Si me voy

[cyrano]

I am once again exposing my White Privelege. Because I need somebody to explain in small words something about the immigration issue. I understand why many in labor feel that the guest worker plan is a bad one--the idea that a corporation can basically blackmail employees by threatening to fire them and get them deported if they do anything inconvenient. But in an article I read today, UNITE HERE president Bruce Raynor says "There are 12 million undocumented people living here, who are important to the economy." So far, so good. I understand that. "They have a right to seek employement, and employers have a right to hire them." This is where I get confused. 'Undocumented' often means that they're in the country illegally, which I think would restrict some of their rights.
I don't understand the idea that somebody has gained entry to the country by breaking the law and therefore should be allowed to stay because they're already here. As a left wing socialist, I feel like I'm missing something.

Comments

[eyelessgame.livejournal.com]

What part of "illegal" do these [gay, illegal] people who want to [work, get married] not understand?

[cyranocyrano.livejournal.com]

Oh, no, I understand the desire to change a law that you think is bad and misformed. But I think that working to change the law by breaking it and trying not to get caught is not the most optimal method. I'm not certain exactly how I would work to try and get the law changed from, say, Ireland or Laos or Mexico, however.