NationStates Jolt Archive


USA Immigration - A question.

AB Again
06-06-2006, 05:07
I understand that a lot of those wanting tougher treatment for illegal immigrants are concerned about their lack of English Skills.

Now I don't know if the adverts on Jolt are triggered by IP address or not, but just in case, I have grabbed a screen image.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v722/Alienborn/greencard.jpg

If the USA wants English speaking immigrants, why doesn't it advertise in English for them? (This advert is in Portuguese)
Tropical Sands
06-06-2006, 05:08
I understand that a lot of those wanting tougher treatment for illegal immigrants are concerned about their lack of English Skills.

Now I don't know if the adverts on Jolt are triggered by IP address or not, but just in case, I have grabbed a screen image.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v722/Alienborn/greencard.jpg

If the USA does not want Spanish speaking immigrants, why does it advertise in Spanish for them?

There isn't any US policy against Spanish speaking immigrants. The big hype today is about illegal immigrants, who sneak across the border from Mexico. Their language, or the fact that they are immigrants isn't the issue. The issue is that it is illegal immigration.
AB Again
06-06-2006, 05:10
There isn't any US policy against Spanish speaking immigrants. The big hype today is about illegal immigrants, who sneak across the border from Mexico. Their language, or the fact that they are immigrants isn't the issue. The issue is that it is illegal immigration.

I know that the problem is officially that they are illegal, but I was directing my query to those posters here that have complained about the immigrants not speaking English.
Tropical Sands
06-06-2006, 05:11
If the USA wants English speaking immigrants, why doesn't it advertise in English for them? (This advert is in Portuguese)

Oh damn, you changed it on me. Anyway, the US wannts immigrants from all around the world. In fact, its much easier to immigrate legally from Mexico than someplace like, say, China. Language isn't a particular issue. It just doesn't want illegal immigrants.

I mean, isn't this an ad for passports and visas? It isn't an ad for how to run across the border without getting caught.
AB Again
06-06-2006, 05:12
Oh damn, you changed it on me. Anyway, the US wannts immigrants from all around the world. In fact, its much easier to immigrate legally from Mexico than someplace like, say, China. Language isn't a particular issue. It just doesn't want illegal immigrants.

I mean, isn't this an ad for passports and visas? It isn't an ad for how to run across the border without getting caught.

Sorry. I only changed it because i realised at the last moment the ad was in portuguese, not Spanish. As I said above, language may not seem to be the issue for you, but many posters have clearly stated that it is an issue for them.
The Nazz
06-06-2006, 05:14
There isn't any US policy against Spanish speaking immigrants. The big hype today is about illegal immigrants, who sneak across the border from Mexico. Their language, or the fact that they are immigrants isn't the issue. The issue is that it is illegal immigration.It's funny you mention the whole "sneaking across the border" bit, because it turns out nearly half of them came in legally (http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/nationworld/sfl-65visoverstays,0,6335655.story?coll=sfla-newsnation-front) and never left.

MEXICO CITY -- Millions of illegal immigrants in the United States never jumped the U.S.-Mexico border where Congress wants to erect impenetrable walls and President Bush is sending National Guard troops to patrol. They never sneaked in at all.

The little-acknowledged reality is that nearly half the estimated 12 million undocumented foreigners in the United States entered on bona fide U.S. visas -- and simply never left. Authorities call them "overstays" who have been largely overlooked in the vitriolic debate on immigration.

"The southwestern border gets all the attention, but it's staggering the number of people who come and overstay their visa," said Dean Boyd, a spokesman for U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement in Washington. "It's a very large-scale problem."

There's more, but you get the drift. No wall in the world is going to stop those people.
Tropical Sands
06-06-2006, 05:14
Sorry. I only changed it because i realised at the last moment the ad was in portuguese, not Spanish. As I said above, language may not seem to be the issue for you, but many posters have clearly stated that it is an issue for them.

Right, I wasn't thinking about that. Language is a problem for lots of people in the US, I hear that argument too. I think its mostly xenophobia, as there aren't any real strong arguments against multi-lingualism in the US.
Good Lifes
06-06-2006, 05:14
The common guy on the street argues for English. Immigration isn't driven by him. Immigration is driven by big business that wants to pay slave wages. They don't care if you speak Klingon if you are willing to work for the lowest pay possible. By importing labor they create a supply and demand situation that keeps wages at the lowest possible level.

Notice they don't import college degrees. That would be competition for those at the top.
The Nazz
06-06-2006, 05:23
The common guy on the street argues for English. Immigration isn't driven by him. Immigration is driven by big business that wants to pay slave wages. They don't care if you speak Klingon if you are willing to work for the lowest pay possible. By importing labor they create a supply and demand situation that keeps wages at the lowest possible level.

Notice they don't import college degrees. That would be competition for those at the top.
They do, actually--they're called H-1B visas, and they bring in all kinds of tech people from India to fill them. Then they turn around and shop the jobs out to India and pay a fraction of what it would cost in US wages.