August 5, 2008 11:19 AM
The New York Times has an excellent article today looking at the murder of Luis Ramirez by a group of White teens. The article details the racial divide in the town where the killing took place, one so bad that Latinos pulled out of the local Heritage Day parade because there was so much antipathy towards them. It also examines the lack of connection between local authorities and the immigrant community. This has led to an lack of trust that authorities can bring the killers to justice.
There is also an interesting reflection on the murder by someone from the community.
The beating death of Luis Ramirez is beyond sickening, and should be provoking the same level of outrage and disgust that other similar crimes have evoked.
However, I genuinely fear that the refusal of the federal government to act upon the wishes of the vast majority of the electorate and uniformly and consistently enforce existing immigration and workplace laws will only exacerbate existing tensions, leading to more acts of violence and "vigilante justice". The anger at the grassroots is real and percolating, exploding sometimes quite dangerously into senseless acts of inhumanity like the death of Ramirez.
What blogs such as "Long Island Wins" also fail to mention is how the stridency and in-your-face push for amnesty by pro-migrant groups is serving to further fuel the flames.
As someone who has gone through the "system" I can confirm that the current immigration system is overworked, capricious and flawed.
The wisest solution may be to impose a moratorium on all immigration and adjustments to status while this debate is carried out. If nothing else, it will allow all sides to regroup, rethink and allow USCIS a much-needed "time-out" to catch up with the backlog.
The alternative is for both sides to continue to rachet up the debate and to further fan the flames of intolerance from BOTH camps towards the other...
By Laurie-Anne August 7, 2008 07:09 PM
Laurie-Ann, even though I completely disagree with your description of Long Island WINS, I am glad you have contributed.
I wanted to congratulate you on your recent status and ask what country did you come from.
Now onto addressing your comments. How were these teenagers to know Mr. Ramirez's legal status? By your logic, anyone who looks different is a target for people who can't control themselves, and it is not the violent offenders fault, but the fault of their victim, because "they may be illegal."
Long Island WINS does not promote amnesty...and neither did the immigration reform bill last year. Instead, we focus on practical tools and solutions on the local level that will work for everyone.
While a moratorium "on all immigration and adjustments to status while this debate is carried out" may sounds like a great idea to you, it sounds like a recipe for economic and social disasters to me. While this moratorium is in place, what do you think we should do with people already here? Cetainly, those violent grassroots people you speak of won't be happy and will continue to violent attack and murder those who are here.
Violence is never the answer to anything. To make excuses for those who act in violent ways is a very dangerous line to tread.
By Lisa Votino-Tarrant August 11, 2008 01:17 PM
Actually, Lisa, like most illegal alien advocates, you make huge assumptions and put words in my mouth.
I have never advocated violence against anyone, for any reason. I do not advocate the use of violence against someone based on skin color, perceived ethnicity, what they wear, etc etc...the list is long.
A moratorium is the only sane solution to this entire debate. As for the people here illegally, they can choose to self-deport on their own time line and in control on their situation.
The "reform" bill was not reform but an amnesty.
As a legal immigrant, like most who honored the system and played by the rules, I lobbied Congress in person to tell my story and let them know that "we" (legal immigrants) were firmly opposed to "reform". The time for enforcement of existing laws is long overdue. Hopes for "reform" aka amnesty only serves to bring more illegal aliens hoping that they will be the "exception".
A pro-growth, pro-immigration philosophy is severely misguided. It is sad to me that the US is choosing to destroy its beauty and natural resoures under the mantra of "growth". Very, very sad.
By Laurie-Anne August 11, 2008 11:26 PM
And with respect to Mr. Ramirez's situation: I am not convinced that his death is solely linked to his ethnicity. I think he made a poor choice to engage with a gang of people who were acting irrationally, and with tragic results.
I warn my two teenage boys about this all the time: do not respond or engage with groups in the "mob" mentality. Just try to get away safely. I sincerely wish that Mr. Ramirez had chosen to try and get away safely rather than turn and engage with them. Sadly, it ended in tragedy and two young children are now without a father.
I do not make any excuses for the young men who chose to engage in this act of senseless violence and irrational mob behavior.
By Laurie-Anne August 11, 2008 11:31 PM
I see the light now Laurie....give FAIR my regards. They really should teach their trolls to use their talking points and put them in their own words.
So both bloggers here are illegal immigrant advocates? Show me where? Is pointing out the contributions ALL immigrants make to our economy and culture a bad thing? We talk facts and numbers. We do research...sorry if you don't like the results.
You still haven't shared where you emigrated from...I'd really like to know.
By Lisa Votino-Tarrant August 12, 2008 10:47 AM