More than 20 people showed up at Grace United Methodist Church Tuesday evening for an immigration forum.
Melinda Lewis, who is the director of policy advocacy and research for El Centro, an organization based out of Kansas City, Kan., said she is part of the campaign for comprehensive immigration reform, which is a coalition of several groups including faith-based groups, immigrant organizations and community organizations.
Throughout the evening, Lewis spoke about several issues. The dialog was presented in English and Spanish. Members of the Emporia community spoke as well to offer their experiences with immigration in Emporia. The first thing Lewis talked about was family reunification or family-based immigration. She told the group to imagine that she was a green card holder and a permanent resident of the United States from Mexico. She said she had a 9-month-old son and husband in Mexico. Lewis then asked the group to estimate how long it would take her to get her family to the U.S.
“Assuming everything is in order, it will take nine, 10 to 11 years,” Lewis said after several people underestimated the length of time it would take.
Lewis said applications are still being processed from 1992 for people seeking to get their siblings into the United States.
“We have family values in the U.S., but we have an immigration policy that forces families apart,” she said. “We say we have value immigrant families, but then we say you can’t see your 9-month-old son until he’s 10 or 11.”
Lewis also talked about the question of what to do with illegal immigrants.
“The Congress is basically centered around two extremes,” Lewis said.
Lewis said the two extremes are amnesty or mass deportation on the other end of the spectrum.
“There are very few voices that are at those extremes,” she said.
Lewis said a couple of options are on the table right now including a path to citizenship and a guest worker program.
“Recent polls indicate that 70 percent of the American people believe there has to be some kind of middle ground,” she said.
Maria Landeros has lived in Emporia for 37 years. She spoke to the group about the way immigrants are treated. Landeros said she was able to come to the United States from Mexico because her older brother was a U.S. citizen.
“Before, it was a bit easier to get residency,” Landeros said.
For the past 25 years, Lewis has been helping people in Emporia, including acting as a translator, she said.
“I care a lot about the Hispanic community,” she said. “I am a person. I am a human being. It hurts me how they are getting treated by other people. We’re getting treated like animals.”
Landeros said everyone is a person, regardless of legal status.
“If somebody is lying in front of me, I don’t bend down and ask them if they’re legal,” she said.
Lewis commented on Social Security, saying that immigrant workers who have social security taken out of their checks cannot ask for that money back.
“$463 billion is sitting in Social Security,” she said. “The federal government kinda laughs all the way to the bank with their $463 billion.”
Lewis said there must be a way for people to become citizens and help them become fully involved in the community.
During the question-and-answer portion of the forum, one member of the audience asked how immigrants are going to help the U.S. economy when they send billions of dollars home each year. Lewis didn’t disagree with that point. She said immigrants are still contributing to the economy by the purchases they make and the cost they have to pay to send money home.
“Money transfer fees stay in the U.S.,” she said.
Lewis said that it’s not just one group being hurt by immigration laws.
“The current economy is hurting everybody,” she said. “It’s hurting businesses, it’s hurting immigrants. It’s hurting U.S. citizens. We’re the most developed county, surely there is a better way.”
A question was asked about how much money is spent on schooling for immigrant children. An audience member said that immigrant children are getting more money than U.S. citizens.
“It’s not money that goes to the student,” Lewis said. “It goes to the school district. It goes into services needed to help that kid.”
Lewis said it takes more money to educate a child who’s second language is English.
Pastor Mic McGuire, pastor of Grace United Methodist Church, called on Emporian and recent city commission candidate Jesse Solis to answer a question. McGuire said he doesn’t speak any Spanish and asked Solis if the information presented in Spanish at the meeting was the same as the information presented in English. Solis said it was.
Solis also said he was pleased with how the information was presented.
“These young ladies have come here and talked and showed that it is possible to assimilate,” Solis said.
goliberal (anonymous) says...
you ARE a snake.
May 9, 2007 at 5:38 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
4Jayhawks (anonymous) says...
I think the poll should have been a bit more specific.
Do you think the government should change the laws to make it easier for immigrants WHO CAME INTO THE COUNTRY LEGALLY to attain citizenship? I vote yes.
If they sneak across the boarder and cheat the whole system then no is my vote.
May 9, 2007 at 8:33 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
daveedailey (anonymous) says...
I am fine, if they come here legally and learn the English we speak and do not flaunt the Mexican flag, etc in our faces. If they want citizenship, make them go through the channels, just like anyone else. I really believe that those who come illegally and have their babies here should be sent back. These are usually the same people that we working Americans end up supporting. Let them get jobs at Hopkins in Mexico (haha)
May 10, 2007 at 10:45 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
blulitespecial (anonymous) says...
