By Ezra Escudero
Published on Friday, Jun 04, 2010
Akron Beacon Journal
I am an American. More than that, I am also a first-generation American, born to parents of Mexican origin. Most important, I am an individual who loves his country and his heritage and feels deep pride in both. Unfortunately, the politics surrounding our nation's immigration policy now threatens to drive a wedge between the two.
While it is important to re-establish a system of law and order in regard to illegal immigration, it is equally important that all immigrants, regardless of legal status, are treated with dignity and respect. During the terms of two governors, Bob Taft and Ted Strickland, I had the honor of serving as the director of the Ohio Commission on Hispanic/Latino Affairs. In this position, I worked to bridge the gap between the Hispanic community and the legislative mandates that directly influence their day-to-day lives. However, my experience has also given me a distinct perspective on the challenges of tackling a difficult issue that has only worsened.
The current immigration system is broken. Individuals outside of our country want to pursue the American dream, but our immigration process makes that goal impossible. As a result, many enter our country illegally, some through extreme measures. However, these undocumented workers often do not find a promised land. Unscrupulous employers across the United States are creating a sub-class of workers — actually, modern-day indentured servants — who only continue to struggle. Additionally, this illicit labor force means that American citizens, who also face increasing tough economic times, are denied a fair chance at jobs.
Immigration policy is not an issue that can be decided on a state-by-state basis. During my service as Ohio's director of Latino Affairs, I also provided leadership and counsel for Latino affairs agencies in 17 other states. That experience solidified my belief that our fractured immigration process affects all of the states in our nation and that it will take all of our lawmakers working together to truly accomplish meaningful reform. Without action at the federal level, however, any effort on a state-by-state basis will only serve to further fragment an ineffective and worsening system.
The federal government must choose to tackle immigration reform now and in a way that allows the varied passionate beliefs on all sides of the issue to voice their questions and concerns. The answer is not to blindly accept illegal immigration through blanket amnesty, nor is it to eject all immigrants from our country.
The solution lies somewhere between the two, and it is the responsibility of our federally elected officials to work together to balance the need to protect American livelihoods while at the same time ensuring the ability of those who simply wish to provide a better life for their families to do so within the framework of the American legal system.
Our law enforcement resources are spread thin enough without extraneous expenditures on prosecuting possible illegal immigrants on every corner of America's streets. Common-sense solutions must prevail over knee-jerk reactions. Immigrants are not the enemy. Instead, they deserve the opportunity to seek American citizenship — according to our laws. But, in order to do so, our laws must first be just.
Being a U.S. citizen is a privilege. And it's one that Americans take for granted every day. The immigrants who try so desperately to cross our borders do so because they believe that our country will provide them with a better life than the one they left behind. Their dedication should be a lesson to all of us to truly appreciate the situation into which we were born.
I have a profound belief in the rule of law and a profound belief that our society should allow each individual to achieve his or her true potential. Unfortunately, our current immigration policy undermines the former and diminishes the latter. As an American, I believe the system must be changed. As an individual whose political loyalties tend toward the Republican side of the political divide, I hope and pray the partisan politics will not stand in the way of needed reform.
My personal motto is ''Don't ever be satisfied. Always look for ways to make things better and don't be afraid to take risks.'' I hope our federal elected officials of both parties are up to that challenge and choose to address comprehensive immigration reform yet this year.
Comprehensive immigration reform will help to secure our borders, reflect our current economic realities and enable immigrants to earn their place in our country.
The time to act is now.
Escudero was the executive director of the Ohio Commission on Hispanic/Latino Affairs from September 2003 to December 2009, and served as the founding chairman of the United States Council on Latino Affairs from 2008 to 2009.
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