Migrant Workers and Expatriates

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"If the universal visa is extended

the day we are born

and terminates at death

why are they chasing you "mojado"

if the consul of heaven

has given you permission"

Lyrics taken and translated from the original song "Mojado" by Ricardo Arjona

Although barriers against migration are one of many topics that concern us as Latin Americans, and especially, Colombians, countries that impose them certainly have some right to do it and look for certain benefits with them (as much as that hurts me to say it), but many times they go beyond human behaviour and use them as an excuse to mistreat some of us.

In todays topic, I would like to mention some barriers (either physical or symbolic) used to stop migration, to later on discuss some arguments in favour and against them.

Just to keep in mind, please watch the following video. Its lyrics are very deep and I think many of us have close relatives or personal stories that can relate to what Ricardo Arjona says in this sad but true story.

 Some good examples of physical barriers to immigration are:

• The big fence and wall built by the United States on its border with Mexico to keep out latin immigrants, especially from countries such as Mexico, Guatemala and Honduras.
• Although some see the Great wall of China as a historical monument, some say that it represents today a barrier against immigrants coming in from Mongolia and parts of Siberia.
• Greece is planning to build a huge fence on its borders with Turkey, in order to avoid illegal immigration from Africa and Asia.

Some examples of symbolic barriers are:

• The famous embargo placed by the United States on Cuba.
• Spain, in our case as Colombians, is one of the top five destination for migrants. This country is seen and known as one of the most resentful against immigrants. We have witnessed many attacks in that country on fellow Colombians and people from other latin countries as a sign of protest and unacceptance.
• The statue of liberty is probably the best example of them all. It simbolizes freedom upon which that country was created, but today it can only be seen as a tourist site.
• The Darien gap, as many of us know, is a natural barrier that limits Colombia from Panama. Many people think that the US promotes its preservation so much because it is a huge lung for the planet and has a big biodiversity (yeah right, a country that doesnt even belong to the Kyoto Protocol could believe such a thing); what we really dont know is that the US interests on it is to avoid creating more access for more immigrants (stating that it would be a lot easier for people in South America to pass by land) to get all the way to the "land of the free".

  

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Why could I say that im in favour of them...

• Because it assures nationals progress and development given that they can have less immigrant competition. For example, they dont have to worry about an immigrant taking a job that they could occupy, just to get paid half as much.
• Because the barriers limit people from moving from their national countries and goverments could at least try to figure out why their people are leaving. In the end, it could create certain pressure on the goverment to react to the countrys problems.
• Brain drain, which is a huge problem for developing countries, could be reduced (or maybe fully stopped), so eventually these people would have to find a way to survive where they live and give back to the development of their country.
• Transnational problems such as drug cartels, enslaving, prostitution, crimes, and so on could be eventually reduced.
• Consciousness is created in the people trying to pass these barriers; they can learn that life is unfair (as harsh as it sounds, but still true) and that life isnt about taking the easy way out.

But why I oppose to them...

• People are treated as animals and are victims of over empowerment of some agents (In my personal experience living in the United States, I have seen videos of many mexican families running through the desert on the frontier with Mexico and being shot at).
• Opportunities are denied to those who deserve a better chance in life and that probably wont be granted in their national country.
• -Being myself very religious- I think that God intended to create a planet where everyone and everything on it was an owner, but apparently, we are "victims" to the land we were born on.
• High migration levels (lets say from Colombia to Spain) make the country and the rest of us look bad (if everyone us leaving the country, why would I like to go there?) to the rest of the world, reducing in a long term tourism, FDI and so on.

To the readers, some final questions for you to reflex on:

...are you a slave of your country? do you blame your country for who and what you are? would you be happier if you wouldve been born in another country? Think about it...

 Bibliography

•  Daily mail reporter, january 2011. Greece follows U.S. example by building giant border wall to keep out illegal immigrants. Mail online. Accessed 28/04/2011. http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1343885/Greece-follows-U-S-example-building-giant-border-wall-illegal-immigrants.html
• Manali, Oak. Pros and Cons of immigration. Buzzle.com. Accessed 28/04/2011. http://www.buzzle.com/articles/pros-and-cons-of-immigration.html
• HispanicPundit, 2010. Two arguments in favour of immigration. Hispanic Pundit. Accessed 28/04/2011. http://hispanicpundit.com/2010/07/29/two-arguments-in-favor-of-immigration/

Images

1. Accessed 28/04/2011. https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh290kdJ6dqu-gRh323vRlgagkfcflzqt7zVxgKinYUWQImZ7dD6gbg4qKTspl36fY8NrtHAkqpFC6rJvUxMLG4Er-QehST_QKfQwZDHJsTxGFYb1qfGvz4FiRIRuUIRjDT2v4Q4cn1TTF5/s1600/immigrationQ-7680632.jpg
2. Accessed 28/04/2011. http://www.newbedfordguide.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/10/Political-cartoon_on_immigration-tsunami-statue-of-liberty.jpg

Videos

• Arjona, Ricardo. Mojado. Accessed on 28/04/2011. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t3oYA9IV6Bs