GOP immigrant-bashing candidates, take note: A new study by the Pew Hispanic Center reinforces what has been long known about foreign language-speaking immigrants — that they pose little threat to the dominance of the English language in our country.
The study found Hispanic immigrants following the classic pattern of previous waves of immigrants: The first generation learns little English, the second uses primarily English, and the third is almost completely fluent in English.
In short, there’s no reason to fear immigrants who can’t speak English. Time isn’t on their side.
Posted by Randy Scholfield
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44 Comments
Well , first I dont recall anyone bashing “immigrants”. I do see a lot of the public and commenters rightfully bashing ‘ILLEGAL ALIENS” and there is a difference that seemingly eludes the editorial staff of newspapers.
Do not even start to compare the illegal migration from a CONTIGOUS border country with an unfriendly regime to the previous controlled and halted at times immigration from ACROSS the OCEAN.
The Mexican migration/invasion is intentionally sending its poor in order to garner remittances to keep them from rioting in the streets down there. They are essentially sending in economic slaves. And you know how that worked for the Germans…led to some bad press.
Pres. Calderon states in every speech that Mexico does NOT STOP at the border…so are we to take him at his word?
You simply can not have uncontrolled access to countries that so vastly different in economics.
Immigration likely needs to be completely shut down for 5-10 years to absorb what are here. But wont be due to votes needed by the ethnic lobby for new victim groups to be set up. The usual Gay Transgender Mexicans, Disabled Guatemalans etc., you know the drill.
Unless you are out in the hinterlands mingling I dont think either the lawmakers or the media types have any inkling of the seething going on in the country. It is going to boil over and it is not going to be pretty. Im guessing it will require armed Military action on the border or in some states….going to be fun.
From what Im reading it may even get Lou Dobbs to run as an independent… With the rag tag group of middling wannabe’s currently running for President on both sides…he could stir the pot.
May be as interesting as Ross Perots run….heh.
Que?
Quite frankly, I think those damn Quebecois need give up that damn frog language as soon as they cross the border!
“Nathan’s” link yesterday to the LA Times piece on the recent Republic Party debate revealed that, according to polls, a grand total of 4% of Americans consider immigration — “legal” or otherwise — an important issue. You’re on the outer fringe of the the outer fringe, “mrbill.”
The only-est reason Hispanics come to the United States is because people in the America hire them.
If illegal immigration really upsets you so much, “mrbill,” insist that people who hire aliens illegally get sent to the pokey.
Rage,Don’t worry so; they’ll blend right in with our very own French-speaking Cajuns.
It is true when it comes to legal immigrants who want to be a part of our country waving United State’s flag but when it comes to illegal immigrants in the droves of millions waving a foreign flag hardly looks like it will work out that way without some enforcement of our English ways.They bring more then just their culture; ask yourself why those people do not have the same kind of political and economic system as we have here?Their countries that they come from are over run by criminals of political dictatorship and war lords and they are bringing in those same concepts here now.Their battles are now our battles, thanks to the bleeding hearts that do understand that there is more to it then meets the eye.These people are not loyal to our country; they are only loyal to what they can take from us.They will not make a stand with us, they will only leave and abandon us to our own perils in times of trouble.They are not true Americans when they refuse to assimilate to the country that they live in and refuse to fight for freedom and justice in the country that they come from.
“Wiseman” –
“They” come to America to work, for substandard wages, for people who hire them *illegally.*
So just who are the crooks involved in this equation?
It’s good to get some facts out there instead of the propaganda that usually surrounds this issue. The Mexican government is not our enemy, by the way. It is rather corrupt, stifles private enterprise with too much state bureacracy and regulation, and doesn’t make the necessary investments in the oil industry (which it controls) to make it the real cash cow it should be. This means the economy doesn’t generate enough jobs for the growing population, and people who need to eat to survive (that’s just about everybody) consider all their options – including finding work in the North, where there are lots of jobs that otherwise would go unfilled. There needs to be a comprehensive solution, on both sides of the border, but everytime somebody tries to do that the immigrant hating crowd – egged on by certain radio and TV talk show hosts in search of controversy, which equals ratings – screams, and the politicians cower in fright.
