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New Hope in the Movement for Immigrant Rights

by Jimmy McCarty 05-07-2009 | 2:00pm
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090507-immigration-reform-not-raidsThis past Friday, May 1, 2009, I joined with thousands of others across the country in marching for immigrant and worker's rights. I was part of the march that began in Echo Park in Los Angeles, went down Sunset Boulevard, and concluded in front of Our Lady of Queen Angeles Church near historic Olvera Street near downtown. At that location we created a giant human postcard that was sent to President Obama that said "Worker's First." (Pictures can be found here). We marched, waved "We are Human" signs, chanted "Si se Puede!" and sang "La Bamba." It was an honor to march in solidarity with those seeking justice in their lives. At the end of the day my feet were a little tired, but my soul was refreshed; I had let my voice be heard on the side of justice, and I had spent time in the presence of God who was in our midst.

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Marches like this have occurred every May 1 since 2000. This is the first year, however, that they have occurred with our current president in office. My prayer, both when on my knees and when marching with my feet, is that President Obama will truly hear the cries of those on the margins of our society and work to ensure them justice. Many of those I marched beside are not paid fair wages, are treated unjustly and inhumanely, and kept in the shadows of our society because we do not want to acknowledge their presence and contribution to our collective lives. This is not fair nor just and does not reflect life in God's kingdom.

My hope is that when May 1, 2010, comes around there will be no more marches because all will be celebrating their newly enjoyed, though always deserved, rights. God is always on the side of justice. May the faithful witness of those who partner with God in that pursuit be blessed and heard.

Jimmy McCartyJimmy McCarty is a student at Claremont School of Theology studying Christian ethics, a minister serving cross-racially at a church in inner-city Los Angeles, and a servant at a homeless shelter five days a week. He blogs at jimmymccarty.wordpress.com.

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by: WaveTossed

05-08-2009 @ 5:29pm

It's very easy an convenient to blame "illegals" and use them as the new scapegoats. However, it's a lot more complicated than that.

In the first place, there are those employers who want things to stay just as is. That way, they get workers at dirt-poor wages and who do the "dirty" jobs -- and these workers won't complain for fear of being reported and deported.

Then we have our broken immigration bureaucracy: which blocks people from coming here legally. The backlog for processing legal immigrants is huge and is getting worse -- people have to wait years and years to get legal documents. A lot of this bureaucracy is caused by lack of political will. Many people who say they oppose illegal immigration also oppose legal immigration.

Lastly, there is the xenophobia and outright racism. "They're taking over; they will force everyone to speak Spanish; they have huge numbers of children; they come here only for welfare", blah, blah, blah.

Go to the Cato Insitute and read about sane, rational policies concerning immigration, both legal and illegal.

http://www.cato.org/researcharea.php?display=7

by: nuclearferret

05-07-2009 @ 7:54pm

"Worker's first?"

How about acknowledging that their presence in this country is predicated on a violation of Federal law? And that the employers who hire those "workers" are complicit in violating those laws and add more to the list by employing them? Fairness and justice would seem to require honesty on both sides of the issue.

by: Teneighty

05-07-2009 @ 8:05pm

Our new president has made it very clear that it is unwise to form foreign or public policy based on one's faith. Read Jim Wallis's blog from a couple weeks back. My parents, at GREAT risk to their very lives, waited, followed proper procedure, and are now US citizens. It's an incredible slap in the face to all those who adhered to procedure to see illegals claiming the deserve rights.

by: American77

05-08-2009 @ 2:16am

I can understand your argument about following a process. However, there is no current "process" to follow. Our immigration system is broken, and thus, people, have to risk their lives to come here to work, bless, and contribute to this nation. On a different note, not everyone that comes here, comes looking for the "American Dream". They were forced to leave their countries of origin because of US policies that have caused anc continue to cause so much economic disparity in developing countries. It's time we understand that America is reaping what it sowed. It's time to create a process by which people can legalize their status, and be seen as contributors, and not just "the hands" and the "feet" that has always built this nation.

by: nuclearferret

05-07-2009 @ 7:54pm

"Worker's first?"

