Waiting for the One Day

Published March 20, 2009 @ 08:00AM PT

Obama spoke this week-in an English--language forum, no less--on the issue of immigration reform:

Now, I know this is an emotional issue, I know it's a controversial issue, I know that the people get real riled up politically about this, but - but ultimately, here's what I believe: We are a nation of immigrants, number one. Number two, we do have to have control of our borders. Number three, that people who have been here for a long time and put down roots here have to have some mechanism over time to get out of the shadows, because if they stay in the shadows, in the underground economy, then they are oftentimes pitted against American workers. Since they can't join a union, they can't complain about minimum wages, et cetera, they end up being abused, and that depresses the wages of everybody, all Americans.

Words are nice (in place of silence), but we are still waiting for actions to follow.

Bill Hing blogs about the DREAM Act in the context of Chinese exclusion.

Nezua has the week's immigration news, highlighting the obstacles ICE continues to place in the way of adequate medical care for immigration detainees.

And Lawrence Downes's encounter with Minuteman founder Jim Gilchrist is just as bizarre as we would expect.

[Fishbone: Waiting for the One Day]

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Comments (8)

Well it doesn't offend me Mr. Thailfad, thats what you believe in. My views are a bit different from yours, i believe that this nation is made of immigrants that are Americans. I believe those who contribute to the country positively deserve to call them self's Americans.

Dave, thanks for posting this up ^_^. I have some pictures from the C.H.I.R.L.A Rally that day before Obama went to the school. I'm not sure if someone informed you but we were there to remind Obama about stopping the ICE raids and to pass the Immigration Reform. If you like to see them, you can e-mail me :) Unfortunately i only saw Obamas limo. But the event was pretty positive threw out with music and chants.

Posted by Janeth Herrera on 03/21/2009 @ 09:27AM PT
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We are a nation of immigrants and we need to continue to be a nation of immigrants in order to maintain the fact that we are the most successful melting pot in the world. The reason why we are so successful is because immigrants come here to seek a better life and strive to be the best at what they do in the United States of America. The reason why other countries take in immigrants is because they want to follow us and compete.

Posted by Mary Pranzatelli on 03/23/2009 @ 07:50PM PT
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Mark&Mary;
Most countries do not take in immigrants. For example, for China the immigration rate is zero. Sure, there are a handful of countries: Britain, Germany, France, Sweden, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Jamacia, Israel, etc. who accept and a small and highly select group of immigrants. Israel only accepts ethnic jews, by blood.
The US accepts far far greater numbers. In fact, the US accepts as many as all other immigrant accepting-countries combined. The immigration rates of the US are huge, even greater today than the early 1900's.

Posted by Wire Paladin on 03/24/2009 @ 10:42AM PT
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Wire...most country's do not take in immigrants. That's too bad for them....because they are missing out on being the most successful melting pot in the world. "We are a nation of immigrant's" brings us the best, and we the people are all here together enjoying the freedom of the pursuit to happiness.

Posted by Mary Pranzatelli on 03/24/2009 @ 10:25PM PT
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Maybe that's the way you see America but my family has been here for generations, served in the military and are very patriotic and we see the United States of America as a "Nation of Immigrants". I adore Nancy Pelosi for this statement and her reminder of my heritage. She said; "When the Italians came here they were told the streets were paved with gold; little did they know they would be the ones that would pave the streets" and they built our streets. The only difference between my heritage and the undocumented that are here today is that my ancestors were allowed to come here through an open door policy, a legal immigration system and that system in my lifetime was disgracefully exploited by cronies and poor leadership that lobbied the doors closed in the name of cheap labor slavery for greedy profits, the exploitation of government contracts using our tax dollars to detain and abuse a worker, and it is Americans that suffers the longer Comprehensive Immigration Reform is procrastinated.

Posted by Mary Pranzatelli on 03/25/2009 @ 05:46PM PT
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Mr. Lindley, you know you kind of contradicted your self, right. What you think what this nation is, is in fact an opinion and in ways truth because its what YOU believe is true. Just like Mrs Pranzatelli and i believe that this nation is made of immigrants.

I honestly believe everyone, regardless of citizenship, are American as long as they honestly care and contribute to the U.S positively.

Posted by Janeth Herrera on 03/26/2009 @ 10:41PM PT
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for those "population boom" people here are some statistics i found at
U.S. Census Bureau: http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/00000.html

the Population density: 79.6 people per sq mi,

- White persons, percent, 2007 - 80.0%
- Black persons, percent, 2007 - 12.8%
- Asian persons, percent, 2007 - 4.4%

- Foreign born persons, percent, 2000 - 11.1%
- Language other than English spoken at home, 2000 - 17.9%

So no white people (being one of them), other races wont take over, its gonna take more than that; you can continue to be the superior race for a while more.
come on we all know that under the cover of illigal immigration, its all about race. its allways about that.

Posted by Alex Shqipe on 03/27/2009 @ 03:02PM PT
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Hello, this nation was not white to begin with. It was my race--Native Americans--or as Christopher Columbus thought,"Indians" So, if we stay quietly on our rezervations and don't bother your "white society" then you should really shut up. Besides, what happened to the majority of my race was no less than attempted genecide don't you think? What do you care? If you want to go to where "white" is the majority, then why don't you go live in Europe?

Posted by J Ceballos on 03/28/2009 @ 09:34AM PT
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David is an attorney in Philadelphia, PA, where he helps immigrants to the U.S. navigate the complex immigration legal system. Views he expresses at change.org are his alone and don't represent the views or opinions of his employer, Nationalities Service Center. The information contained on this site is intended for educational and advocacy purposes only.