Page Title
Editor's corner/ Over a cup of tea
Heidi M. Pascual*
Publisher & Editor
* 2006 Journalist of the
Year for the State of
Wisconsin (U.S.-SBA)
Publisher & Editor
* 2006 Journalist of the
Year for the State of
Wisconsin (U.S.-SBA)
To immigrate or not to immigrate
Immigrating to a developed country has been going on for centuries, for several reasons, mainly
economic and political.
In the 19th century for instance, migrant Chinese worked in the U.S. railroad system and mines of
California to provide a better life for their families back home. They endured the extreme form of
discrimination by a society that hated skin colors other than white, in order to survive. They were
treated as second-class group of people and were denied citizenship for a very long time. They were
only allowed to come and work to help the country grow and prosper. They were not supposed to be
part of that growth, though, so the old American society institutionalized their segregation as ‘aliens
forever’ through the "Chinese Exclusion Act." The Chinese were expected to leave the country after
their work contracts were over. But many didn’t even have contracts, and many were surely lacking
proper “documents.” As aliens, these migrant workers of the past enjoyed no social services
available to ordinary American citizens, mostly of European descent. Some went back to China, but
most stayed behind and continued to help build the economic base of this country. They formed
enclaves to protect themselves from the ‘outside ‘ thus the emergence of Chinatowns.
Today, we are faced with a similar issue of immigration, particularly from Asian and Latin
countries. Many are migrant workers who work our farms and fields, our roads and bridges, our
hotels, and manufacturing and food industries. Many provide services to nursing homes or as
personal caregivers. When they decide not to go back to their home countries (after their work visas
have expired) to make life better for themselves and their families, they are treated as
undocumented or illegal aliens, and the exploitation begins. Of course, an indefinite number came in
Immigrating to a developed country has been going on for centuries, for several reasons, mainly
economic and political.
In the 19th century for instance, migrant Chinese worked in the U.S. railroad system and mines of
California to provide a better life for their families back home. They endured the extreme form of
discrimination by a society that hated skin colors other than white, in order to survive. They were
treated as second-class group of people and were denied citizenship for a very long time. They were
only allowed to come and work to help the country grow and prosper. They were not supposed to be
part of that growth, though, so the old American society institutionalized their segregation as ‘aliens
forever’ through the "Chinese Exclusion Act." The Chinese were expected to leave the country after
their work contracts were over. But many didn’t even have contracts, and many were surely lacking
proper “documents.” As aliens, these migrant workers of the past enjoyed no social services
available to ordinary American citizens, mostly of European descent. Some went back to China, but
most stayed behind and continued to help build the economic base of this country. They formed
enclaves to protect themselves from the ‘outside ‘ thus the emergence of Chinatowns.
Today, we are faced with a similar issue of immigration, particularly from Asian and Latin
countries. Many are migrant workers who work our farms and fields, our roads and bridges, our
hotels, and manufacturing and food industries. Many provide services to nursing homes or as
personal caregivers. When they decide not to go back to their home countries (after their work visas
have expired) to make life better for themselves and their families, they are treated as
undocumented or illegal aliens, and the exploitation begins. Of course, an indefinite number came in
our society in general, and their businesses, in particular.
According to a study conducted by the University of
Wisconsin-Madison, more than 5,000 migrant workers plus
1,000 dependents, arrive annually in Wisconsin to work in
canning, food-processing and agriculture. Migrant workers
constitute more than 40 percent of all hired employees in our
dairy farms, our top-earning industry. Asians and Latinos
have also started businesses that employ thousands of
Wisconsinites and with sales and receipts that run billions of
dollars. Migrant workers are indeed integral to Wisconsin’s
economy as workers and taxpayers.
In the current immigration debate, we should be analytical
of facts and figures and be reminded of our history as a
nation. While there is a need to “protect our borders” from
illegal entries, it would be impractical, expensive, and wrong
to deport those who are already here for many years but
without proper documentation. Correcting our broken
immigration system should not include punishing those who
have been contributing very well to our economy by sending
them away and “segregating” them into a class similar to the
Chinese workers of old. After all, in the case of our Mexican
brothers and sisters, the U.S.A. had incorporated some parts
of their country, Mexico, into the U.S. map.
The recession in the U.S. has undoubtedly discouraged
further migration from the South. It has likewise curtailed the
migration of more professionals and tech geeks from Asia,
unfortunately. Actually, it has encouraged many U.S. citizens
to leave the country and search for greener pastures
somewhere else. Globalization has encouraged people to
move around in search, not only for better opportunities, but
also for better treatment. While the U.S. has removed many
barriers against people of races other than white, it still has a
long way to go in terms of truly fighting racial discrimination.
The changes brought about by the civil rights movement can
be felt today, but so can the subtle forms of discrimination
behind the smile and promises of equal opportunity for all.
According to a study conducted by the University of
Wisconsin-Madison, more than 5,000 migrant workers plus
1,000 dependents, arrive annually in Wisconsin to work in
canning, food-processing and agriculture. Migrant workers
constitute more than 40 percent of all hired employees in our
dairy farms, our top-earning industry. Asians and Latinos
have also started businesses that employ thousands of
Wisconsinites and with sales and receipts that run billions of
dollars. Migrant workers are indeed integral to Wisconsin’s
economy as workers and taxpayers.
In the current immigration debate, we should be analytical
of facts and figures and be reminded of our history as a
nation. While there is a need to “protect our borders” from
illegal entries, it would be impractical, expensive, and wrong
to deport those who are already here for many years but
without proper documentation. Correcting our broken
immigration system should not include punishing those who
have been contributing very well to our economy by sending
them away and “segregating” them into a class similar to the
Chinese workers of old. After all, in the case of our Mexican
brothers and sisters, the U.S.A. had incorporated some parts
of their country, Mexico, into the U.S. map.
The recession in the U.S. has undoubtedly discouraged
further migration from the South. It has likewise curtailed the
migration of more professionals and tech geeks from Asia,
unfortunately. Actually, it has encouraged many U.S. citizens
to leave the country and search for greener pastures
somewhere else. Globalization has encouraged people to
move around in search, not only for better opportunities, but
also for better treatment. While the U.S. has removed many
barriers against people of races other than white, it still has a
long way to go in terms of truly fighting racial discrimination.
The changes brought about by the civil rights movement can
be felt today, but so can the subtle forms of discrimination
behind the smile and promises of equal opportunity for all.
without proper documentation in the first place, and thousands of them had perished in the process. They braved the dangers of the
southwest desert (including suffocation and death inside cramped container boxes), incarceration and deportation, and the bullets of
border patrols and vigilantes. Some employers use these people’s lack of documents as their leverage in order to make more
profits out of another person’s sweat and tears. They don’t fully realize the economic impact these workers have been contributing to
southwest desert (including suffocation and death inside cramped container boxes), incarceration and deportation, and the bullets of
border patrols and vigilantes. Some employers use these people’s lack of documents as their leverage in order to make more
profits out of another person’s sweat and tears. They don’t fully realize the economic impact these workers have been contributing to