Life of some immigrants, after 9.11.
November 25, 2001 12:43 AM   Subscribe

Life of some immigrants, after 9.11. As you might imagine, it just sucks. For more proof, just ask these Israeli Jews. Should immigrants just get used to it, or will things get back to normal, eventually?
posted by Rastafari (13 comments total)
 
"No one wanted to listen to Pat Buchanan in 1996 when he called for a moratorium on immigration," says Charles Davenport Jr., an op-ed columnist for the Greensboro News & Record."Now, people are willing to think about it."

You know things are getting bad when people are willing to listen to Pat Buchanan. But I suppose many Americans hold Buchanan's view on immigration, but don't vote for him (because they think it's a wasted vote.) I guess we will find out soon enough whether he will capitalize on people's anxieties when he runs again in 2004.
posted by Rastafari at 12:55 AM on November 25, 2001


"This was just a fight between boys," Bridgman says. "It wasn't no hate crime."

Furthermore, he says, "it wasn't no seven, eight or nine people. Only four of us." He says no one used a beer bottle as a weapon, and no one used a racial epithet.

His mother comes out on the porch. "We come from a multicultural family," she says, citing a black and Hispanic who've married into their family. "So how could we be racialist?"

Then his father steps outside. "What'd you do, call someone a [racial epithet]?"

"No," Bridgman says. "It's about some Pakistans."

"Some Hispanics?" his father asks.

"No, some Afghans," Bridgman says.


Jesus.
posted by donkeyschlong at 1:18 AM on November 25, 2001


The Shriners recently decided not to wear their turbans and blousy pants at the upcoming Jaycees Holiday Parade out of respect for the victims of Sept. 11.

What? No "scare quotes"?

It seems this writer or her editor saw no problem with this subconscious racial jag.
posted by crasspastor at 1:36 AM on November 25, 2001


Chavez is a legal resident, but her fiance is undocumented and, to make matters worse, out of work. Jobs were getting scarce before Sept. 11, and now the bosses want workers with papers.
oh boo hoo. wah.
posted by quonsar at 1:38 AM on November 25, 2001


*wonders if he should dignify quonsar's comment with a long angry reply, or just point at it, and let it speak for itself.

*points.
posted by stavrosthewonderchicken at 4:57 AM on November 25, 2001


stavros, you may forego the long angry reply, it's okay. But instead of *pointing, you might say whether you think individuals have a right to enter a foreign country illegally, obtain employment, have their presence there be delicately described as 'undocumented', instead of 'illegal', and if so, why.

Should we open all borders? What would the world be like then?

BTW, I'm open to any reasonable answer to this question. My current view is that an open immigration policy would produce chaos, but it's not an article of faith, and I'm willing to be convinced otherwise if I hear good arguments.
posted by Slithy_Tove at 5:22 AM on November 25, 2001


The Israeli kids where here legally but had overstayed work permits...what bothers me is that some dopes unable to understand their language (Hebrew) turned them in and they were locked up. Orwellian.
As for open borders: we do not have it. We still have quotas. There are some countries that allow in only those with needed skills. Some countries (at least in the recent past) required a certain bank balance to ensure you would not be a drag on the economy and could carry your weight.
I note that the mnany Miexican illegals are still not bothered. In fact, recently, at my kid's school, reading Steinbeck, the teacher brought in 5 illegals who could anser question in halting and broken English. Is she and the school system doing something immoral or illegal?
posted by Postroad at 6:08 AM on November 25, 2001


My father is not yet a US citizen... We have been living in the US for 12 years, during which he's been subject to taxation without representation. He's been working for the same company that he's been with since long before we moved from Norway, and stands to lose his pension if he switches to a US citizenship. It's been a tough call for the family.

Now he can be detained without due cause, refused as much as a phone call, and held indefinitely... I'd say this is getting out of hand. Land of the free... Bah.

Not at all an easy time for immigrants, and as much as I'd like to say that this trend is "un-American", anti-immigration measures and mass paranoia is more or less a cyclical phenomenon in the US. Funny since nearly all of us are immigrants or descendants thereof. I guess it's all about the "Other." The Irish, the Polish, Hispanics, Arabs, anyone who looks like an Arab to an uneducated non-passport-holding local... They've all had their turn at playing the bogeyman. And, quite frankly, it sucks.
posted by kahboom at 6:14 AM on November 25, 2001


How do some people get citizenship easier then others? Does it have to do with being bilingual? I've heard stories about people being in this country for (insert large number) years not being able to get documentation. Does it have to do with simply losing money if you do? I know people who are recent immigrants and they had no trouble at all getting in.
posted by geoff. at 9:24 AM on November 25, 2001


I think the requirements are 5 years of residency on a valid visa, as well as a citizenship exam. The exam may require one to speak english (?), but I doubt it since there is no official language in the U.S.
posted by kahboom at 10:38 AM on November 25, 2001


How to Become a United States Citizen
Disclaimer: This information is for general information purposes only. A Citizenship application is a serious matter and more authoritative sources should be consulted prior to submission. For the latest authoritative information, see the Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS) web site.
posted by Carol Anne at 10:44 AM on November 25, 2001


Anyone here know the definition of a free market?
posted by swift at 11:15 AM on November 25, 2001


kahboom, one needs to pass a test that measures English reading, writing and speaking ability. Standards on that test are so low, most people who can read street signs would pass that test.

There's also a US history exam, which has some decent questions. Since you know all the 100 pool questions in advance, you can prepare easily. (BTW, American HS kids mostly fail that test if given no preparation.)

Criteria:
-Permanent Resident for 5 years.
-Permanent Resident for 3 years AND married to US citizen for 3 years AND spouse is a US citizen for 3 years.
-Applying on the basis of quaalifying military service
-Mysterious "other"

Lastly, the number of people that can come in from different countries is essentially a political decision and varies greatly country to country.

BTW, I'm in the process of filling out my application.
posted by Witold at 12:29 PM on November 25, 2001


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