I don’t bash immigrants and, as folks know from my past postings, I am in favour of an amnesty program for the Mexicans in the country illegally. That said, I do think that one requirement for any immigrant that wishes to join the United States is to learn the language of the country. This should be required. At least basic English. If you want to live here, you need to learn the language.
Calling illegal aliens “undocumented immigrants” is like calling drug dealers “unlicensed pharmacists”. They can’t read the language which means they can’t read things like “left lane closed ahead” or “bridge weight limit 15 tons”.
Non English speaking people driving on these roads ARE a hazard.
“Facts are stubborn things; and whatever may be our wishes, our inclination, or the dictates of our passions, they cannot alter the state of facts and evidence.” —John AdamsIgnoring the “minor crime” such as ID theft and property crimes being committed by illegal aliens, here is a summary on some of the collateral damage reaped in crimes as a result of tolerating illegal aliens in the USA:
* In Los Angeles, 95% of some 1,500 outstanding warrants for homicides are for illegal aliens. About 67% of the 17,000 outstanding fugitive felony warrants are for illegal aliens.* There are currently over 400,000 unaccounted for illegal alien criminals with outstanding deportation orders. At least one fourth of these are hard core criminals.* 80,000 to 100,000 illegal aliens who have been convicted of serious crimes are walking the streets. Based on studies they will commit an average of 13 serious crimes per perpetrator.* Illegal aliens are involved in criminal activities at a rate that is 2-5 times their representative proportion of the population.* In 1980, our Federal and state facilities held fewer than 9,000 criminal aliens but at the end of 2003, approximately 267,000 illegal aliens were incarcerated in U.S. correctional facilities at a cost of about $6.8 billion per year.* At least 4.5 million pounds of cocaine with a street value of at least $72 billion is smuggled across the southern border every year. ..* 56% of illegal aliens charged with a reentry offense had previously been convicted on at least 5 prior occasions.* Illegal aliens charged with unlawful reentry had the most extensive criminal histories. 90% had been previously arrested. Of those with a prior arrest, 50% had been arrested for violent or drug-related felonies.* Illegal aliens commit between 700,000 to 1,289,000 or more crimes per year.* Illegal aliens commit at least 2,158 murders each year – a number that represents three times greater participation than their proportion of the population.* Illegal alien sexual predators commit an estimated 130,909 sexual crimes each year.* There may be as many as 240,000 illegal alien sex offenders circulating throughout America. Based on studies, they will commit an average of 8 sex crimes per perpetrator before being caught.* Nearly 63% of illegal alien sex offenders had been deported on another offense prior to committing the sex crime.* Only 2% of the illegal alien sex offenders in one study had no history of criminal behavior, beyond crossing the border illegally.* In Operation Predator, ICE arrested and deported 6,085 illegal alien pedophiles. Some studies suggest each pedophile molests average of 148 children. If so, that could be as many as 900,580 victims.* Nobody knows how big the Sex Slave problem is but it is enormous.* The very brutal MS-13 gang has over 15,000 members and associates in at least 115 different cliques in 33 states.* The overall financial impact of illegal alien crimes is estimated at between $14.4 and $81 billion or more per year. Factor in the crime as a result of the cocaine and other drugs being smuggled in and the number may reach $150 billion per year.
Still think illegal immigration is a “victimless crime” and we don’t need to control our borders? Remember, about 60% of the crimes being committed are by illegal aliens who were previously deported.
Allowing our borders to be disregarded coupled with little national commitment about doing anything about it has resulted in growing mayhem by illegal alien criminals, not a “victimless crime.”
The dark side of illegal immigration includes a lot of horrific crime being perpetrated by the hard core criminal element of the illegal alien population. In the cost-benefit tradeoff of tolerating illegal immigration, how much collateral damage are we willing to accept?
In tolerating illegal immigration, how many Americans do YOU accept being molested, raped and murdered each year to save ten cents on a head of lettuce?
