Editor, San Diego Jewish World

I do think that Sen. Arlen Specter's suggestion is a way forward.  That being said let me go on to the question of "What should be the response of the Jewish Community - a community of immigrants to this country."

All the people in this country are immigrants. However, there is little resemblance between the illegal immigrants pouring across our borders today and the historical Jewish immigrant.   The Jewish community came here - overwhelmingly - as LEGAL immigrants for the most part fleeing real centuries long persecution. This includes my mother and all four of my grandparents. 

My mother and grandmother waited six years in Romania as aliens (after having escaped Russia on a raft at night) to qualify under the quota system in the USA.   They didn't come here for jobs - they came here to escape persecution and certain death.   As a Jew born in 1941, I understand the necessity for succor - but I don't understand sneaking into this country for a job and then demanding "rights."

Let me take this in sections.....

Border Security:  Border security must be paramount in these days of terrorist threats.  A country exists as an entity because of adherence and respect for its borders and laws.  Israel is a prime example of how borders define a country and how important it is to respect those borders.  So, as near to absolute border security as possible must come first. 

Temporary Worker Program:  A well planned temporary guest worker program for those who wish to come here temporarily for seasonal jobs.  I don't want them to come under unsafe conditions as they do now; paying huge amounts of money to coyotés who then abandon them, or have them trekking through the desert, or getting robbed, hurt, stuffed into trucks and cars.  A safe, sane guest worker program so they can come - and go - with respect - unexploited by employers, and unafraid of being hunted or victimized.  That's for our benefit as well as theirs.

Permanent Immigrants:  Must enter the country legally - going through the established channels.

Anchor Babies:  The law should be changed to eliminate this loophole.  If the parents are here illegally - having broken our laws to get here - a child born of such parents on American soil should not  automatically be an American citizen.

Family Unification: Only available for those who have gone through all the channels to obtain legal citizenship.  Anything else forfeits this opportunity.  Family unification is not a "right" - but a privilege.  Anyone who disrespects our laws forfeits that privilege.  The family must show it is capable and willing to support its members.  That's what my family had to do. 

Employers: Any employer who knowingly employs illegal immigrants is also breaking the law and should be penalized.  The government needs to enforce this - the employer is as guilty as the illegal worker.  I do realize the problem of the difficulty the employer faces in trying to identify who is legally here and who is not - but a full faith effort must be made on the part of the employer.

Illegals already here:  While by law they should indeed be deported - in reality it isn't going to happen.  I think Specter's idea is workable (unless I learn otherwise), they should apply for green cards, if denied because of criminal records or other solid reasons - deported.  Otherwise they should stay here as green card holders.  However, for citizenship they must go back to their country of origin and begin the process just like millions of others have done and are doing.  Being here illegally should not give them privileged access to citizenship - it's not a good beginning to life in a new country to start by breaking the law.

And finally: Jews are indeed an immigrant community - but we are not law breakers and we have never condoned breaking internationally recognized law.  We are not talking here about laws aimed at persecution such as the  Nuremberg laws - by which a country set up a body of laws to persecute its own people.  The Torah is a body of law and we pride ourselves on receiving that law and trying our best to live by it.  It has taught us respect and the necessity for a law abiding society.  Since when have we, as Jews,  advocated breaking of legitimate civil law?

It is the recognized right of every country to set up a system whereby aliens can apply for entrance - a country without borders and without law is not a country.  As Jews we have much to lose if the law is disrespected - think of all the times we appeal to the law to protect us.  We can't be selective.  The immigration laws of the United States are not inhumane - the test of that pudding are the millions who have applied and been accepted.

I thank G-D that my family was able to learn how America's immigration law worked,  went through the channels and entered the country with respect on both sides.  I wouldn't be alive to write this had there not been those laws.

— Sheila Orysiek, San Diego, California
Received 8:12 a.m.,  August 10, 2007

 

 

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