The Journal

Issue date: 3/22/07 Section: Opinion/Editorial

Breanna Herschelman

New York University's College Republicans held a contest Feb. 22 challenging students to do just that. One student passed as an illegal immigrant by wearing a name tag while the rest of the participants were deemed border patrol agents. Washington Square Park in New York City became Southern Texas for a day while the border patrol searched for the illegal immigrant in order to win a gift card for an undisclosed amount. Hundreds showed up in protest of the activity.


What's wrong with America that we have to play games with what is representing people's lives and their well-being? We as Americans forget that, unless we are Native Americans, our ancestors came here from another country, some doing so illegally.


Americans legitimately argue immigrants could come here legally and they would have no problem. Obviously, it is easier for immigrants to come into the country illegally than to go through the process of legalization. When immigrants see our vastly powerful country putting more aid into the quest for oil than helping our neighbors economically, I can't blame them if they hate us at the same time.


With President George W. Bush signing the Secure Fence Act in October 2006 thinking a fence that spreads for hundreds of miles is going to stop people from getting here, he had better think again.


If I lived in a poor country that had extremely rich neighbors, I would hop that fence in a heartbeat.


Games such as the one played at NYU only exacerbate the problem. It dehumanizes illegal immigrants. They only want a better life­­­­­ - is that too much to ask? Organizing games such as this only further prohibit our society from being accepting and tolerant of different cultures.


Here's what I propose. At Webster, we are a pretty liberal campus. We should show those NYU Republicans, or should I say Future Fascists of America, how we feel and have a day of fence-hopping. We can all wear tags that say "illegal immigrant" and have people waiting on the other side of the Edgar Road fence with open arms. What do you say, Lanz Bañes?


Government spending on border control has more than doubled since 2001. The United States has $10.4 billion budgeted for the 2007 fiscal year, compared to $4.6 billion in 2001. Instead of spending all this money on controlling our borders, why don't we spend it on economic aid to the actual countries in need?


We are not the only country with border control issues. In fact, Mexico has its own border control problems with Central American countries, especially Guatemalan refugees.


"Immigrant" has become such a degrading word in our society. We're not overpopulated; we have plenty of room. Montana alone has less than a million people in its 445,000 square miles, according to the Census Bureau. I'm not proposing the United States force immigrants into a certain state. I am merely pointing out that we have the room.


This world was not made at America's disposal. If we start helping these countries and their people, we would not have to worry as much about protecting our borders.

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