Not Enough? Use the link as it is too long to post here:Impacts of Illegal Immigration: Traffic Accidents
http://www.usillegalaliens.com/impacts_of_illegal_immigration_traffic_accidents.html
November 16) , Senators Mark Pryor (D-Ark.) and David Vitter (R-La.) introduced Senate versions of Rep. Heath Shuler’s (D-N.C.) SAVE Act (Secure America with Verification Enforcement [H.R. 4088]). .R. 4088 now has 112 bi-partisan signers in the House who want to require all employers to use the electronic verification system to keep illegal aliens out of U.S. jobs. We believe that this legislation originating on the Democratic side of the House is just the vehicle to give us a chance to actually pass immigration legislation through a Democratic-controlled Congress that would significantly improve the lives of most Americans. “It’s the one [immigration] bill that will pass this Congress,” said Congressional Immigration Reform Caucus Chairman Brian Bilbray (R-Calif.) in an interview with The Hill. “We have to make this about illegal employment and crack down on employers.”
November 6, 2007: Rep. Heath Shuler (D-N.C.) introduced legislation today emphasizing the principles of Attrition Through Enforcement. The SAVE Act will broaden and enhance border security and interior enforcement. With a number of border security Democrats and Republicans already agreeing to co-sponsor, this bipartisan effort may be Congress’s best chance to achieve substantial immigration reform this Congress. (Additional information follows below chart)
The principle behind Attrition Through Enforcement is that living illegally in the United States will become more difficult and less satisfying over time when the government – at ALL LEVELS – enforces all of the laws already on the books. It is also imperative that the government with the full cooperation of the private sector, implements certain workplace enforcement measures. The goal is to make it extremely difficult for unauthorized persons to live and work in the United States. There is no need for taxpayers to watch the government spend billions of their dollars to round up and deport illegal aliens; they will buy their own bus or plane tickets back home if they can no longer earn a living here.We know Attrition Through Enforcement works because, in states that have passed tough new laws to penalize employers of and deny public benefits to illegal aliens, the illegal aliens began to move out of those states, often before the new laws are even implemented. As it currently stands, almost 200,000 illegal aliens self-deport from the United States every year, but imagine how many more would leave if our government refused to award illegal aliens another amnesty, mandated all employers to verify a person’s eligibility to work here, cracked down on identity fraud and enabled local police to easily transfer illegal aliens in their custody to Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officials.Among many detailed border security provisions stressing more agents and better technology at minimal operating costs, the SAVE Act would:
· Increase border patrol agents by 8,000, utilize new technology and fencing to secure the border;
· Expand specialized enforcement programs, such as the “Tunnel Task Force”;
· And, address the “jobs magnet” by strengthening The Employment Verification Program (E-Verify) to close security gaps,
· Address loopholes, and make it mandatory for employers.
At this time the only Kansas representatives Jerry Moran and Nancy Boyda have signed on as CO-SPONSORS of this bill. We need to contact our Representatives and senators and demand that they join to pass this common sense legislation.
In the great AMNESTY of 1986 2,700,000 ILLEGAL ALIENS were give the opportunity to become LEGAL. Most took it.
NOW, 21 years later the number of ILLEGAL ALIENS is TEN TIMES THE PROBLEM IT WAS IN 1986.
Example, GARDEN CITY KANSAS. Monfort and IBP build huge Beef packing plants. Dodge City EXCELL moves from Wichita to Dodge City.In all these Cases, These packing operations required a workforce of more that 25% of the EXISTING POPULATION of those communities.
Hindsight tells me that these companies knew they could attract CHEAP LABOR, meaning CHEAP ILLEGAL LABOR and everyone would look the other way while they saved millions in payroll.
We need to penalize all employers who depend on Illegal labor. There are many people who will work for decent wages. THE ILLEGAL ALIENS are not immigrants. They are a burden on our welfare system, medical system, and especially our schools.In Garden City, ESL classes were put in place in the 80’s-90’s because the ESL at home was so predominate. The cost is tremendous.
There are many IMIGRANTS who want to come to our country legally. The ILLEGAL ALIENS are giving all imigrants a bad name.
We need to encourage our represenatives to sponsor the SAVE act in both the US Senate and US House. This bill will force all employers to use one pre employment verification system to reduce illigal hireing and the rise in idenity theft.
Head ‘em up, cull ‘em out, send ‘em south. Any employers found to be hiring them send them to Mexico too.
