This blog was originally a place where I posted on wildly disparate topics. The only connection, it seemed, was that the topics were of interest to me.

For quite some time, I have been disturbed by the rabid anti-immigrant sentiments which have seemed to have gripped the American people. I do not believe that this has been an accident. Rather, the flaming of anti-immigrant passions seems to have been a deliberate calculation by right wing extremists to consolidate power by dividing Americans on this issue. They have used the full power of their propaganda organs until now the issue has, predictably, taken on a life of its own.

The immigration debate is fraught with many lies, distortions, skewed “statistics”, and logical fallacies. This is not surprising. What is surprising is how few resources are devoted to providing a rational counterbalance to the shrill emotionalism of the right. Tragically, too many on the left adopt parts of the extremist anti-immigrant platform in an effort to appear “moderate”. Thus, it is not uncommon to hear so-called liberals arguing for strong enforcement of the U.S./Mexican border in an effort to gain some concessions (typically some form of amnesty program) from the right wing extremists.

The problem with this strategy is that it concedes the underlying argument of the radicals: it concedes that “illlegal immigration” is a problem that needs to be addressed, that in some way the migration of these immigrants is harming us and needs to be stopped.

It is my contention that this is a false premise. I should, however, qualify this in some respects, because I do not wish to appear naive. I acknowledge that, as currently structured, illegal immigration has caused some problems. But closer analysis is helpful in understanding that these problems are not inherent to immigration, but rather are a result of bad policy.

The descriptive word “illegal immigrant” contains two ideas. The first word, “illegal” is a political distinction by which we categorize people into two groups. One of these groups is of a legally inferior status and cannot legally pay many taxes, benefit from many programs and licensing requirements, or work in legitimate jobs. They are thus denied the basic infrastructure needed to support their needs, and the results of this second-class status are felt, albeit somewhat less than by the immigrants themselves, by those in the legally privileged class.

The second part of the term is the word “immigrant”. This word describes the fact that they have left their country of origin and migrated to the United States. My point is that all the problems of “illegal immigration” are caused by their second class status as “illegals” and not by the fact of their immigration. The solution, therefore, is not to get rid of such people. Rather, the solution is to equalize their legal standing and thus end the caste system.

When so-called liberals speak about enforcing our borders, they are giving legitimacy to the law. But our immigration law is bad law. It is precisely the law that has created the problems. The law needs to be changed, it does not need to be enforced.

That, then, is the position of this blog. Along the way, relevant issues will also be addressed: neo-liberalism, globalization, job migration, drug policy, among others. This blog tries to see immigration within its larger sociopolitical/historical context.

I hope you find the resources on these pages to be helpful. As always, I am available to address your concerns, comments, and suggestions at kinghippy@gmail.com