Reform In Tejas

There’s a ruckus in the Lone Star state, one that will bring many unhappy people to the State capital. There are nearly 100 immigration bills currently being written or filed by members of the Republican Party with a very unwelcoming message: we don’t want you! While it’s not a surprise to hear this particular party so vocal for harsher immigration control, it’s unsettling to hear that Texas state Republicans are practically reversing the positive gains made by former President George W. Bush.

President Bush welcomed Hispanics and the result gained him a re-election in 1998, but in a complete turn around, state representative Leo Berman from northeast Texas (540 miles from the nearest border) is charging ahead on very tough measures on immigration. A few of his bills would require elementary children to prove citizenship upon enrolling in school, prevent automatic citizenship to children born in Texas, and make English the official state language. "That will shut off the state printing anything in any language but English, and that's going to save millions of dollars right there."

Already bringing back memories of Arizona and the national attention/disapproval that followed, Bill Hammond, president of the Texas Association of Business fears Texas could lose a community that brings the state $17 billion a year. "If suddenly all the undocumented workers [in the state] were simply to go back to their home of origin, it would be disastrous for the Texas economy," says Bill Hammond.

Furthermore, he uses their political affiliation as a way to de-humanize them, “Most Hispanics right now do vote Democrat; there's no question about it," Berman says. "So what vote are we going after? We're going after a vote that doesn't vote Republican anyway." With a statement like this, the reasoning for the onslaught of harsh immigration reform must be questioned. How much longer can immigrants to this country and their families who may already be legal citizens take this form of discrimination? This sounds like an agenda devised by a group who don’t care about the individuals who are in need of help and who do contribute to the State economy.

It is unfair and insulting to the people and their families who have helped build the infrastructure of a State. These people only expect what any hard worker expects in return: Education and a place to call home.