Immigration - Can We Use God's Inspiration To Solve The Problem

Please feel free to use this article as long as credit is given to the resource box. ? Arthur Levine 2006 Keywords: Immigration, God, Faith, Inspiration Words: 987

Immigration -- Can We Use God's Inspiration To Solve The Problem

Is our current policy providing a fertile hunting grounds for terrorists or is the spirit of "give me your tired, your poor, your huddled masses yearning to breathe free" still alive and well in God's country?

Talk about "huddled masses", what do you call twelve million illegal immigrants? Is this what the poet Emma Lazarus had in mind when she used the term?

I have an idea, why don't we just impose a huge illegal immigrant tax. We could probably eliminate our national debt in no time at all. The only problem with this self defeating strategy is that then no one would want to come to this country. Perhaps we should make it a both ways border tax. That way we could charge these illegal immigrants coming and going. There is nothing illegal about that is there?

We could also double the minimum wage, in which case the farmers might automate and eliminate the need for cheap labor. Our food prices would rise, inflation would set in, unemployment would grow, and our own citizens might become more willing to take low paying jobs again, thus eliminating the need for immigrants altogether except from a do the right thing point of view. What about granting them all amnesty? Amnesty from what? I thought everyone has a right to pursue the American dream. So many choices, it is hard to know which to choose

Perhaps if we stopped offering illegal immigrants free health care and schooling for their children we could reduce the flow substantially, but I am afraid we might run the risk of growing our own illegal immigrant terrorists from this formerly hard working lot who would become upset at the lack of equal social services being supplied to them. Besides, we probably don't have enough buses in this country to send twelve million people home and we surely can't expect them to walk although that is how many of them got here. Do you think this whole problem is part of a French conspiracy? After all they sent us the Statue of Liberty on which Emma Lazarus's poem is inscribed. I doubt it. It seems unlikely given that they have their own immigration problems.

What does the temporary or guest worker program proposed by the President and by some in congress really mean? Does it mean that illegal immigrants will have to work in this country until they are granted citizenship and then can stop working and go on welfare or refuse to take the low paying jobs that some corporations originally hired them for. What's to stop these twelve million illegal immigrants from forming their own unified union and going on strike for higher wages and pension plans. Can illegal immigrants have 401K plans? Can they take tax deductions on their tax returns for foreign travel as a business expense? So many questions and no one seems to have all the answers. What would happen to our trade deficit if these people stopped buying American goods that are made in China? This thing has ramifications that none of us may have thought of. Is this what Emma Lazarus was alluding to when she said, "I lift my lamp beside the golden door!" Are we the golden scapegoat for the world? Why not try to reverse the trend by helping Mexico employ their own citizens at a good living wage. We could even institute a buy Mexican policy. It might be cheaper than buying goods from China considering that we wouldn't have to pay long distance freight charges.

What should we do to protect ourselves from foreign terrorists who might sneak across the border with all the peaceful and hard working immigrants? Perhaps we should install an honor system instead of a wall. We could ask all the illegal immigrants to report any terrorists crossing over with them - anonymously of course. Another approach that might work is to require all illegal immigrants to travel lightly. We should limit them to one small carry across the border type bag and allow nothing big enough to conceal a bomb. Probably something the size of a passport wallet would be safe.

Another approach would be to make Spanish our primary language instead of English. That way so many of us wouldn't be able to understand our utility bills that we might have to migrate to England to find a commonly spoken language, then let's see who revolts against whom. The only problem with this scenario is that the Muslim minority in England might object to being overpowered by a new bunch of migrating American Christians. I almost forgot to mention the negative affect this transmigration might have on our national sovereignty, but then we are not talking about a flock of birds, are we? We are talking about a mass of humanity. When Emma Lazarus spoke of "the wretched refuse of your teaming shore", do you think she had us, or the illegal immigrants in mind?