Theodore Roosevelt’s ideas on Immigrants and being an AMERICAN in 1907.
“In the first place, we should insist that if the immigrant who comes here in good faith becomes an American and assimilates himself to us, he shall be treated on an exact equality with everyone else, for it is an outrage to discriminate against any such man because of creed, or birthplace, or origin. But this is predicated upon the person’s becoming in every facet an American, and nothing but an American…There can be no divided allegiance here. Any man who says he is an American, but something else also, isn’t an American at all. We have room for but one flag, the American flag.. We have room for but one language here, and that is the English language… and we have room for but one sole loyalty and that is a loyalty to the American people.”
Theodore Roosevelt 1907
…and as long as we’re cracking down on their employers, let’s crack down on the people who rent or sell them places to live…the people who sell them food…the people who cash their paychecks…the people who sell them cars or insurance…in short, crack down on everyone who makes it possible for them to live here illegally.
It is sad that the Wichita Eagle WEBLOG is participating in making the illegal alien issue – a political party issue. “GOP immigrant-bashing candidates”, indicates republican candidates are “bashing” immigration. That is not true, at least it is not what I believe. I think we are “bashing” I-L-L-E-G-A-L immigration.
I also believe 70%+ Americans believe I-L-L-E-G-A-L immigration is one of the greatest challenges facing this nation.
Illegal immigration concerns all Americans – it is being addressed by one parties platform. For this, the WEBLOG editors have decided republicans are “BASHING”.
What’s next WEBLOG: Republicans are racists against Mexicans?
May be Eagle has illegal aliens working for them on their newspaper delivery routes and doesn’t want to give up their ‘working force.’
Its always nice to get a whiff of hate first thing in the morning. I am sure the same arguments were had when discussing blacks, the boat people of Vietnam, the Japanese after WW2, the irish etc..
I know, I know, they came here illegally. If it weren’t for the capitalism at any cost mentality, maybe you could do something about the “small business” owner that hire them. There has to be punishment across the board. You cannot just punish the “illegal”. Punish those that hire, assist, or house these “criminals”. But wait, that would alienate the base of the GOP. It would be a “invisible tax” on small businsess that need this labor to stay competitive. I can hear it now….
I’m with swallow my nickel. Although I felt a little uncomfortable saying “swallow my nickel”. Everyone who enables this shit ought to go to jail. I for one am sick of illegals involved in home building and home repair. Since the hail storm in 05, my sunroom’s roof is still screwed (but they’ve “fixed” it three times). American Builders…hmph. I want to be able to communicate with the people climbing around on my friggin house. These undocumented phantoms can come up here, murder teenagers in El Dorado and disappear into the ether as though they were never here. I love the idea of lawful immigration, I thank my ancestors for having balls enough to get over here in the late 19th Century, but they did it the right way. As long as we keep saying “amnesty” and giving them medicine and education, letting the “birth-right” shit stay around, then we’re toast. We’re on our way to third-world status. yay.
Rage-Jed: Actually, Quebec does contribute in keeping the French language and culture alive in Cajun country. Mexicans are now jamming up our immigration problem by claiming refugee status by reason of cruel persecution in the US. If you claim “refugee status” the UN says you have to investigate each and every claim. Seems immigration “consultants” in Florida advise worried Latinos that Canada is the new promised land and coach them how to “work” the system accordingly.
And another thing.
I’m sorry to come off as some “rich, white guy” for having a sunroom.
My wife and I bust our asses, working, passing each other like ships in the night (just like everyone else). I do it so my kids can eat and be clothed and all that good garbage. But last week, it slipped both mine and my wife’s minds to send the kids with a check for lunch (we should just do it online). Anyway, these illegals’ kids won’t have to go without lunch at school, but mine? they didn’t have money in their accounts and were given a package of saltine crackers. That is why this system sucks and why working Americans are pissed. Also when we had our first kid, we tried to get on WIC for TWO MONTHS and were denied because we made $1000 too much a year.
Duane, you have to quit your job, or your wife quit hers in order to qualify for the FREE CHEESE!!!!That or have a few more babies. Bring in the next generation of welfare recipients!
Yep, it might be cost effective for you to consider just quiting work altogether.
