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In 1997, the Republican controlled Congress supported and passed a bill giving refuge to Cubans and Nicaraguans who entered the United States illegally. This is only one year after the GOP platform supported both California's Proposition 187, which has been declared unconstitutional, and denying immigrant children the right to be American citizens at birth. The idea was that the Cubans and Nicaraguans have faced hardships while trying to combat communist regimes. These particular groups also resided in nations where the conflict was actively fueled by American intervention. Because there was a communist threat, these two nationalities deserved preferential treatment.
In the years following that decision, many began to recognize that people also fled war and repression from El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, and Haiti, as well as some European countries. It seems that in 1997, the legislation was considered appropriate for Nicaraguans and Cubans. In 2000, however, the Latino Immigration Fairness Act is viewed as encouraging illegal immigration and is thus considered unnecessary and even detrimental.
The law Congress is considering does some very simple things. It allows the same type of immigrants we allowed to stay in 1997 to apply for amnesty. It pushes back this date to include anyone who has been living and working in the United States since 1986. This means that if you fled El Salvador and have been working and living in the United States for more than decade, you can apply for amnesty. It also says that if you are here legally, but your wife or child is not - that they may stay in the country as they apply for amnesty. Currently, they must leave the United States while they complete the lengthy amnesty process.
We've heard a lot of talk about inclusiveness this year. Everyone wants the Latino votes. While Latinos are wondering if the GOP will concede to policies that Latinos overwhelmingly support, their answer appears to be "No" in this instance. It seems they are willing to actively exclude thousands of hard-working Latinos who want to become citizens.
The Latino Immigration Fairness Act seeks to apply the same logic to Central Americans that was used to allow Cubans and Nicaraguans to apply for amnesty. This is being inclusive. If it was good for one group, it's good for another in the same situation. Otherwise, what criteria are we using? This will allow hundreds of thousands of Latinos who have been working hard in the United States for several years to become American citizens. It will allow those who have been working in situations where they are exploited to stand up for themselves and finally speak out. Families will be able to stay together as they all try to become US citizens . This measure is for the support of the rugged individualism shown by the people who fled war-torn countries to seek better lives for their families. We didn't fault other groups for ignoring our border rules while fleeing desperate situations. The only thing un-American about the Central Americans hiding in exploitable situations is the policy we apply to them -- The same policy we allowed Nicaraguans and Cubans to circumvent just a few years ago.
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