Comments on: Why the Debate on Immigration is All Wrong

By: Hai Costlow

Hai Costlow — Thu, 16 Sep 2010 19:20:07 +0000

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By: Steven Strang

Steven Strang — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 14:04:05 +0000

I think the idea of microloans directly to women to help them start their own businesses, etc. circumvents the problem of corrupt governments. There is no doubt in my mind that addressing the issue of poverty at its roots in other countries will stem the tide of illegal immigration. “Foreign aid” that goes directly to the people rathe than to foreign governments is the best way of accomplishing democratic goals. Some US employers encourage illegal immigrants to come do the dirty jobs that we do not want to. Our whole history is filled with various versions of abusing those that we make powerless with our laws (slavery being the most obvious abuse, but attracting Asian workers to come build our railroads etc. continued the process).

By: Paul R. Waibel

Paul R. Waibel — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 16:47:33 +0000

The American economy is dependent upon an ever expanding consumerism. To satisfy Americans’ demand for cheap goods and services, requires cheap, illegal immigrant labor. Their presence forces down the price of American labor. Hence, the nation’s capitalists prosper while labor, both the illegal immigrants and the American workers (especially the former) suffer. A reasonable solution, and a just one, would be some sort of guest worker program that would allow temporary immigrant workers to work at the same wages and benefits paid American labor.

By: Mark Kozubowski

Mark Kozubowski — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 16:37:54 +0000

This is a very polarizing issue in our country. This posting does a good job of pointing out the challenges and opportunities the US faces as our demographics continue to shift.

By: Hope

Hope — Fri, 09 Oct 2009 06:47:10 +0000

Sonia Nazario you enlightened me. Thank you.

By: M Scharff

M Scharff — Mon, 28 Sep 2009 18:28:00 +0000

While I can agree with the author on most points, I think the argument breaks down with one statement that she wrote – that the US needs to increase “foreign aide, microloans, promoting more democratic and less corrupt governments in Latin America.” While I’ve not yet read the book, it would be interesting to know what policies/action she is recommending to decrease the corruption and increase democracy in many of these governments that are creating the environments she purports to help alleviate. I’m not sure sending more money to corrupt governments has helped in the past and until that is fixed, I’m not sure sending more money or aide is the answer to anything.

By: Lara Little

Lara Little — Fri, 25 Sep 2009 00:29:00 +0000

I have not read the book, but I look forward to doing so. On the whole I agree with Nazario’s assessment. The best way to prevent illegal immigration is to make it so that people don’t feel the need to leave their country in the first place. I hope that in the book she reveals more about how her plan could work, particularly from a financial standpoint, as what she proposes to do certainly comes with a price tag, and America doesn’t have much in the way of extra money at this time…

By: Karen Chow

Karen Chow — Thu, 24 Sep 2009 16:39:04 +0000

Sonia Nazario is a rare cogent, compassionate voice of reason on immigration in the U.S. Her experiences documented in her book _Enrique’s Journey_ illustrates that the tragedy of people’s suffering on both sides of the border will not end until the leaders/governments of both countries work systemically and together to end the causes of this problem (including huge trade imbalances and benefits to corporations at the expense of the poor’s ability to earn a living wage) exacerbated by NAFTA. Dr. Ann Lopez has been tirelessly trying to create more awareness around this issue in Watsonville, CA, through her not-for-profit organization Center for Farmworker Families: http://www.farmworkerfamily.org. Dr. Ann is an environmental scientist whose research on agriculture introduced her to the workers and their families. She and her organization now lead tours to Watsonville, where strawberry pickers and their families tell their own stories, show the harsh conditions of their workplace and home, and dialogue takes place between them and the visitors over a shared meal. It is a life-transforming experience for anyone who has never directly met or seen the migrant farmworkers.