How about acknowledging that their presence in this country is predicated on a violation of Federal law? And that the employers who hire those "workers" are complicit in violating those laws and add more to the list by employing them? Fairness and justice would seem to require honesty on both sides of the issue.

by: Teneighty

05-07-2009 @ 8:05pm

Our new president has made it very clear that it is unwise to form foreign or public policy based on one's faith. Read Jim Wallis's blog from a couple weeks back. My parents, at GREAT risk to their very lives, waited, followed proper procedure, and are now US citizens. It's an incredible slap in the face to all those who adhered to procedure to see illegals claiming the deserve rights.

by: 1Grace

05-08-2009 @ 2:45pm

"How about acknowledging that their presence in this country is predicated on a violation of Federal law?"

Changing terms and issues from illegal immigrints to workers rights changes the focus of the debate . I understand what you are saying , but we live in a polarized and non diverse culture . Kind of an oxymoron since the past 30 years we heard so much about diversity in places where it has almost non existent .
President Obama is a fair man when it comes to immigration, but as you said when the issue is not confronted in an honest way , it is not helping Obama deal with it .

by: WaveTossed

05-08-2009 @ 3:29pm

It's very easy an convenient to blame "illegals" and use them as the new scapegoats. However, it's a lot more complicated than that.

In the first place, there are those employers who want things to stay just as is. That way, they get workers at dirt-poor wages and who do the "dirty" jobs -- and these workers won't complain for fear of being reported and deported.

Then we have our broken immigration bureaucracy: which blocks people from coming here legally. The backlog for processing legal immigrants is huge and is getting worse -- people have to wait years and years to get legal documents. A lot of this bureaucracy is caused by lack of political will. Many people who say they oppose illegal immigration also oppose legal immigration.

Lastly, there is the xenophobia and outright racism. "They're taking over; they will force everyone to speak Spanish; they have huge numbers of children; they come here only for welfare", blah, blah, blah.

Go to the Cato Insitute and read about sane, rational policies concerning immigration, both legal and illegal.

http://www.cato.org/researcharea.php?display=7

by: American77

05-08-2009 @ 2:16am

I can understand your argument about following a process. However, there is no current "process" to follow. Our immigration system is broken, and thus, people, have to risk their lives to come here to work, bless, and contribute to this nation. On a different note, not everyone that comes here, comes looking for the "American Dream". They were forced to leave their countries of origin because of US policies that have caused anc continue to cause so much economic disparity in developing countries. It's time we understand that America is reaping what it sowed. It's time to create a process by which people can legalize their status, and be seen as contributors, and not just "the hands" and the "feet" that has always built this nation.

by: WaveTossed

05-08-2009 @ 5:29pm

It's very easy an convenient to blame "illegals" and use them as the new scapegoats. However, it's a lot more complicated than that.

In the first place, there are those employers who want things to stay just as is. That way, they get workers at dirt-poor wages and who do the "dirty" jobs -- and these workers won't complain for fear of being reported and deported.

Then we have our broken immigration bureaucracy: which blocks people from coming here legally. The backlog for processing legal immigrants is huge and is getting worse -- people have to wait years and years to get legal documents. A lot of this bureaucracy is caused by lack of political will. Many people who say they oppose illegal immigration also oppose legal immigration.

Lastly, there is the xenophobia and outright racism. "They're taking over; they will force everyone to speak Spanish; they have huge numbers of children; they come here only for welfare", blah, blah, blah.

Go to the Cato Insitute and read about sane, rational policies concerning immigration, both legal and illegal.

http://www.cato.org/researcharea.php?display=7

by: 1Grace

05-08-2009 @ 2:45pm

"How about acknowledging that their presence in this country is predicated on a violation of Federal law?"

Changing terms and issues from illegal immigrints to workers rights changes the focus of the debate . I understand what you are saying , but we live in a polarized and non diverse culture . Kind of an oxymoron since the past 30 years we heard so much about diversity in places where it has almost non existent .
President Obama is a fair man when it comes to immigration, but as you said when the issue is not confronted in an honest way , it is not helping Obama deal with it .

by: WaveTossed

05-08-2009 @ 3:29pm

It's very easy an convenient to blame "illegals" and use them as the new scapegoats. However, it's a lot more complicated than that.