You might well ask where God comes into this whole mess. I believe it goes back to my belief that this is God's homeland every bit as much as it is ours. I can almost see Him using the poet Emma Lazarus's famous words, "send these the homeless, tempest-tost to me" as His own. I wouldn't be a bit surprised if God put those words in Emma Lazarus's mind. Maybe we should find a way to honor the words of the poet and the thoughts of God at the same time. How about making all these illegal immigrants legitimate citizens of God's world. They are anyway, aren't they? There has got to be a better way to protect the rights of American citizens and at the same time give comfort to these struggling masses of immigrants. Can we look to God for the inspiration to find the answers?

Arthur Levine is the author of The Magic of Faith. Check out more of his writing at http://www.faith123.com and at his blog http://searchfor-god.blogspot.com and get inspired to find more faith in God.

Immigration ? Trying On A New Lifestyle

The lure of riches in a foreign land, the potential of awesome new opportunities, dreams of what might be ? all these sometimes entice people to immigrate to a different country. Being reunited with a loved one or just longing for adventure are also strong reasons for immigrating. Sometimes, rather than being drawn to a new country, one is pushed: religious persecution, starvation when the crops have failed, escaping unbearable family situations. Certainly wars, revolutions and political unrest have caused thousands to try to find a peaceful existence elsewhere. And decades ago, many were forced against their will to live in a new country as slaves or as prisoners.

For all who move on, pulling up roots from their homeland can be traumatic. It truly is not an easy decision to make, and today about 15% of those who leave their native country choose to return, finding that adjusting to a new society is too difficult.

The easiest transitions occur when the immigrants can find a community made up of people from their native home. They can keep a lot of their old customs while integrating the new country?s language, values and culture. Experience seems to indicate that to be happy they need to wholeheartedly try to assimilate the new ways and not begrudge the environment being different. Home is where the heart is! Home needs to be wherever we are!

While planning to remain permanently in the new country, most find work and strive to own a home of their own. They learn the new language (sometimes laughingly) and educate their children in the new ways, without having the children cut the bonds that tie them to their native roots. To honor both countries with love is the goal!

Immigrants have made enormous contributions to the economies and cultures of their new countries, yet these are often made with tremendous difficulty. Newcomers face many challenges in being accepted, and when they arrive from being ?pushed? to the new country, rather than ?longing? for it, the transition is even harder. Sometimes those original dreams just don?t come true.

The immigrants who make a very good living in the new country and are able to send money home to relatives in the native country are usually glad they made the transition. Some are able to establish business links with the businesses back home, helping to ease the problems that are faced there. Other immigrants finally retire and return to their native land for their old age, only to find that it, too, has changed.

Ultimately we each have to learn to cherish where we are. The old saying, ?Where ever I go, I go, too!? still rings true.

Paul Babs is the owner of Citizens Stopshop which tackles all immigration issues. For more information, go to: http://www.yesimmigration.com

 

How Important Is It To Choose The Right Immigration Lawyer For Your Case?

If you do not choose the right immigration lawyer you could find yourself getting thrown out of the country, whatever country that may be. In order to be allowed to stay you need to have a good immigration lawyer on your side.

This may sound scary and daunting but the good news is that it is easier than ever to get in touch with a good immigration lawyer. The internet makes it so easy to find and interview all kinds of immigration lawyers. This is a very important step when it comes to finding the perfect lawyer. You need to interview each and every immigration lawyer that you are considering in order to get a feel for whether or not the lawyer is the right one for you. Your immigration lawyer needs to be someone that you feel you can trust and someone who has your best interests at heart. If you are unsure of this then you need to move onto another candidate.

An immigration lawyer is going to cost you a pretty penny but the best way to look at it is like an investment in your future and that of your family. Sure, you may have to put out a lot of money but you will be able to stay in the country and your family will be able to continue living the life they have come to love. If you cannot find the money to help you pay for your immigration lawyer then you may need to look to other ways to get an immigration lawyer. There are services that can help you to find and obtain the services of a good immigration lawyer for an affordable price. Some of these services are specific to where you are from while others are simply concerned with the fact that you do not have the money to pay for an immigration lawyer.

The sooner you can get an immigration lawyer the better. You need to be able to give your immigration lawyer time enough to plan a good strategy. There are many facts that need to be checked and double checked by your immigration lawyer and you cannot afford him or her to cut any corners if you want to be able to stay where you are. The immigration lawyer that you choose is going to mean the difference between you succeeding in your case and failing.

