The Politics of Immigration

An Associated Press story on Friday, August 25, 2006, reported, "Many migrants from El Salvador received the temporary status after a devastating earthquake struck the Central American country in 2001. The temporary protection allowed those already in the U.S. to work legally. Their status must be renewed annually, and Sept. 1 is the deadline.

But Saca is concerned that with all the discussion about U.S. immigration reform, some Salvadorans living here may become complacent and decide not to renew their status in hopes that Congress will approve a broader change to U.S. immigration law that would put them on the path to permanent residency.

'If they don't register for this program, they will lose their immigration status and will get an order for deportation. Then they won't be able to apply for future programs that might lead to a permanent residency, so it is very important that they renew,' said Rene Leon, El Salvador's ambassador to the U.S."

Such issues are critical for a country in which 16% of the GDP and 91% of the government's budget come from remittances or monies sent back to El Salvador by immigrants. Such numbers should not be surprising when between 10 and 40% (depending on the study you consider) of the population has emigrated.

During our July mission trip, we encountered numerous folks who had family members who had emigrated, mostly to the United States. We heard one story about an attorney in San Salvador whose service to others had earned him various awards. However, he often took on the cases of folks who couldn't pay or could pay only a little. He emigrated to the United States where he can now make enough money to send some home. He works though not as an attorney but as a janitor. Then there were the stories about teenagers trying to reach the United States and who paid "coyotes" - people smugglers - to get them across the U.S. border. They paid whether they were successful or not. Many times such efforts result in prison for those who immigrate illegally. All of their efforts, all of their beings, everything they are about becomes focused on emigration. So they move from the frying pan into the fire.

Immigration has been a hot political topic in the United States recently. I suspect that will only increase as we move towards mid-term congressional elections and look towards the 2008 presidential election. On every side of this issue there are passionate feelings and intricate arguments. So often though it seems as if it is turned into an either/or argument. Is there some other path?

I raise that question because what struck me during our trip to El Salvador is that emigration is depleting that countries greatest resource. Given the percentages of GDP and governmental budget, it is not surprising to hear Salvadoran political leaders advocating for the renewal of the temporary protection status of immigrants in the U.S. They depend upon the immigrants to fund their economy. What saddens me is to see a situation in which the government of a country is raping its own people in order to continue in power. Hopelessness cannot help but become a serious problem in such a situation.

I have to wonder if there isn't another option, another path to travel with regard to this issue. Is there some way that El Salvador's economy can be strengthened so that people there have some sense of hope? Is there some way to make some changes in order that families are not broken and essentially living in a situation in which spouses, parents and children, or siblings may never see one another again? How do we, individually and collectively, participate in some other option or different direction?