IMMIGRATION: Herndon, Virginia and sentiments about Immigration

On Sunday September 16, 2007, the Washington Post contained an article which describes the opening of a new unofficial day laborer’s site following the closing of a controversial permanent hiring site. Herndon, Virginia and its citizens have been especially vocal about illegal immigration and the economy. Last year May, citizens voted to have three supporters of the official day laborer site removed and replaced them with people who supported changes and revisions for the center.

It appears that the authorities are monitoring this new site more closely and have had swifter penalties for people who are seen to associate with the workers. A woman who paused for about 30 seconds to speak to a laborer was ticketed, and a Salvadoran food truck was forced to close shop after being told that he lacked a special permit.

Most Americans have entrenched ideas on the issue of immigration and the day laborer issue. People who would not consider themselves as prejudiced would vote against the issue since the issue would be less about race and more about fairness. Paying for a day laborer site would mean that they are paying for a site to help illegal people earn money from people who have earned their money legally.

For the laborers, it is less about race and more about surviving circumstances that involve families back home. For them, the closing of the center, though a setback, will only spur them on to find other means of acquiring jobs.

This summer Herndon took part in a Federal Immigration Enforcement program. Within two months, they had arrested over 12 dozen suspected illegal aliens. The issue needs clear delineation on whether these illegal aliens are criminals or whether they are criminals because they are illegal aliens.

True, the issue of immigration needs scrutiny. There are two sides to every coin. True also, there must be rules to every legislative agreement. . The problem is defining what motivates the lawmakers? Can an objective platform be found?



Jasmine Addo – On immigration Issues