Even if you cannot afford to pay for an immigration lawyer you need to at least meet with one and get some much needed advice. Getting the proper advice is absolutely vital to your success. If your family wants to stay where they are you are going to need to get as much information from your immigration lawyer as you can afford. This is easy to do and if you have not yet met with an immigration lawyer you need to do it today.
Lawyers HQ: everything you need to know about finding the right lawyer.

Illegal Immigration And The Catholic Church

I am a Catholic. I am also, however, against illegal immigration. I believe that we should clamp down harder on illegal immigrants and we should do more to protect our borders. Churches, whether they be Catholic, Protestant, Jewish or other, however, have a different duty, in society, than governments, police departments and citizens. A church's duty is to help people without regard to the person's past or current standing.

After an interview with Cardinal Mahony of the Catholic Church, the Los Angeles Times reported "In an interview on the eve of Ash Wednesday, Mahony said he planned to use the first day of the Lenten season to call on all 288 parishes in the Los Angeles Archdiocese, the nation's largest, to fast, pray and press for humane immigration reform. U.S. Roman Catholic bishops support proposals for a guest-worker program, legalization of undocumented immigrants and more visas for migrants' families.". The Times further reported that "In his most forceful comments to date, Mahony said he would instruct his priests to defy legislation -- if approved by Congress -- that would require churches and other social organizations to ask immigrants for legal documentation before providing assistance and penalize them if they refuse to do so. That provision was included in the immigration bill recently passed by the House of Representatives; a similar proposal is in the version that the Senate Judiciary Committee plans to begin debating this week.".

Cardinal Mahony stated "The whole concept of punishing people who serve immigrants is un-American. If you take this to its logical, ludicrous extreme, every single person who comes up to receive Holy Communion, you have to ask them to show papers. It becomes absurd and the church is not about to get into that. The church is here to serve people.... We're not about to become immigration agents. It just throws more gasoline on the discussion and inflames people."

In a letter to the Times a reader stated "It is time for the Internal Revenue service to look into the Catholic Church's tax-exempt status. It seems as though Cardinal Roger Mahony is getting involved in politics, and I thought that was a no-no."

I disagree with that reader. I don't believe that Cardinal Mahony is engaging in politics. He was not telling his parishioners what stance to take on illegal immigration, he was simply asking (not odering) his parishes to "fast, pray and press for humane immigration reform" and instructing his priests to continue to provide assistance to people without regard for their immigration status.

It is a priest's duty to assist people. To deny a person the sacraments of confession, communion, baptism, last rites, marriage, etc., or to deny financial aid or comfort in times of need, because that person may or may not be here legally or because that person may not be able to prove that he or she is here legally, would be unchristian and against the spirit of the Church. In my opinion, any priest that would deny aid based on immigration status, would not be fit to be called a priest.

Cardinal Mahony also stated that he disagreed with certain new laws and rules being proposed. I disagree with some of his statements, however this country's constitution guarantees freedom of speech, and I believe that he should be able to vocalise his thoughts and feelings, just like the rest of us. His being a Cardinal should not rob him of his right to free speech. He is not, after all, speaking of treason or hate and he is not stating that God told him to make his statements. He is not stating that God will punish those that do not follow his (Cardinal Mahony) wishes.

Cardinal Mahony advocates immigrant rights and I and many others disagree with many of the rights he advocates, however, he is a citizen of this country and no matter what his position or influence, should have the right to speak out on issues that he believes in. Politicians, celebrities, union leaders, billionairs, etc. all are allowed to speak out. Why should church leaders be prevented from speaking out?

Yes, the government should do everything it can in order to stop illegal immigration. No, churches should not be stopped from caring for their flock and they should not be stopped from caring for someone just because he or she may or may not be a citizen or a legal immigrant. The government's duties and the church's duties are not the same.

David G. Hallstrom, Sr. is a retired private investigator and currently publishes several internet directories including http://www.resourcesforattorneys.com a legal and lifestyle resources directory for attorneys, lawyers and the internet public. For more lifestyle information see http://lifestyle.resourcesforattorneys.com, the Lifestyle directory from Resources For Attorneys.