Free cheese, subsidized housing, healthcare (a biggy), unemployment (which you can milk with an extension for years), free school lunches – and get this: EVEN A SUMMER PROGRAM for the kids to get fed.
Financial Planning for the poor: If you have not maxed out on your UNearned Income Credit (EIC), you need to estimate NOW when to QUIT your job. Plus, you can file for ADVANCE EIC. Yep, you get the money from the gubbermint before they even STEAL IT from me! Such a deal.
Don’t knock the “system”. Someone has to DECIDE who qualifies. That’s a lot of FREE CRAP, to just hand it out to any ole body.
Just wait until Hillarycare takes affect (or is it effect?). The “cost efficient” (choking) system will have to have SOMEone to DECIDE who qualifies by SOME standard – which makes a whole bunch of SOMEbodies to supervise the SOMEone’s. And if you smoke, drink, or used drugs, or ever did, you might not rate that operation.
Hurry up and get in line though, the FREE STUFF takes paperwork.
Which someBODY has to fill out.
I just put in my resignation, thanks for the pep-talk Mr. Way! BTW, I like the silver can of “Beef” that the guvment offers (it makes a fine chili or stew).
You are most welcome duane. Have a great and happy happy day!
PS: Before the libs attack, I will gladly post the corporate welfare post I have readily available. I am very much aware of that “opportunity” and how to avail oneself to it.
The road to FREE CHEESE is litered with gubbermint waste and abuse at all levels – not just the poor.
Happy fingers typing.
Only when the corporate welfare stops can the right start to work on the “abuses” they so quickly point to today.
When the no bid contracts stop. Subsubidizing mega farms, promoting false pretenses to start wars, only then can the right begin to address the poor that live in this country. Please tell me how much “corporate” welfare abuse goes on.
Punish the people…..let the corps go. Mantra of the right.
Whoa, hey Mikey, i’m not in the whole “punish the people” jumble, I’m just a dude here. I agree that the “corporate welfare” has got to stop and I’m a Paul supporter who agrees that we need to change the foreign policy that these so-called conservatives have adopted and/or carried on through Clinton. Bush of course, has made everything worse. but you have no right to assert that these issues are just a left/right battle. At the top of each of the parties, there are zero, zilch, nada differences.
Mike, I agree with you completely about the corporate welfare. I disagree with your aligning it with the “right”. Although business is a friend, I wouldn’t support business over doing what is right. (working on it).
Anyway, herein is the problem with just blaming the right.
You believe we do need “welfare” for the legitimately poor citizens to temporarily help them get “on their feet”? I’ll make that assumption and agree with you. So democrats support/promote the WIC program (free cheese blocks comes from here).
To get that FREE CHEESE to the people, you have to ENJOY some Corporate Welfare:
The grain farmer (crops subsidies/set aside) feed the cows.The dairy farmer (grow the cow/milk)The transporter (take milk to milk plant)The milk plant (pasturize milk)Cheese factory (manufacture/cut the FREE Cheese)Trucker (haul the FREE CHEESE to the storage/warehouse)Storage Warehouse: (Huge facilities which store tons of FREE CHEESE)Trucker: (haul the FREE CHEESE to the distribution center)Distribution Center: Usually a state/county agency which provides for the needy.Distribution Worker: Government employee at some level who screens/approves applications for FREE CHEESE. Or hands it out.
:::
Analysis: In order to provide the FREE Cheese, many corporations make lot’s of money.
Democrats: Luke warm happinessRepublicans: Happy
Conclusion: It would be far cheaper for the taxpayer to skip the FREE CHEESE. Hand the needy food stamp for price of cheese in the store.
Happy fingers typing.
My mistake, we’re Americans, you do have the right. Sorry.
I’ll bet you think my conclusion would be that both republicans and democrats are supporting corporate welfare, directly or indirectly.
It would be if I cared. I only care about MY MONEY. Stop the FREE CHEESE program and simply hand out money to the poor.
It would be cheaper than the FREE CHEESE (which comes from over producing/surplus, which cuts down on private company profits*).
*Except it doesn’t. Government pays them to produce the free cheese. But not free enterprise method – only approved companies(corporations versus small cheese business).
