WHEN I shared through this column what undocumented Filipinos in America may expect from a Trump presidency — and that Trump should recalibrate his message against undocumented immigrants so he will not be misconstrued as condoning violence against them — I got different reactions from kababayans from different walks of life.
Here are some of them:
Unfortunately, there are people that approved violations of the laws as long as it will be in their favor. Even our Almighty God has laws that we are required to follow. But many violated and ignored both laws. That includes Obama who hates our country. We will always hear violators complain. The truth is — the public became tired and exhausted watching their country destroyed. Get ready for judgment day. Yes, Filipinos should be concerned if Trump wins. They are the biggest violators and not afraid to try their chances of getting away. – Marilyn Patacsil
We Filipino-Americans should be concerned about [it]. It’s terrifying how some people can excuse the kind of racism that’s being put forth. Trump’s pronouncements surely have reached those who have hate in their hearts. It’s alarming that the same people who say they are pro-life and say they are Christian have no problem saying things against and even threatening their fellow human beings. – Yong Chavez
Am not a fan of Trump but I like the way he opens the debate on ILLEGAL immigrants…Trump need not to be POLITICALLY correct like most people [in] the media like you… Illegal immigrant ordered freed by feds now suspected of murder in Ohio…Killed in her sleep: Illegal immigrants suspected in Mass. grandma’s death faced deportation…Have you ever reported the “KILLING IN CALIFORNIA by an illegal immigrant”? NO…So let’s be fair…Did you ever mentioned that Obama never mentioned the killings by [an] illegal immigrant in the USA, NO —That’s Obama immigration policy…
Only the “politically correct” media or persons misconstrued all speeches of candidates they don’t agree with, let’s be fair. – Ehbhong_Tubao
The Migrant Heritage Commission, an immigrant rights advocacy group in Washington DC, released this statement:
“Thank you, Mr. Trump, for bringing back Immigration once more into the national consciousness and headlines. You have reignited debate on immigration and reenergized both pro-immigrants and anti-immigrant groups. Indeed, Donald Trump has hit on a theme that soundly resonates with voters.
For immigrants and the silent majority who are citizens of this great nation, the issue of immigration brings back that deep paternal and maternal feelings from within of what it means to be an American. At the end of the day, when we examine our core value as an American, whether native or naturalized, we ensconced ourselves to the foundational principle that “America is a Nation of Immigrants.” It was before, still now, and will always be.
Unfortunately, Donald Trump’s proposed immigration policy is so Un-American and racist in its philosophical foundation and orientation.
Even Mr. Trump’s ancestors including his great grandfather of German stock and grandmother of Scottish Origin would have been disqualified on Mr. Trump’s proposed immigration policies. Mr. Trump’s ancestors including his parents came to America in dire need. And because of harsh economic realities of life, just like millions of Hispanic, Asian and African immigrants, they look at America as a “dreamt of destination”. To look for a better life for their families in the new world.
Mr. Trump’s basic immigration principles to make America great again i.e building a wall at the Mexican and American borders, ending birthright citizenship and mass deportations of the more than 11 million undocumented immigrants and now the seizure of remittance monies of undocumented immigrants will cause irreparable damage not only to US-Mexico relations but as well as other Latin American countries , Asian and African countries that will be directly impacted by Mr. Trump’s nativist and inhumane immigration policies.
No matter how you look at it, under Mr. Trump’s proposed immigration policies: families will be destroyed, a complete waste of taxpayers money, impractical and unrealistic (building a wall) and the constitutional principle enunciated in the 14th Amendment referring to “birthright citizenship” which has been part of the US Constitution for the last 150 years will be put to naught.
America cannot go back to the decades of historical racism and oppression and resurrect the guiding legal principle in the infamous Dred Scott case decided by the US Supreme Court where black slaves and their descendants were disqualified by their own blood from enjoying the rights of citizenship. We have to remind Mr. Trump, that this is AMERICA, A Nation of Immigrants, and children born here regardless of ancestry are automatically citizens. Mr. Trump’s ancestors from Europe benefited from the immigration policies of this country and so should children of Asian, African and Hispanic ancestry born in the United States of America.
To all the Presidential Candidates: Words matter. Political correctness matter. For months that we have been inundated with “Trumpism”, that even “babies”, “kids” born in this country are being branded now as “anchor babies”, (Most recently, Mr . Jeff Bush unwittingly connected the term application to “Asians”), what we have seen so far is the lack of respect to human dignity and that all of us are bound by the common thread of humanity. We cannot allow these candidates to simply entertain us while at the same time they are fueling bigotry and racism.
We want to hear how our broken immigration system will be fixed. The adoption of Comprehensive Immigration Policies that embraced the principles of family unity, economic opportunity, equality and humanity. These are the American core values that even Mr. Trump’s great grandparents and parents fully embraced.”
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Gel Santos Relos is the anchor of TFC’s “Balitang America.” Views and opinions expressed by the author in this column are are solely those of the author and not of Asian Journal and ABS-CBN-TFC. For comments, go to www.TheFil-AmPerspective.com, https://www.facebook.com/Gel.Santos.Relos
How could you be a citizen of this country when the first thing you do when you decide to live in it is to break its laws?
As for the 14th Amendment, the circumstances when this amendment was first enacted is totally different from what is happening today. The more reason as suggested by a founding father to amend the constitution every 20yrs so it could keep up with changing times.
Take Mr. Vargas as a Filipino example, he was given an education courtesy of the American taxpayers. What he should do with that education is go back to the Philippines and campaign for a presidential candidate that would end the corrupt political culture so future Filipino children won’t have to endure what he went through.
So illegal immigrants, you’re out of here!!!