In the first place, there are those employers who want things to stay just as is. That way, they get workers at dirt-poor wages and who do the "dirty" jobs -- and these workers won't complain for fear of being reported and deported.

Then we have our broken immigration bureaucracy: which blocks people from coming here legally. The backlog for processing legal immigrants is huge and is getting worse -- people have to wait years and years to get legal documents. A lot of this bureaucracy is caused by lack of political will. Many people who say they oppose illegal immigration also oppose legal immigration.

Lastly, there is the xenophobia and outright racism. "They're taking over; they will force everyone to speak Spanish; they have huge numbers of children; they come here only for welfare", blah, blah, blah.

Go to the Cato Insitute and read about sane, rational policies concerning immigration, both legal and illegal.

http://www.cato.org/researcharea.php?display=7

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by: nuclearferret

05-07-2009 @ 7:54pm

"Worker's first?"

How about acknowledging that their presence in this country is predicated on a violation of Federal law? And that the employers who hire those "workers" are complicit in violating those laws and add more to the list by employing them? Fairness and justice would seem to require honesty on both sides of the issue.

by: nuclearferret

05-07-2009 @ 7:54pm

"Worker's first?"

How about acknowledging that their presence in this country is predicated on a violation of Federal law? And that the employers who hire those "workers" are complicit in violating those laws and add more to the list by employing them? Fairness and justice would seem to require honesty on both sides of the issue.

by: Teneighty

05-07-2009 @ 8:05pm

Our new president has made it very clear that it is unwise to form foreign or public policy based on one's faith. Read Jim Wallis's blog from a couple weeks back. My parents, at GREAT risk to their very lives, waited, followed proper procedure, and are now US citizens. It's an incredible slap in the face to all those who adhered to procedure to see illegals claiming the deserve rights.

by: Teneighty

05-07-2009 @ 8:05pm

Our new president has made it very clear that it is unwise to form foreign or public policy based on one's faith. Read Jim Wallis's blog from a couple weeks back. My parents, at GREAT risk to their very lives, waited, followed proper procedure, and are now US citizens. It's an incredible slap in the face to all those who adhered to procedure to see illegals claiming the deserve rights.

by: American77

05-08-2009 @ 2:16am

I can understand your argument about following a process. However, there is no current "process" to follow. Our immigration system is broken, and thus, people, have to risk their lives to come here to work, bless, and contribute to this nation. On a different note, not everyone that comes here, comes looking for the "American Dream". They were forced to leave their countries of origin because of US policies that have caused anc continue to cause so much economic disparity in developing countries. It's time we understand that America is reaping what it sowed. It's time to create a process by which people can legalize their status, and be seen as contributors, and not just "the hands" and the "feet" that has always built this nation.

by: American77

05-08-2009 @ 2:16am

I can understand your argument about following a process. However, there is no current "process" to follow. Our immigration system is broken, and thus, people, have to risk their lives to come here to work, bless, and contribute to this nation. On a different note, not everyone that comes here, comes looking for the "American Dream". They were forced to leave their countries of origin because of US policies that have caused anc continue to cause so much economic disparity in developing countries. It's time we understand that America is reaping what it sowed. It's time to create a process by which people can legalize their status, and be seen as contributors, and not just "the hands" and the "feet" that has always built this nation.

by: 1Grace

05-08-2009 @ 2:45pm

"How about acknowledging that their presence in this country is predicated on a violation of Federal law?"

Changing terms and issues from illegal immigrints to workers rights changes the focus of the debate . I understand what you are saying , but we live in a polarized and non diverse culture . Kind of an oxymoron since the past 30 years we heard so much about diversity in places where it has almost non existent .
President Obama is a fair man when it comes to immigration, but as you said when the issue is not confronted in an honest way , it is not helping Obama deal with it .

by: 1Grace

05-08-2009 @ 2:45pm

"How about acknowledging that their presence in this country is predicated on a violation of Federal law?"

