Immigration
By: Amanda Noble
Suppose someone from another Country assumed Maine is from Canada, wouldn't you be bothered by this. This has happened to me not just only from another country but, also when visiting Florida. I was annoyed that they would think that I was part of a country that I was not.
Argentinians are sometimes referred or put into the category of Mexicans, mostly because they speak Spanish. However, a lot of people speak Spanish yet, they are not from Mexico. There are people in Northern Maine that speak more French than English and they are still considered Mainers.
Immigration Population
The number one Immigrant population into Maine is Canadians, according to the Center for Immigrant Studies. Argentinians are not even in the top 15 and neither are Mexicans. In the Country Argentinians are the 31st immigrating to the Unite States, so why are mainers caught up into the immigrant reform battle? They're only Canadians right? Where does Maine stand on Immigration Reform and how could Argentinians be hurt or helped if new immigration laws were to come into effect?
MPA- Maine People's Alliance
MPA immigration click for link
MPA brings companies, organizations, and individuals together to bring social and economic issues to the public eye in search or answers to better the lives of those in the states. Some of their projects are passing environmental bills that limit toxins and mercury in our water and oceans, they work with the Maine Freedom to Marry Coalition and helping to stop TABOR along with many others. Their current project includes immigration laws that create immigrants as people not just numbers or a quota. They want to give immigrants rights along with equal opportunities to become citizens, protect families in the United States, not all families are 2 immigrant parent households some are 1 immigrant and 1 citizen families and those families have no rights to be kept together, last they want to expand civil and human rights.
Argentinians here in the Unites States are low-income workers usually laborers. If fees were raised by the government again then the possibly that someone making below minimum wage to about $8 an hour affording to become citizens is too low. And yes immigrants in Maine make below minimum wage because of the fear of being deported and losing their job is greater than the fear of turning a boss in. Another problem is that there are so many 1 natural and 1 immigrant family structures in this state that to make things harder on immigrants will actually hurt citizens. We, as a people in Maine, need to rethink immigration reform and how it can hurt or help people.
My Story Real Quick
My Husband is from Guyana, it's technically part of the Caribbean although confused as being part of Latin America. We are currently going through the immigration process. Until he got his green card he could not work. We also have three children. I was told that I am supposed to make up the lost income that he was unable to earn and DHHS could not help us financially until he got his new green card in. By denying his chances to work our Government created a subclass that technically did not exist because the people were undocumented and therefore do not exist.
What are our Governments priorities and interests in keeping immigrants from becoming citizens? How does these laws affect Argentinians or even your families when they came to the United States, unless you are 100% Native American you are from an immigrant family.
Center for Immigrant Studies Website
By: Amanda Noble
Suppose someone from another Country assumed Maine is from Canada, wouldn't you be bothered by this. This has happened to me not just only from another country but, also when visiting Florida. I was annoyed that they would think that I was part of a country that I was not.
Argentinians are sometimes referred or put into the category of Mexicans, mostly because they speak Spanish. However, a lot of people speak Spanish yet, they are not from Mexico. There are people in Northern Maine that speak more French than English and they are still considered Mainers.
Immigration Population
The number one Immigrant population into Maine is Canadians, according to the Center for Immigrant Studies. Argentinians are not even in the top 15 and neither are Mexicans. In the Country Argentinians are the 31st immigrating to the Unite States, so why are mainers caught up into the immigrant reform battle? They're only Canadians right? Where does Maine stand on Immigration Reform and how could Argentinians be hurt or helped if new immigration laws were to come into effect?
MPA- Maine People's Alliance
MPA immigration click for link
MPA brings companies, organizations, and individuals together to bring social and economic issues to the public eye in search or answers to better the lives of those in the states. Some of their projects are passing environmental bills that limit toxins and mercury in our water and oceans, they work with the Maine Freedom to Marry Coalition and helping to stop TABOR along with many others. Their current project includes immigration laws that create immigrants as people not just numbers or a quota. They want to give immigrants rights along with equal opportunities to become citizens, protect families in the United States, not all families are 2 immigrant parent households some are 1 immigrant and 1 citizen families and those families have no rights to be kept together, last they want to expand civil and human rights.
Argentinians here in the Unites States are low-income workers usually laborers. If fees were raised by the government again then the possibly that someone making below minimum wage to about $8 an hour affording to become citizens is too low. And yes immigrants in Maine make below minimum wage because of the fear of being deported and losing their job is greater than the fear of turning a boss in. Another problem is that there are so many 1 natural and 1 immigrant family structures in this state that to make things harder on immigrants will actually hurt citizens. We, as a people in Maine, need to rethink immigration reform and how it can hurt or help people.
My Story Real Quick
My Husband is from Guyana, it's technically part of the Caribbean although confused as being part of Latin America. We are currently going through the immigration process. Until he got his green card he could not work. We also have three children. I was told that I am supposed to make up the lost income that he was unable to earn and DHHS could not help us financially until he got his new green card in. By denying his chances to work our Government created a subclass that technically did not exist because the people were undocumented and therefore do not exist.
What are our Governments priorities and interests in keeping immigrants from becoming citizens? How does these laws affect Argentinians or even your families when they came to the United States, unless you are 100% Native American you are from an immigrant family.
Center for Immigrant Studies Website
Wow. This is a montage of helpful information. I like the snip-it style of your post and that it links us to so many other resources.
ReplyDeleteThank you for sharing your story and raising the issue of immigration. I must confess that I find this issue confusing because there is so much about immigration that I don't know. For example, I am unfamiliar with what it takes to become citizen or what rights immigrants have at various stages in trying to become a citizen. I do appreciate the issues you raise about how difficult it becomes to try to become a citizen and make your way in this country. And I think you raise a very good question when you ask what our current policies say about our country's priorities regarding immigration.
ReplyDeleteI just want to say that I think human rights should apply and be respected regardless of what country you are in. I think with the resources available in this country that there is no reason we should be denying people basic human rights. it personally angers me.
ReplyDeleteThank you for sharing your story with us. It really sickens me that someone actually said you need to work more to make up for the money your husband is currently not making, (because he isn't allowed too!!).
ReplyDeleteAlso, I have learned a lot about the immigration process. There is so much I never thought of it before.
Thank your for sharing with us.
I just wanted to thank you for sharing your personal story. I remember when my father was sworn in as a US citizen. It was so exciting and confusing. He also dealt with issues having me while he wasn't a citizen yet.
ReplyDeleteThere is so much to learn about immigration. Some students in the multicultural center on campus have been advocating for immigrants in Maine to have voting rights toward local issues. The argument is that immigrants still have to pay taxes but don't get a say about how that tax money is used. Immigration is a very important and sometimes overlooked issue!