Immigration-Canada Business Immigration Is Economy Booster

Canada's Business Immigration Plan is a plan started by the Canadian Government to attract experienced people with money in order to boost the Canadian economy.

Prospective immigrants must have a net worth of at least $800,000 and must make an investment of $400,000 in the Canadian economy.

There are 3 classes of Business Immigrants, each with separate eligibilty requirements.

Investors The Immigrant Investor Program (IIP) wants to find experienced business persons and their capital to Canada. The Immigrant Investors must demonstrate business experience and a legally obtained minimum net worth of CAN $800,000, and must make an investment of $400,000 in the Canadian economy. . Entrepreneurs The Entrepreneur Program is searching for experienced business persons who will own and actively manage businesses in Canada that contribute to the economy and create jobs. Entrepreneurs must demonstrate business experience and a minimum legally obtained net worth of CAN $300,000, and are subject to conditions upon arrival in Canada.

Self-employed persons The Self-Employed Persons Program seeks to attract applicants who have the intention and ability to become self-employed in Canada. Self-employed persons are required to have either (a) relevant experience that will enable them to make a significant contribution to the cultural or athletic life of Canada, or (b) experience in farm management and the intention and ability to purchase and manage a farm in Canada.

The province of Quebec operates its own immigrant investor program. All investors in the Quebec program must both be destined to live in Quebec and selected by Quebec. Between 1986 to 2000 most Business Immigrants were from Hong Kong, 7,678 or 39.91% of the total number of Business Immigrants.

How effective has this program been in creating jobs and in bringing investment to Canada? According to Statistics Canada 2000 figures were; full time jobs created 1832, part time jobs created 918.

Canada has an underpopulation problem and has found itself in the same situation as Japan and many European countries. It should actively promote immigration because there is a diminished fertility rate just like in most European countries and Japan.

In Japan things are so bad that only 14% of its population is under the age of 15.

One solution, starnge though it may sound, is to end abortion. Some observers say that if abortions in Canada halted, the population numbers would be above replacement levels within a year.

At present there are 3 categories of Immigrants to Canada: Skilled Worker: This category is for professionals and skilled tradespeople with at least one year of continuous work experience.

This class is the most popular class and is also known as the professional class or skilled worker class and the application is assessed based on a point system. An individual should make an application under this class if he/she wishes to come to Canada based on his/her qualifications, work experience and knowledge of the English or French language. Special provisions apply for immigration to Quebec

Business Class: This category is for managers and business owners with high net worth, and requires an investment in Canada.

This class is also known as the business immigration class. One should make an application under the entrepreneur class and self-employed class if he/she wishes to start a business in Canada. A person should make an application under the investor class if he/she DOES NOT wish to start a business in Canada.

Family Sponsorship: This category is for citizens and permanent residents of Canada who want to sponsor a close family member.

Pierre Trudeau changed Canada's immigration laws and opened wide the country's doors to Africans, Asians and West Indians as part of an attempt to fill its huge, underpopulated hinterland.

The result is that today eighteen percent of the population is now foreign-born compared with about 11 percent in the United States, with little or no debate over whether the effects of such change in culture, demographics and national identity is good or bad.

Only in the last 10 years or so have Calgary, Toronto, Montreal and Vancouver, with one third of the population, become multicultural polyglots, with the towers of Sikh temples and mosques becoming mainstays of the skylines and cuisines and fashion becoming concoctions of spices and patterns that are in the vanguard of globalization.

One of the advantages of this cultural diversity is that the population has become more like Europe and has become more tolerant of different views than the United States. However, gun-related crimes in the major cities are increasing at an alarming rate.

Frank Hague is very interested in Business Immigration http://business-immigration-attorney-fees.info http://www.facts-of-starting-a-small-business.info

Why Does The Republican Party Want To Bury Illegal Immigration?

President Bush has referred to Jim Gilchrist as a "Vigilante." Many American citizens have an opposite view, calling him a Patriot. The vast majority of Republican voters want the problem of a tidal wave of illegal aliens pouring across our borders solved, not swept under the rug! Their reasons for concern range from potential terrorist threats, and fears of the importation of vicious gang violence, as well as the adverse economic impact on wages and employment opportunities of illegal immigration.

