December 28, 2009 – by Ruben Navarrette Jr. of PajamasMedia.com
As the immigration reform debate reboots over the next several weeks — prompted by the introduction of a new bill by Rep. Luis Gutierrez (D-IL) with the apparent blessing of the White House — the nation’s 49 million Latinos will once again find themselves under scrutiny.
Because the majority of the current wave of immigrants to the United States — both legal and illegal — come from Mexico, Guatemala, El Salvador, Brazil, and other Latin American countries, some Americans are apt to question the loyalties of U.S.-born Latinos, accusing them of being more sympathetic to the foreign visitors than to their own country or fellow citizens.
It’s not right, but nor is it new. With the arrival of every immigrant group to these shores for the last 220 years — from the Germans, Irish, and Italians to the Chinese, Jews, and Greeks — there have been similar questions about U.S. citizens with those ethnic roots. History shows those concerns were largely unfounded and based more on prejudice than reason.
The same is true now. Still, it’s fair to say that many U.S.-born Latinos still remain ambivalent about illegal immigration, especially if — somewhere in their family — there’s an ancestor who jumped over a fence, crossed under a wire, or swam a river to give himself and his descendants a better tomorrow.
December 30, 2009 at 3:39 am |
Well you know I can come up with a lot to say about this The border has through out American history been controversial.For most of us here in Texas the border has always been close and personal.I have been going to the border for well over a decade,we are a group of citizen’s that have been picking up trash there and I would like to share a hand full of photos of our work and our e-mail if they will let us and if you want come with us and see for your self
http://www.trailerparkshow.com/SSborder02.wmv http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=chLl7hXJl54
http://www.trailerparkshow.com
I can’t describe the border but I can tell you it is not what you think.The WMV fill takes a while to down load.We met the minute men in Falfurrias Texas and it did not go well,no locals liked them and I will pay you money if you find one law enforcement that likes them,a bunch of white boys from Arkansas is all we saw.I could go on and on,and I don’t mean to be harsh but I have witnessed my friends called race traitors by the left. And if you think most U.S.-born Latinos still remain ambivalent about illegal immigration, you have not mete the ones I have Laredo,McAllen,Brownsville PD is full of Latinos that are not ambivalent and I could mention Webb,Star,Hidilago,Cameron county sheriffs and others how need and deserve our support.As I said I could go on and on.