Why Arizona’s immigration law should concern all minorities – It’s attracting support from members of some non-Hispanic minority groups. Here’s why they should reconsider
By Who counts as “us” and who counts as “them” has shifted throughout modern American history. For decades, African-Americans were “them,” judged to be members of an inferior race and denied basic rights. In the aftermath of 9/11, “us” and “them” were reshuffled as Muslims and those perceived to be Muslim were targeted and labeled “the other.” Now, with the passage of Arizona’s new immigration law, which enables police to demand papers of anyone “reasonably suspected” to be an illegal immigrant, Hispanics face significant ostracism.
Members belonging to “them” groups are profiled, harassed and subjected to discrimination, all on account of their appearance. Despite these common experiences, meaningful solidarity among the groups has not always followed. For example, while black organizations have criticized the Arizona law, it appears that African-Americans on the ground approve of or are ambivalent about the law. These attitudes not only compound Hispanics’ isolation, they also undermine social justice more generally.
Arguments that illegal immigrants compromise public safety by engaging in criminal behavior, “take” scarce jobs from legal residents, and impose enhanced burdens on public services without contributing to tax revenues can resonate with non-white Americans. And the Arizona law undoubtedly advances the goals of addressing illegal immigration and its attendant externalities. But for minorities who might be tempted to embrace the new law, this cure is worse than the disease. Here are some specific reasons why all minorities in America — an African-American in Baltimore or Muslim in Detroit, for example — should care about and speak out against the immigration law facing their Hispanic brethren in Arizona:
Tags: Arizona, immigration
Short URL: http://tinyurl.com/2dkbrn8
