The New Irish

For the longest time the United States has used Mexican immigration and labor to obtain economic flexibility. Finally, the means has garnered as much attention at the ends. The social and economic issues that have developed due to immigrant worker programs are among some of the most important issues being addressed by our leaders today. Immigration in America has always been a racially motivated issue due to our unique geography. Immigration is defined as “settling in a country to whom one is not native” (Webster’s); however, when an American visualizes immigration he generally sees skin color. Moving from Germany to Austria is immigrating, but in our sense of the word that hardly precipitates any kind of a transition.

Only a generation ago this perception was completely different. Irish, German and Polish workers moved to America’s great Eastern cities to find fortune. This generation would have visualized immigration through difference in language and customs. During this period illegal immigrants were common. Hiding on ships or being smuggled in cargo, persons crossed our border without our government’s permission; however, these small numbers were hardly enough to affect our legislation. Mexican immigration has polarized the electorate and left large parts of America’s population in fear of change.

After the Mexican-American War the borders between the United States and Mexico were finally decided and Immigration, in an official sense, could commence. From the end of the war in 1848 to the Early 1900’s immigration was steady, spiking only during the Mexican Revolution in 1910. Then came WWI and the infamous Zimmerman Telegram. The intercepted telegram from Germany to Mexico outlined a proposed alliance between the two nations. In typical American fashion our response was reactionary and laws were passed requiring a literacy test for immigration. Naturally the test was in English and the success rate was low, effectively restricting immigration to the US.

After the war the borders again became friendly to immigrants. It was not long, however, until the next World War necessitated the immigrants that we had shunned just twenty years earlier. As America entered the second World War our economy was dragged out of the depression and along with it came a massive labor shortage due to the drafting of soldiers. In the wake of the departing workers, the “Bracero Program” was signed into law which brought millions of immigrant laborers to our country (pbs.org). These workers were granted temporary citizenship and allowed to work. That is until the soldiers returned. At this point the workers were required to return their permits and return to Mexico. At this point the term ‘illegal immigrant’ first entered into the American vocabulary. With the influx of Mexican immigrants working cheaply along border towns and in the Southwest the first set of legislation aimed at deporting illegal immigrants was drafted. “Operation Wetback” began in 1954 and continued for many years, deporting a total of almost one million illegal aliens.

The time in which this legislation was enacted is often overlooked. Despite the time lacking distinct physical violence and victims, thousands of legal immigrants were unlawfully deported. Often, “illegal immigrants were deported along with their American-born children, who were by law U.S. citizens” (pbs.org). Citizens of Mexican-American decent were outraged and fair and proper immigration legislation was demanded. What resulted was the Immigration and Naturalization Act of 1965. This act removed placed flexible quotas on immigration to the United States. Even humanitarian efforts were made to clean up immigration including the priority of family reunification.

As immigration progressed in the 20th century, America’s concern with Mexico became primarily economic. Many businesses required labor-intensive work that were not being filled by natural citizens. In response the Migrant Workers Act was initiated and brought thousands of workers across the border into Texas and California. However, just as it happened during the WWII boom, social issues arose having so many temporary and foreign workers in the country. This second round of social issues brings us up to the present and has begun to dictate legislation.

A mixture of economic and social troubles concerning Mexican immigration has not only made it an important political topic, but also a very pertinent issue as pertaining to the individual. Amnesty, language and economic dependency are all issues that have come to define the immigration climate in America. Amnesty is the topic that has dominated the recent news. This is a very complicated subject that has roots in all forums; however, the media has polarized the issue. Are there really no other options besides Amnesty for all or the deportation of all