Hm. Visas and Immigration
I'm rather surprised by the fact that renewing a Student Visa, or procuring a Student Visa with the appropriate credentials is a relatively easy and painless process for Canada. Securing a work visa or something that helps one move towards a permanent residency card is not quite as easy however, which is admittedly a shame.On one hand, I can understand why they would have such a stringent system. I often wonder if that is by and large part of the reasons why Canada doesn't have as much in the realm of an issue with regards to illegal immigrants. The government seems to put more stock into watching its own borders after all.
With regards to the situation in my birth country, I am of two minds. On one hand, I can see the necessity of the felony status. If someone is caught as an illegal immigrant under this, and should it happen to be a felony, it makes deportation an immediate process. There isn't any lengthy holding procedure - and method by which said individual would go missing for any particular length of time. I see the guidelines as something by which the people can hold the American Government accountable. Because as it stands, due to the Homeland and Security issues, many illegal aliens who are caught are often interrogated, go missing, and treated as a terrorist threat - which I find to be inhumane. If the new guidelines were to prevent something like this occurring, then - I think I would have no choice but to support something like this.
On the other hand however, I was born and raised in Texas. Spanish is my second language - and a language which I started learning words from around the age of 3 or 4, through the help of my father. The whole of the Southwestern part of the United States belonged to Mexico at one point. This, some 200+ years ago. I feel like that over the years, specifically over the last 100 - the local governments of the states in this region have done their damndest to ignore the rich cultural heritage provided by this. The Mexicano dialect of the Spanish Language, in its various forms was the dominant language of the region for some time. So I find it in some ways utterly ridiculous that people are so insistant about keeping borders so very separate.
Having at one point been in a relationship with someone whose brother was a Border Patrol officer that had been told by his boss to do nothing, so they could demand more money from the Federal Government, tells me that the program doesn't require more funding. It requires people who are honest and not going to abuse the system in the manner with this individual chooses to do so.
The United States came about because of immigration, because of people wanting to make a better life for themselves. Needless to say I can't help but stare at the people who would put at end to by and large a legacy that has made the nation what it is. The only real way to stabilize the immigration from Latin America as a whole would be to encourage the election of honest officials whom we a.) don't have in our back pockets and b.) would take the necessary steps to improve the economic well being of said country. Loans upon loans to Mexico will do nothing if it is governed by a corrupt administration who does nothing but fritter it away. Strengthening the borders will do very little to squelch the desire of people who truly want a better life. And for that, I suppose I am glad and relieved. Strengthening the country economically speaking, and helping it become more of a competitor on the global market is really the only long-lasting solution to the current issues facing the region.
Just some of my thoughts on the matter.
posted by Meg @ 3:39 PM
Comments: 1