Changing terms and issues from illegal immigrints to workers rights changes the focus of the debate . I understand what you are saying , but we live in a polarized and non diverse culture . Kind of an oxymoron since the past 30 years we heard so much about diversity in places where it has almost non existent .
President Obama is a fair man when it comes to immigration, but as you said when the issue is not confronted in an honest way , it is not helping Obama deal with it .

by: WaveTossed

05-08-2009 @ 3:29pm

It's very easy an convenient to blame "illegals" and use them as the new scapegoats. However, it's a lot more complicated than that.

In the first place, there are those employers who want things to stay just as is. That way, they get workers at dirt-poor wages and who do the "dirty" jobs -- and these workers won't complain for fear of being reported and deported.

Then we have our broken immigration bureaucracy: which blocks people from coming here legally. The backlog for processing legal immigrants is huge and is getting worse -- people have to wait years and years to get legal documents. A lot of this bureaucracy is caused by lack of political will. Many people who say they oppose illegal immigration also oppose legal immigration.

Lastly, there is the xenophobia and outright racism. "They're taking over; they will force everyone to speak Spanish; they have huge numbers of children; they come here only for welfare", blah, blah, blah.

Go to the Cato Insitute and read about sane, rational policies concerning immigration, both legal and illegal.

http://www.cato.org/researcharea.php?display=7

by: WaveTossed

05-08-2009 @ 3:29pm

It's very easy an convenient to blame "illegals" and use them as the new scapegoats. However, it's a lot more complicated than that.

In the first place, there are those employers who want things to stay just as is. That way, they get workers at dirt-poor wages and who do the "dirty" jobs -- and these workers won't complain for fear of being reported and deported.

Then we have our broken immigration bureaucracy: which blocks people from coming here legally. The backlog for processing legal immigrants is huge and is getting worse -- people have to wait years and years to get legal documents. A lot of this bureaucracy is caused by lack of political will. Many people who say they oppose illegal immigration also oppose legal immigration.

Lastly, there is the xenophobia and outright racism. "They're taking over; they will force everyone to speak Spanish; they have huge numbers of children; they come here only for welfare", blah, blah, blah.

Go to the Cato Insitute and read about sane, rational policies concerning immigration, both legal and illegal.

http://www.cato.org/researcharea.php?display=7

by: WaveTossed

05-08-2009 @ 5:29pm

It's very easy an convenient to blame "illegals" and use them as the new scapegoats. However, it's a lot more complicated than that.

In the first place, there are those employers who want things to stay just as is. That way, they get workers at dirt-poor wages and who do the "dirty" jobs -- and these workers won't complain for fear of being reported and deported.

Then we have our broken immigration bureaucracy: which blocks people from coming here legally. The backlog for processing legal immigrants is huge and is getting worse -- people have to wait years and years to get legal documents. A lot of this bureaucracy is caused by lack of political will. Many people who say they oppose illegal immigration also oppose legal immigration.

Lastly, there is the xenophobia and outright racism. "They're taking over; they will force everyone to speak Spanish; they have huge numbers of children; they come here only for welfare", blah, blah, blah.

Go to the Cato Insitute and read about sane, rational policies concerning immigration, both legal and illegal.

http://www.cato.org/researcharea.php?display=7

by: WaveTossed

05-08-2009 @ 5:29pm

It's very easy an convenient to blame "illegals" and use them as the new scapegoats. However, it's a lot more complicated than that.

In the first place, there are those employers who want things to stay just as is. That way, they get workers at dirt-poor wages and who do the "dirty" jobs -- and these workers won't complain for fear of being reported and deported.

Then we have our broken immigration bureaucracy: which blocks people from coming here legally. The backlog for processing legal immigrants is huge and is getting worse -- people have to wait years and years to get legal documents. A lot of this bureaucracy is caused by lack of political will. Many people who say they oppose illegal immigration also oppose legal immigration.

Lastly, there is the xenophobia and outright racism. "They're taking over; they will force everyone to speak Spanish; they have huge numbers of children; they come here only for welfare", blah, blah, blah.

Go to the Cato Insitute and read about sane, rational policies concerning immigration, both legal and illegal.

http://www.cato.org/researcharea.php?display=7