Immigration –The Other Side

For several decades now, immigration has been an emotive and divisive issues in most Western countries. Right now, it’s making headlines in the US, where the new immigration bid is being discussed in the Senate. Most of the debate, however, is focused on attitudes of Americans towards illegal immigrants. The points of view of the immigrants are taken into account, only insofar as whether or not they have a right to live and work in America.

There is another side to it. There is a common perception – justified in many instances – that people from less developed countries are desperate to come and live in the USA; live the American dream, as it were. But how many actually achieve it?

Let us consider this ‘American dream’ concept dispassionately. For the vast majority of illegal immigrants, the reality is an exploitative boss who pays less than minimum wage – with no health or pension plan; forcing the ‘illegal’ to put in 16 hour work days just to pay the bills. It is living in a shanty town or, at best, a tiny cramped apartment on the wrong side of the tracks. It is being suspicious of all strangers; and living in constant fear of a knock on his door, by a man with a badge.

It is the constant reminder that they don’t ‘belong’. Sure, folks in the host country are usually polite and friendly; and there may be not be any overt racial bias, but the truth is that most ‘decent’ Americans would be very uncomfortable having some of ‘them’ living in their neighborhood. It may appear that the ‘illegals’ prefer to congregate in ghettoes, because they feel more comfortable with their own kind; but most would kill for a chance to escape; to be accepted as an equal by the ‘regular’ Americans. Living in America may fill their bellies, but it eats into their dignity; and their souls. That is why some of them turn to crime; and drugs. Pulling a gun on their ‘superiors’; seeing the look of fear on their faces gives them a sense of power and control they can never hope to achieve by legitimate means.

And yet they keep coming in an unending stream – by boats, makeshift rafts, ship and truck containers – almost any grossly uncomfortable mode of transport one can conceive of. Why? One reason could be that, as bad as the reality is, it is still a step up from living conditions back home. Another reason can be that the American is dream is, unintentionally, over-hyped. Leaving aside Mexicans, most people from Third World countries form their impression about the USA from watching Hollywood movies and television soaps. They see a lifestyle that is so far removed from their own, that it seems almost mythical – and eminently desirable. And then there is the well-meaning deception, When the ‘lucky’ ones who ‘made it’ come home for a short visit, they come laden with gifts; and exaggerated stories about how well they are doing ‘over there’. It’s a matter of saving face, after all – and that is terribly important in some countries.

Then there is the third angle to this issue – which has been overlooked. Most of the attention is being focused on illegal immigrants; and how to make them "legal" – after imposing appropriate penalties. But what about the thousands of potential immigrants, who have followed all the rules and have been waiting patiently for that prized Green Card? Are they getting a raw deal? A case in point is the tens of thousands of highly skilled Indian professionals waiting - many for up to eight years - to become permanent US residents. Under the new Immigration law, a majority of the 12 million, mostly illegal, immigrants - that the new bill addresses – will probably jump ahead of them in the line. As one frustrated Indian IT professional put it, "What the US is saying is that it prefers cherry pickers to a skilled workforce." A bit of an exaggeration, perhaps, but his point is well taken.