The Democrats have put all their immigration eggs in the basket of the Dreamers, feeling like they’ve found a position supported by the majority of voters. And to a certain extent, they’re correct. They’ve even gotten some Republicans to go along with a DACA package, provided some concessions to border security needs are made at the same time. But in the illegal alien community, everything isn’t quite so rosy. There are far more illegals out there who didn’t qualify for DACA than those who did, and they’re feeling left out.
The L.A. Times features one such individual this week, and he apparently speaks for many more. Sam Paredes entered the country illegally from Mexico more than thirty years ago and has always been hoping there might be some sort of program to allow him to attain citizenship, even though he’s been working here illegally all that time. But that hasn’t worked out since all the attention is focused on the DACA recipients and he was far too old to qualify for the program.
| Because the New York resident came too long ago, he did not qualify for immigration relief under the Obama-era Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program, better known as DACA. Now he watches as the White House and Congress continue to grapple and negotiate and argue — but at least talk about — the future of the so-called Dreamers. “I’m very bitter. These DACA kids definitely have this sense of entitlement,” Paredes said. “People fought for them and they got DACA and they got their work permit and then they went to sleep, instead of working to fight for the rest of us.” |
The “DACA kids,” as Sam calls them, clearly do have a certain sense of entitlement about them. Not having to fear the arrival of ICE agents at their door (at least until next month, anyway), they’ve been on television, participating in marches and begin feted by cable news outlets as the next great hope for America. Sam is obviously correct in the other part of his assessment because you rarely hear any of them saying much about the other ten million or so illegals who weren’t lucky enough to join in on the DACA bonanza. This has led to a split in that community.
Arthur Schaper at Townhall finds the infighting on the left to be endlessly fascinating and revealing of some deeper problems in their coalition.
| This divide among the different pro-amnesty factions, the Democratic Party, and the illegal aliens is fascinating, and ultimately working in the President and the American people’s favor. All along, I wagered that President Trump was not throwing away his campaign promises on immigration enforcement. After all, Republicans need their base now more than ever, and Republicans right now are not as motivated as the Democrats, still a potent, enraged force. The President enticed the center-left coalition with a pretty generous deal, but they have turned it down, and now are turning on their more reasonable leaders. |
Arthur makes several fair points, but I think we’re once again missing out on the larger divide which has existed for some time. This current food fight is between two different groups of illegal aliens. The real dispute worth noting is the chasm between immigrants who came to this country legally and those who ignored the rules and snuck in but are now being offered a free pass. Making it through the naturalization process isn’t easy. It was never supposed to be easy. But the rewards can be immense.
How do you suppose some of these legal immigrants who spent years and considerable amounts of money on legal fees feel about the Dreamers being given a pathway to citizenship? Perhaps even more to the point, do you think they’re feeling all that charitable toward those who illegally entered the country as adults? If they put in the time and effort to do it the right way, why should these illegal aliens be getting a pass?
Funny, you never see any interviews on CNN with “heroes” like that, do you? If the media wanted to spend the time to get out in the community and talk to some of the folks who followed the law and are now either citizens or hold green cards, they might get a bit more perspective.