Those cows, farmers, dairy companies, and truck drivers, should work for free!
Just like the Health Care workers under HillaryCare! will work for free!
Lets not let people named “Vespucci” change our culture, lol:
http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20071203/ts_nm/usa_map_dc
Seriously, immigration has always been important to the country named after Americus Vespucci.
However, illegal immigration should be fought.
I think some of these Eagle immigration threads try to make the “point” that some Americans are against ALL immigration.
Nothing could be further from the truth!
Well, perhaps some of you are against ALL immigration.
But you are a small minority.
Econ you stated it better than I did, with fewer words. I agree.
(I’m more concerned about being positive and happy in my posts. And Free cheese, of course.)
(clears throat for Liberal-Like writing)
American Way,
Perhaps the only way to be happy is to put on the “chuckle-head” hat by which we can imbibe the spirits of our forefathers and eat the cheese their labors provided us.
Man, it’s getting close to lunchtime. USDA commodity canned beef has “natural juices”. MMMMMMM.
This study is right on the money. My fathers family came to the U.S. in the early 1880s (from Mexico). None of my siblings including myself can speak spanish. We always spoke English at home when growing up. Though my parents did speak spanish when talking in private, which was very annoying.
Here is a pop quiz question for you:
What percentage of English words come from, in one way or another, another language?
Well since English we know it is a blending of the ancient Anglo-Saxon and French spoken by the nobility after the Norman Conquest, the English language is a hybrid. Normans used a different French word for the same thing vs. the Saxons and many of both are used to this day. ie, room, chamber, etc. etc. Instead of one language overpowering the other, they both just sort of lay down beside one another becoming the worlds’ most marvellous vehicle for communication.
What percentage of English words come from, in one way or another, another language?
Posted by: brian
Probably all of it. But what’s the point?
American can and should still be the melting pot of people from everywhere – but they should all learn to speak and converse in English.
At least that seems to have worked for our first two hundred years.
I think that the United States should ask all NAFTA signers to reforme inmigration law.
We should all adopt the same laws as MEXICO.
However, if we treated Mexicans the way Mexico treats Americans, the LEFT would go nuts:
http://www.citizensforaconstitutionalrepublic.com/waller5-8-06.html
Many of my distant relatives are in Puerto Rico. (That makes them Americans, by the way. They came from Spain, or at least what is now Spain, years ago.)
My point is not at all “racist” — my point is that Mexico’s law is NEVER called “racist” — and we treat immigrants, both legal AND illegal, much better than Mexico treats immigrants.
One other thing:
It is very difficult for “foreigners” to own real estate in Mexico.There are exceptions for those living close to the coasts.However, even in these exceptions, you must get a Mexican bank to hold legal title to the property, with the foreigner named as the “beneficiary” of the trust.The “trust” must be renewed every 50 years.(Unless, of course, the government changes its mind.)
Which GOP candidate is afraid that English is going to supplanted by Spanish?
For starters Mexicans are immigrating to the US in numbers never seen before, so this study is pretty much meaningless even if it was an issue of concern.
Mexico must be a horrible place to live if so many want leave. That fact doesn’t appear to be changing anytime soon and so neither will mexican immigration.
You know I see some really hard working Mexicans. They hang out on Morosgo Road in Atlanta by the dozens waiting for anybody that will come and give them a day of work. Many of them stand there all day and get no work. I don’t know how you can hate such people. I feel sorry for them myself. Do any of you really think they came here to harm us? No. They came here to earn a few dollars and hopefully help their family back in Mexico. Believe me they would much rather be in Mexico and, if they could earn a living there, they would go back on their own in a minute!
For those of you like me – concerned about illegal immigration, but very proud of our legal immigrants and your family heritage extending back to the old country, consider looking the old farts up:
http://www.ellisisland.org/default.asp?SID=118
And remember to think about contributing to the organization which makes Ellis Island available to the millions of us who can trace our roots to the watershed of information made available by them.
As I look at my family members signature at the site, I wonder if they ever, ever imagined that someday people would be viewing their signatures! I’ll bet they were more concerned with finding a place for their family to sleep that first night, and getting food in their childrens bellies.
We have much to be thankful for as republicans!