Reply to "Interesting discussion on Immigration"

The presentation obviously hits a nerve, but statistics can be used to present whatever picture is required; I would require some more in depth analysis to form a valid conclusion; for instance, overall population growth and strain on services IS affected by legal but more so by illegal immigration and many of what were illegal immigrants become legal by default because of ridiculous amnesty policies or because they drop a kid on American soil. Maybe I’m cynical because I’m an immigrant….Oh wait let’s use the correct term to lump me and my family in the right bracket…..to you we are ‘Resident Aliens’.

I live and work in the US on a visa; my company had to prove there was no American available to do my job to get me that visa. As a ‘Resident Alien’ I own my home here, have a healthy salary, pay my taxes and virtually all my money stays within the US. Despite that I have no rights here in respect of being able to stay neither apply for a green card. When my visa expires after 6 years I have to leave, no options. Should I lose or leave my current job I have 10 days to pack up and leave the US and I cannot change employers.

I happen to think that’s pretty strict control, (the old 'one rule for one and another for others') and although you won’t want to hear it, I have to say because of it I have no long term allegiance to the US. That is my perspective as a temporary immigrant, but I believe it is equally valid for many true legal and most illegal immigrants, they want the salary, they want the benefits and they want to send those ‘greenbacks’ to their families over the border or overseas. They simply have no allegiance to contributing to make the US a better place; that is what is lost between the immigrants of the 60’s to 70’s and those of today – Allegiance to the US.

This is now my second time in the US on a the visa, firstly I was here in the same town (Reno) from ’97 to 2000 and I have to say coming back last year was the biggest eye opener to me. How much the US has changed post 9/11, how the Hispanic population has exploded, how what was a quaint gambling town now has weekly gang murders, drug problems, school lockdowns, armed robberies etc. etc. For me the argument is not just the immigrant ‘Numbers’ it’s the ‘Type of Numbers’, all immigrants should be means tested as to their benefit to society, with an additional number of ‘refugee status’ immigrants permitted each year.

When the time comes I will happily head back to Canada; that is my dream, it is a ‘Canadian Dream’, one where I am an immigrant from the UK and where immigration is still a major aspect of growth, but where it is means tested, one where gun control means my son can go to school safer, one where welfare provides equal medical treatment to all. Oh, I know it’s not without its problems and I have to pay higher taxes and it's colder, but if you do the cost benefit exercise I happen to think it’s worth it.

Over rider: The opinions expressed above are those of the author, they are not intended to incite racial hatred or anti immigration sentiment. I love living here in the US, (it’s warmer than Canada and I get to drive my Pantera longer!) but I think the ‘American Way’ stumbled in the road somewhere in the last 5 years, but don’t take it personally, as they say “One person’s dream is another person’s nightmare”.

Julian