" turns truth on its head. Expect no better now than earlier. Even The Times admits it's "easy to be skeptical."
Immigrants never were treated fairly. The 1952 Immigration and Nationality Act grudgingly went further than previous laws. It made immigrants of all races eligible for citizenship based on strict quotas.
White Judeo/Christian Europeans get preferential treatment. People of color get shortchanged. The 1996 Immigrant Responsibility Act and Anti-Terrorism and Effective Death Penalty Act proved bipartisan harshness.
Due process and judicial fairness were ignored. Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS) agents were empowered to detain legal immigrants without bond, deport them without discretionary relief, restrict their right to counsel, bar judicial appeals, and use misdemeanors or youthful indiscretions be reasons for deportation.
No second chances are allowed. Unwanted immigrants get unwelcome messages. Immigration courts target them unfairly. They don't leave home easily.
They come to America because NAFTA and other exploitive trade agreements destroyed their ability to earn a living at home. Come north or perish. Millions have no choice.
ICE heads them off at the border. Gloves off policy targets them ruthlessly. Wanting to live free and survive is criminalized. Poor, desperate people are called dangerous.
Next Page 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7
(Note: You can view every article as one long page if you sign up as an Advocate Member, or higher).
1
1
1
