Wiston Papers

Amnesty for Illegal Children?

Seldom have I commented on an issue about which I have wrestled for decades than the case of what do with the sons and daughters of undocumented workers.  

As a result of their parents’ illegal entry into the United States, many of these children are also unlawful residents in our country.

President Obama last week declared that his administration would no longer deport these young people who were brought here by their parents “and through no fault of their own” are breaking the law.  Mr. Obama’s decision affects an estimated 800,000 persons whom he claims by and large are model, law-abiding members of the American community.

I studied and learned to speak Spanish in high school and developed a love for the language and appreciation for Latino culture.  Much of my subsequent professional career has been spent in Latin America working either on short-term educational and media training projects or long term as a Fulbright Scholar in Ecuador  and a Knight Journalism Fellow in Brazil.

Furthermore, I co-sponsored a Junior Fulbright program for Central American undergraduate students at Iowa State University when I was a journalism professor there.   And I recorded numerous interviews with Hispanics as part of a sabbatical project entitled “Boxcar Babies,” which documents the lives of the Mexican workers and their families who came to Iowa to work on the railroads.

No one is more sympathetic to the plight of Latin Americans who have risked much to come to the United States for a better life for themselves and their children.

This said I have asked for years “How could Latino mothers and parents allow their children to grow up in this nation and fail to take the necessary steps to ensure that their offspring are legal citizens with no risk of deportation?”  It is absolutely unconscionable.

Yes, I know many of the explanations:

“If we identify our children to the U.S. Government, we’ll all be sent back to our home countries.”

“We didn’t know that our children were breaking the law.”

“Mom and Dad never told us that we, too, were here illegally.”

The list of reasons goes on and on.  But the impact on many Hispanic children has been devastating.  There are cases of young teenagers who have known only life in the U.S. being deported to countries about which they know nothing, have no ties, and perhaps cannot even speak the language.  

In recent years there have been all too many instances of college-bound Latinos being denied scholarships and potential educational opportunities because of their illegal status.   These cases further highlight the terrible consequences of their unlawful residency.

I don’t want to, but I hold the parents fully responsible for this travesty.  And I also have to place partial blame on the children themselves for not wondering at some point “Who am I; where do I belong; am I safe here.”  Whatever the reasons, these young people are the victims or poor judgment and bad decisions either by themselves or their parents or people close to them.  

Again I ask, “How in the world could they not know and why did they not act to avoid this?  Where were the people who should have known of the inevitable consequences of their  lives in limbo?  Where were the social workers, the teachers and counselors in schools with high Hispanic populations--many of whom obviously were there illegally?  Why was nothing done to protect these children?”

Although some will criticize Mr. Obama for acting solely for the political benefits he hopes will accrue to him among potential Latino voters this election year, I applaud his action.   For too many years too many voices in the White House and in Congress have called for immigration reform.  It is too long overdue for several reasons.

I support the President’s decision.  Yet his policy in no way lessens my strongly-held support for tough immigration laws.  We allow too many people to come to the United States illegally and do nothing either to stop them, capture them, or return them to their countries of origin.  

Amnesty is a welcome response by this government to this small group of residents who deserve some degree of compassion and understanding.  This time alone.

But America cannot use amnesty as an excuse for ignorance and lack of courage by Latinos and their supporters--or cowardice by U.S. government leaders to enact much-need immigration reform.  

   

Steve Coon

June 17, 2012