We Must Revalue the Undocumented and the Struggle to Legalize Them

BY MARIBEL HASTINGS AND DAVID TORRES, AMERICA’S VOICE

In the midst of the intense debate generated by Title 42, its eventual cancellation and all the drama that continues to unfold at the border with migrants seeking asylum, little is said about that other important segment of the population, the 11 million undocumented immigrants. Yes, those who already live among us, work in essential industries, pay taxes, have citizen children and are an intrinsic part of U.S. society.

It is a segment of the country's population that has made not only the economy grow significantly, but also the demographics, giving a new face to this social laboratory that has been driven and enriched by waves of migrants throughout its history. To deny that possibility now is to deny the very essence of the United States.

In other words, we are talking about individuals and families who have been waiting for decades for an immigration solution that would legalize them. The last amnesty of 1986 will be 37 years in this year 2023 since its enactment. That is almost two generations.

And although there is a lot of talk and bills are presented that in the polarized Congress have no chance of approval, the undocumented continue with their lives, working, contributing, contributing and always living with the specter of deportation on their backs.

It is curious, but that dichotomy in which they live and keep this country alive, with almost everything against them, should be reason enough for this large group of migrants to be recognized not only with good faith speeches, but with concrete actions such as a welldeserved legalization, especially because they represent in themselves all that is called the American spirit: hardworking, courageous, protective, enterprising and with family values that are foolproof. So why ignore them?

And they continue to give and risk it all, even when Republican governors like Ron DeSantis in Florida and Republicans in Congress demonize them and blame them for all the nation's ills: crime, unemployment, drug trafficking, the fentanyl crisis, to name a few scourges.

But once they exploit them using their typical hate rhetoric to satisfy their most anti-immigrant base, those same Republican politicians see their states' economies suffer when undocumented immigrants leave their jobs or stop consuming in their businesses, as Florida is suffering right now.

Although he won't admit it, DeSantis knows that his state's economy is suffering as undocumented immigrants flee to other parts of the country. In fact, the governor is making a terrible political calculation by focusing his strategy on an aspect as despicable as it is shameful, bordering on racism and discrimination disguised as "legality". Rejecting in Florida driver's licenses from other states is also another act of political bad faith, which seems more like a kind of state of siege where all access is closed by the will of one person, which of course has little to do with democracy.

That is why it never hurts to review the contributions of undocumented immigrants to the economy of a United States that measures everything in dollars and cents.

Basically, their presence in essential industries of the country has generated, for example, more than 100 billion dollars in the last decade for the Social Security program, according to data from New American Economy, with total tax contributions, at least until 2018, of almost 250 billion, in addition to a purchasing power of more than 200 billion. Annually, it translates on average into $13 billion to the SSA and $3 billion to Medicare, according to Telemundo.

In fact, without their presence, sectors such as construction, where more than 12% work, agricultural work (more than 13%), the hospital and service industry (more than 7%), to name a few, would collapse.

Obviously, the contribution of undocumented immigrants to the economicfinancial strengthening of the country is not insignificant, if all this is converted into a vertiginous monetary mobility that keeps afloat both small and large cities where migrants and their families are distributed. They are, in short, an undeniable added value for a nation that needs them, despite those anti-immigrant voices that want them out of their privileged and supremacist space. l

The mission of America’s Voice (AV) s to build the public support and the political will needed to enact policy changes that secure freedom and opportunity for immigrants in America. Priority goal: win reforms that put 11 million undocumented Americans on a path to full citizenship.

Publisher I.Q. INC.

Legal Advisor

Brian Figeroux,

Esq.

Managing Editor & Editor-in-Chief

Pearl Phillip

Senior Writer

Linda Nwoke

Contributing Writers

JR Holguin

Janet Howard

Chris Tobias

Mary Campbell

Graphic & Website Designers

Praim Samsoondar

Kendrick Williams

Email immjournal@aol.com

Visit www.ijlef.org

Volunteering at THE IMMIGRANT'S JOURNAL LEGAL & EDUCATIONAL FUND, INC. Internship positions available throughout the year.

The Immigrant's Journal Legal & Educational Fund, Inc. is an organization dedicated to the educational and economic empowerment of all immigrants and immigrant organizations here in the United States. We at the Journal recognize the enormous contribution of immigrants to this country economically, socially and politically. Since September 11, 2001, however, immigrants have increasingly been discriminated against and Congress has passed legislation curtailing the rights of immigrants here in the U.S., broadly claiming that immigrants are a threat to ''National Security.'' We at the Journal believe that these charges are unfounded, unsubstantiated and exaggerated.

The Immigrant's Journal Volunteer Intern Program was introduced to give our volunteers the opportunity to work in an immigrant friendly environment while developing the necessary skills for college or law school. They assist our staff in resolving immigration and other legal concerns through personal interviews, radio, email and telephone contact. They also assist the public with citizenship applications and in researching whether or not children of naturalized U.S. citizens have derived citizenship from their parents. Some of our volunteers assist our legal staff by engaging in legal research and writing letters on other legal issues. Volunteer interns are also assigned various other jobs in our Youth Programs. Hours are flexible. Email your cover letter and resume or any questions to immjournal@aol.com