Fernandez graduated from UCLA in 2000 with a B.A. in history and
Chicana/o studies.
By Carmen Fernandez
I am writing in response to the viewpoints expressed in the
Speaks Out section by Megha Agarwal and Fil An when asked how they
felt about undocumented immigrants (Daily Bruin, Viewpoint, Nov.
3).
“It’s not fair,” Agarwal said. “While
the rest of us go through the laws and pay the money, these illegal
immigrants just come over. I understand the conditions of their
country are not the greatest, but you have to come here properly
… I think they should just stay and wait.”
First of all, immigrants don’t just come over. There is a
lot of sacrifice in leaving your family and your country behind.
The risk of crossing the border is increasingly high due to the
millions invested in the militarization of the U.S.-Mexico
border.
If 600 people have lost their lives attempting to cross the
border, and every year hundreds more are willing to risk their
lives to come here to the United States, the government should
realize that the militarization of the border is not the solution.
I also believe the government can invest the millions spent
patrolling the border to improve our public schools.
Second, people whose lives are at risk because of war or
starvation can not “just stay and wait” for years to
receive a document. Would you “stay and wait” while you
watch your kids go hungry, dig through the garbage and hope for
something to change without doing something about it?
I was further disappointed with An’s response which stated
that when “immigrants run across the border or swim; they
have at least a decent chance of making it. On the other hand,
Oriental immigrants have to take a boat here and have less chances
of getting here. If you want to make it fair, you have to let
everyone in. There has to be control.”
I do not think An is aware of Operation Gatekeeper and the
mentality of many of the border patrol personnel, who are trained
to dehumanize those crossing the border and who have actually
compared their job to a “cat and mouse game.”
Immigrants from Latin America do not have a “decent chance
of making it,” which is why at least 600 people have died.
They too, like Asian immigrants, have spent days trapped inside a
transportation unit like sardines to enter the United States and
improve not so much their own lives, but those of their family.
Why does An say there has to be control? What are we afraid of?
Are we afraid of immigrants taking “advantage” of our
public schools, health services or welfare? Are we afraid of
immigrants crowding our neighborhoods? Undocumented immigrants are
too afraid of being deported to seek health care, and they are here
to work, not live on welfare, which is for citizens and residents
only.
Have you ever seen an immigrant begging for money? I’ve
seen them selling oranges at intersections, waiting at corners for
daily employment, never asking for anything but work
opportunities.
And who hires undocumented immigrants? Many of them are hired by
agribusinesses or sweatshops who cannot find anyone willing to work
for minimum wage. They usually take jobs receiving less than
minimum wage with no benefits.
So, the next time anyone reading this eats fruits or vegetables
or buys overpriced GAP or Nike clothing to look cool, think about
who profits in the end for the labor provided by undocumented
immigrants and whether it is right that they’re the ones
targeted by the U.S. government.
Who or what do you think is responsible for the conditions in
Mexico, Central and South America, Africa and Asia anyway? It is
important to know our history as well as the history of others if
we want to find the root of the problem.