Gilchrist is the widely known founder of the Minuteman Project, which has mobilized the participation of thousands of volunteers who have taken up stations along the U.S. border in an attempt to reduce the numbers of illegal migrants crossing the border. Although the Minutemen's direct impact in reducing illegal immigration could be viewed as negligible, there can be no argument as to whether their "watch and report" mission has raised this troubling issue to the forefront of political debate.

Most citizens of California are acutely aware of the rise in violent crime implicated in gang related activities. The state has experienced a dramatic increase in gang violence and "syndicated "crime due to illegal immigration, which has risen to epidemic proportions. The LA Times reported that more than 50,000 illegal aliens with serious criminal records were deported in the last twelve years alone, including untold numbers of gang members.

"One thing is clear, illegal immigration is directly feeding significant increases in felony-level crime and gang-related violence," Gilchrist said. "While the economic consequences of our broken borders have been severe, the alarming rise of crime and violence resulting from the uncontrolled growth of these gangs directly threatens our neighborhoods, our schools, and every aspect of security necessary to our society's well-being," said Gilchrist.

The MS-13 gang, which is comprised principally of Central Americans, nearly all of whom are illegals, has grown to 50,000 members and is increasing. MS-13, with its signature machete executions, is involved in appalling street violence, racketeering, and many other crimes from coast to coast.

What troubles Gilchrist the most is the blind eye cast by Republican leadership towards these crucial issues of illegal "invasion" by foreign nationals, and the security threat it poses to American territorial integrity. Critics inside and outside of the party attribute this lack of political will, code word for "courage," to concerns by some politicians who fear the loss of an emerging "Hispanic voting block" come election time.

Gilchrist, who is a candidate in the upcoming December 6 special election tofill the vacancy in California's 48th Congressional District, blasted the National Republican Senate Campaign for circulating a "Senate Leadership Survey" that omits any questions which refer to illegal immigration or border security.

"How can any survey, which purports to address the major political issues facing America, be taken seriously if it does not include a single question on the issues of illegal immigration or border security?" asked Gilchrist.

The answer may lie in these eye opening statistics. The number of Hispanics now residing in the United States has risen past 40 million, out-numbering African Americans as a potential voting block. Political insiders on both sides of the political spectrum believe that the future of national elections may very well rest in the hands of Hispanic voters. Consider that the winner of Florida, Texas, and California presidential contests could virtually lock up every future election.

Gilchrist believes that 90 percent of illegal immigrants are coming to the U.S. to exploit an economic situation vastly more advantageous than that left behind in their native countries. Clearly, he says, their reasons for coming here are related directly to what is happening socially, economically and politically in their nations of origin. In one interview, Gilchrist targeted Mexico by name stating that, "There is something seriously wrong in a country where half its population is trying to escape." Gilchrist believes it is imperative that strong actions be taken by the governments of countries south of the border to improve the living standards of their own populations. America, says Gilchrist, cannot continue as the economic safety valve for every oligarchy and petty tyranny on earth. We need to stay economically strong, while sustaining America's national unity upon the principles of western civilization.

The 48th Congressional District, located in Orange County, California, is thought of as one of the bastions of the Republican Party. Gilchrist, who is running as an Independent, has shaken the confidence of his Republican opponent, by building strong support among many Grand Old Party members who feel that the party is missing the boat on the issue of immigration.

Is Gilchrist going to be a surprise winner in the 48th District, much like former Governor Jesse Ventura was in 1998? In one of the more unforeseen upsets in American political history, Reform Party candidate Jesse "The Body" Ventura, once a pro wrestler known for his spoiler tactics in the ring, shocked the pundits and his two rivals -- Democrat Hubert Humphrey III and Republican Norm Coleman -- to win Minnesota's governorship. It may be the right time again in U. S. history for an upset by an Independent challenger, this time to create a mandate for stiffening the U.S. border. Only time will tell -- on December 6th to be exact.

Bruce Prokopets, Executive Editor of Press Direct International

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