The Internet was awash this week with debate over the polemic Arizona law.
The Facebook page “1 MILLION Strong AGAINST the Arizona Immigration Law SB1070” touched 900,000 members at press time and around ten new comments were being added every minute. One by Janet Ramirez explained her love for the United States and her unfortunate position of not having legal papers.
Follow up messages between this reporter and Ramirez shine light on an essential flaw in U.S. migration law and why a substantial national reform is needed.
“I’m like India Maria. ‘Neither from here, nor there,’” writes 25-year-old Janet Ramirez, who can’t put up a Facebook profile picture in fear of being found out. “I was born in Mexico and moved to Chicago when I was only eight years old. I grew up in this country. I went to school here.”
Continues Ramirez: “I was manager of a family clinic for four years until my boss found out about my status and fired me. Now I work in a restaurant waiting tables. It’s quite depressing to not be able to continue working in something I like.
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“I’m so tired of being discriminated against. I’m as American as the governor of Arizona. This is home to me and many children of illegal immigrants, even without a green card.”
This reporter then asked what would happen to her if the “Migra” pass by her work today, tomorrow or in the near future.
“If they came they would deport me,” says Ramirez. “It would be like they’re sending me to China. I don’t know Mexico. It makes me depressed to think of leaving this country … my country.”
And if Ramirez’ parents had taken her instead to Arizona as an eight-year-old? In less than 90 days the former clinic manager could be sent to jail for a maximum of six months and fined up to 2,500 dollars.
There has to be a better solution.
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