Immigration - Mixed Messages

As we all know, immigration continues to be a hot-button topic across the country. In California, there has been a great deal of controversy and attention on a state proposal to allow undocumented immigrants to receive a drivers license. The author of this proposal, State Senator Gilbert Cedillo, has introduced this measure as a means of providing thousands of immigrants with the ability to legally drive to and from their jobs. Opponents to this proposal have cited "homeland security" as one of their primary concerns, claiming that it will make it easier for terrorists to gain legal identification in the U.S. Yet, despite attempts by Cedillo to include strict background checks and other security measures in the proposal, it continues to draw an enormous amount of scrutiny and opposition.

But let's be honest.....the real reason for the hostility toward this measure is because it recognizes and to some degree legitimizes the presence of undocumented immigrants in both California and the United States. Our friends on the right want immigrants to remain in the shadows...not seen and definitely not heard. They do not want to acknowledge our dirty little secret....that we are dependent upon immigrant labor. California's ranks first in food and agricultural production in the United States, and accounts for approximately 50% of the nation's fruit, nut, and vegetable production. The workforce for this $100 billion industry are overwhelmingly Mexican immigrants, many of whom are undocumented. California's enormous service industry economy is also fueled by immigrants, who work in restaurants, hotels, and office buildings.

Now, where is the outrage against the business community for hiring these workers? The fact is that we like paying low prices for fruits and vegetables, and no one wants to spend 12 hour days in the hot sun picking fruits for below minimum wage.

The drivers license bill shines a huge spotlight that, whether you like it or not, immigrants are a part of our society. Worse yet, they refuse to accept the reality that immigrants are not the economic drain that they perceive them (and probably hope) for them to be.

To allow someone to legally drive to a job we all depend on them for is a small price to pay. We can't have it both ways folks. Unless the Republicans want to pick up a hoe.