COMMENTARY
Why is anybody "illegal?" --
September 12, 2003
Subject: Why is anyone called "illegal?"
How can anyone be labeled "illegal?" In the Bee, the Gazette, and other papers, have appeared terms like "illegal alien" (which suggests some form of other-worldly being) and "illegal immigrant" as if these people were somehow worth less than -- what are we? -- "legal" residents. Is anybody really suggesting that the two million people so labeled deserve worse treatment than those who have their papers in order?
Those who write of having had ancestors who immigrated to America "legally" should note that immigrants then -- as now -- entered the United States by whatever means they could find, legal or otherwise. Those who went through processing at Ellis Island or Angel Island might be called "legal" in the sense that they stumbled into the processing center, only because that's where their ship docked. Then, as now, many immigrants circumvented the processing centers and entered the country however they could, often without knowing whether their entry was legal or not.
Resident immigrants today are no more nor less legal now than they were a century ago. Calamity in the countries they came from, whether they came to escape political conditions or poverty, have a lot to do with their flight to America. Shouldn't our economic policies include efforts to strengthen the economic conditions in that other country? If, for example, Mexico had a strong economy with desirable employment for all wouldn't the flight of Mexico's working population to el norte become unnecessary? (And, no, this is not what NAFTA was intended to do. Free Trade treaties mostly have the effect of exporting cheap factory jobs to the countries with the most dismal working conditions. Workers in Mexico do not seem to be any better off under NAFTA.) If the United States took a serious interest in strengthening the economy of Mexico, conditions along the border could be different.
The legislation to issue drivers' licenses is about some two million working people in California alone. They make a major contribution to our economy and to the services we use, and no one can seriously think that "illegal" status means that all two million of them are supposed to leave, and that the economy of the state would be improved if they did. As to the contention that the "illegal" residents somehow bankrupt our services, the net effect of their presence is beneficial. (This can be hard to calculate, since the cost of services to undocumented residents can be hard to determine. But at the federal level, many of the undocumented workers do contribute to the Social Security fund without expecting to ever draw any benefits, and those who have taxes deducted from their paychecks, which is most of them, forfeit their contribution if they do not file an income tax return. It is estimated that the undocumented residents contribute about twice as much to the federal funds as they claim in benefits and services.) At state and local levels, the contributions and costs of services for undocumented residents become more complicated, but it is probable that the net contribution of the "illegals" is beneficial to local economies.
That "illegal" status, which keeps workers nervous about drawing attention, is more intentional than most people realize. Their anxiety helps to keep wages low for casual labor, and prevents workers from demanding union rights and better working conditions. California's economy depends on this dishonest disregard for worker rights, but many people shrug at that unfairness since the "aliens" weren't supposed to be here anyway.
We need these people here as much as they need us. (Even Mariposa County's economy runs with the help of a few "indocumentados," but, don't ask). Couldn't a human being be named something a little more respectful than "illegal alien?" How about "California resident?"
And, oh yes, if you are going to stay, and work in our economy, won't you please go by DMV and apply for a proper driver's license? While you are there you will learn more about safe driving conditions and the required insurance which you must buy for driving with your new license.
John Erhart
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