So yesterday I wrote a rather hasty post about something I saw on the nightly news. You know that experience where you know something is wrong, but then you have it confirmed, and it's like a double pissed off whammy? That was what I had last night.
I mean it's obvious that the LDS Church holds a great deal of power of the legislators who are members, but when I heard the dude say that the only way to get the government to do anything was to get the Church behind you, it just blew my mind.
Anyway, I also took issue with a statement from Mr. Mark Shurtleff's office, the Attorney General, who was encouraging the LDS Church to weigh in on the Immigration issue.
I'll be completely honest here... I don't care for Mr. Shurtleff's politics one bit. He strikes me as the typical hypocritical politician who knows the game well, and plays it well too.
That aside though, I think Mr. Shurtleff deserves some praise for his newest Immigration initiative.
Here's my opinion on Immigration first...
As an immigrant myself, it really gets up my nose to think about illegal aliens, especially after I've probably paid upwards of $8 grand into the immigration system, in order to attain my US Citizenship.
That said though, I was very lucky. I married an American Citizen, and so even though it was pricey, I had a way to begin the process.
The rest of the world likes the idea of the American dream. The idea that with a little hardwork and some initiative, you can achieve whatever you want. I suspect that this dream is in serious danger, but that is irrelevant right now. There are people in the world currently living under corrupt regimes, who like the idea of the American dream, and yet they have no way to go after it legally.
Immigration processes need to change. I don't favor the mass deportment of all illegal immigrants, not do I necessarily condone their entering the US illegally, but they didn't really have any options and I get that. It's a sucky position to be in.
That is why I really like the new idea that Mr. Shurtleff is proposing. You can read more about it here. Basically he's trying to work out a way to allow people to come in legally and get a taste of the dream.
Mr. Shurtleff... Two thumbs all the way up from me!!
In engaging the LDS Church, I suspect Mr. Shurtleff is trying to sway public opinion as well... The Church has kind of indicated they would prefer not to deport all illegals either - goodness knows, that many of them are serving as leaders in local Church units!! And while I hate the idea of one old man wield power over hundred of thousands of mindless minions, perhaps if he did come out in favor of a better solution, it could help ease it's introduction. I don't like the means, but I do think the outcome would have a positive effect. As to whether it's worth it... I still don't like it, but it's a tricky situation.
Chino Blanco posted some more info over on Main Street Plaza, including a very interesting article debunking many myths about illegal immigration. It's well worth a read -> here
I think it depends on which country you are immigrating from to a great extent. I don't know if you were even allowed in the country right when you got married, but not every one is lucky or bestowed with a smooth transition by the grand ol' usa.
ReplyDeleteMy brother married a Brazilian girl down in Brazil last November. His visa ran out in December so they've been separated since then because the American government STILL won't let her into the country, even though she is legally married to my brother. It's been about 8 months since they got married. And it's kind of getting ridiculous. :P
I think country and place of marriage likely both play into it. I came over on a visitors visa, and got married prior to it expiring. I then applied for a green card based on that, which took over 2 years to get, but in the mean time I was granted a temporary working visa.
ReplyDeletePerhaps had I not been physically in the US, they would have made me wait for the green card to finish processing.
Good Luck to your brother and his wife... Immigration, even when it kind of works is still a huge pain in the butt. I wasn't sure about going to whole way to naturalization, and having to renounce my foreign citizenship, but the idea that I would have to keep dealing with immigration until I did was a HUGE motivating factor.