OPINION ~ A Nation of Immigrants Needs an Immigration Policy

If you thought the subject of immigration was a matter of opening the borders or shutting them down, think again. Immigration is an extremely complex web that extends to economic, humanitarian, and cultural issues, as well as into legal, fiscal, and racial areas.

A three-day conference recently held by Connecticut College explored the topic in a multidisciplinary event called "Undocumented Hispanic Migration: On the Margins of a Dream."

The program featured lectures and panel presentations by more than 100 scholars, health and social-service providers, lawyers, activists, educators, immigrants, and government personnel. Frank Graziano, chairman of Conn's Hispanic Studies Department and a John D. MacArthur professor, organized the event.

As a representative of the League of Women Voters of Southeastern Connecticut, I attended sessions on topics that ranged from Coast Guard Migrant Interdiction in the Caribbean to the plight of a New England mayor trying to protect Maya K'iche (people from Guatemala) working in a factory that produces items for the U.S. Department of Defense.

Who are these immigrants? Saskia Sassen, an internationally recognized scholar, and Robert S. Lynd, professor of sociology in the Department of Sociology and Committee on Global Thought at Columbia University, described the variety of people, both with and without documents, who come to the United States. One group is called a "transnational" class of professionals: Those who come here to work for a while then return to their home country; contract laborers who may be short-term, seasonal workers; business people; family and dependents; and high-tech workers. The immigrants range from low-wage workers to international business professionals.

According to a PRNewswire article from November 2006, immigrants founded one of every four U.S. public companies that received venture capital.

Contrary to popular myths, unauthorized immigrants pay property taxes (through rent), sales taxes, and Social Security taxes, but they rarely receive federal benefits. Fewer than 3 percent of immigrants receive food stamps. However, as with authorized and unauthorized immigrants or U.S. citizens, concentrations of families with low incomes result in demands for costly services, particularly in education and health care.

In the past, many migrants worked, went back home, and returned to work more. That has changed. Repeat migration went from 300,000 in 1990 to almost none now. The reason is not simply that borders are tighter. Less work may be available because of the economy and workers might return home and stay. Also, stricter enforcement and a militarized border make border crossing more difficult and more dangerous. More than 10,000 people have died crossing the Mexican/American border since 1994, according to Border Angels, a human rights organization that works to prevent deaths of individuals crossing the U.S./Mexico border. An unintended consequence of the militarized border is that undocumented workers, who in the past might have gone home and returned, now will not leave because they are less likely to be able to get back into the country.

There may be a misconception that the back-and-forth movement to the country of origin causes less ability to thrive in the United States. But, according to Alejandro Portes, professor of sociology at Princeton University, pride in one's culture of origin can be an asset in succeeding in the United States. He followed immigrants over the course of years, identifying obstacles and supports to success in the United States. He found that successful immigrants are able to acculturate selectively; that is, they learn the dominant culture while keeping traditions of their own culture. Sustaining dignity in their family and their culture leads to better success in the new culture. This can be done by as simple an act as an impoverished child listening to the story of the family's status their country of origin.

Other bolsters to successful assimilation and participation in the United States include authoritative parenting-parents who clearly define limits and follow through. An intact family and supportive extended family are part of a picture of success. Even if these factors are missing, an individual may succeed if he or she encounters a significant person who makes a difference in a child's life. Professor Portes gave the example of a young Los Angeles man who did not do well in high school until a teacher noticed his abilities and gave him a book about the classics. The student, fascinated with the stories of ancient times, became more interested in school and went on to graduate from high school at the top of his class. He later became salutatorian of his Princeton University graduating class, giving his commencement speech in Latin.

Several speakers cited laws that lead to unintended and often negative consequences. Mixed status of citizenship occurs within families when children born in the United States are citizens, while those born before families migrate are not. This can lead to harm or death to young deportees. For example, women brought to the United States as infants or as very young children might be deported to Tijuana, a border town in Mexico. They might not speak or read Spanish well and are vulnerable to mistreatment and even death. Families with American children are afraid to take them to the doctor due to the illegal status of other children or of the parents themselves, and untreated illness can lead to more serious conditions.

Though Congress has yet to address immigration in any holistic way, the League of Women Voters has studied and taken a position on immigration policies. The League of Women Voters of the United States:

? Supports federal immigration law that provides an efficient,
expeditious system, with minimal or no backlogs, for legal entry of immigrants into the United States.

? Recognizes the pressures on the other sides of our borders and
supports federal policies to improve economies, education, job opportunities, and living conditions in nations with large emigrating populations.

? Supports, in transition to a reformed system, provisions for unauthorized immigrants already in the country to earn legal status.

? Supports federal payments to communities with large immigrant populations to address the financial costs borne by states and local
governments.

For a more in-depth discussion of immigration, look at study briefs in the "National Voter," June 2007, available at www.lwv.org.

Irene Weiss is a board member of the League of Women Voters of Southeastern Connecticut. The League is a nonpartisan political organization that encourages participation in democracy and is open to all. To join, visit lwvct.org/lwvsect.