"Immigrant" is used a lot in the article.They left out the"illegal"part.If the people described here came from the ex-Soviet block or the Mideast,this meeting would have been held at Leavenworth or GTMO.
May 10, 2007 at 1:06 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
cyberspace (anonymous) says...
Immigration policies did not force that imaginary family apart. That mother made a choice to leave her family behind. She could have easily made the choice to stay and fight for a better life in her own country with her family at her side. As a husband and father, I could not leave my family behind. We would have to to tough it out together.
Why don't we talk more about improving conditions in the countries these people are coming from? The cause of the problem needs to be fixed to stop the bleeding.
May 10, 2007 at 9:34 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
daveedailey (anonymous) says...
Cyberspace, I agree with what you say, except I do not think it is up to us to improve the conditions in their countries. We have enough to improve upon in the USA. It seems there is more help out there for the alien than a true American. Why is it so difficult for the American to get help when needed than the others?
May 11, 2007 at 10:41 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
barbara61 (anonymous) says...
I cant believe the remark about the Mexicans being treated badly. Is she blind ? These people are living better than legal Americans. The hand outs for them and there 10 kids per family , which includes FREE !... Medicaide , Hud , Food Stamps, Cash Asst. , Wik, and Free Education and free breakfast and lunch while at our schools getting that free education on an Americans back. We are paying for all of your luxuries in life with higher taxes on our property every year. The way I see it we dont ow you nothing but a kick out of our country. Your children born here doesnt make you a legal citizen and it should not mean that it is your free ride in OUR country. Millions of our kids are without insurance in America. When did it become ok to neglect our own people to take care of people that dont belong here. We have become weak because we are to busy supporting everyone but our own AMERICAN PEOPLE. Mexico has millions of our dollars being sent there, That is totally wrong, there not poor there goverment is stealing it and sending more illegals here to make this country Mexico. Most never even try to learn the language here even after 10 years, They dont feel they have to. Our taxes paid to teach there kids english so they will know how to fill out the forms to get FREE, FREE, FREE, If you work at the beef we all know you pay in little in taxes and take much more from us in our services that are for Americans in need AND hmmmmm How do you afford a carpayment of 600 and up for a 40 thousand dollar SUV when you bring home maybe 1000 a month. They have that freedom because there cost of living is being paid by us the Americans. We all feel real sorry for you and how bad your being treated. When anyone speaks about them they get labeled a racist. Get real.. we have a problem with you free riding our system into the ground. It has nothing to do with skin color thats there excuse to stay here. Come here legally and then you will have rights to whine until then you dont have any .
May 11, 2007 at 8:56 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
blulitespecial (anonymous) says...
It seems the leaders of the "illegal movement" have taught them to scream racist first,loudest,and most often.Because there is no defense after that.If I came across the southern Mexican border,and used the excuse that I'm just a poor white guy lookin' for work- I'd get a bullet.There was a big prostitution bust up in KC with a Chinese connection.Where were the groups like El Centro? Oh- I see,you have to be a certain color of skin.One more thing- we did try help Mexico improve things 45 years ago.President Johnson floated the scheme that we open US factories in Mexico,the big international banks get their money right off the top,and Mexico can lower their debt.It didn't work then.Ain't workin' now.The people of Mexico have to change their own country.
May 12, 2007 at 8:25 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
imgone (anonymous) says...
What gives these illegals the right to come to our country and hold rallys DEMANDING rights, freedom, healthcare and education. If you think you are getting cheap labor, think again, we are paying dearly. I have moved from Emporia [aren't you glad] it's sad to see the path it has taken. I couldn"t take any more loud 'gobble, gobble, gobble' language and loud music. It's a completely lifestyle where I am now and I love it.
May 17, 2007 at 5:28 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
imgone (anonymous) says...
What gives these illegals the right to come to our country and hold rallys DEMANDING rights, freedom, healthcare and education. If you think you are getting cheap labor, think again, we are paying dearly. I have moved from Emporia [aren't you glad] it's sad to see the path it has taken. I couldn"t take any more loud 'gobble, gobble, gobble' language and loud music. It's a completely different lifestyle where I am now and I love it.
May 17, 2007 at 5:31 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
barbara61 (anonymous) says...
What the hell is happenening to our country & our goverment. There thinking is out of wack . Start worring about the taxpayers you f####### as#####s.
May 17, 2007 at 6:23 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
daveedailey (anonymous) says...
You actually think they will get paid decent wages at Tyson??? That is why they are here! Tyson can pay them low wages, little benefits, no union. DAH!!!
May 24, 2007 at 11:44 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )