For a nation that has relied heavily on contributions from immigrants ever since its founding in 1776, the United States of America can't seem to figure out if allowing them into the country without documents is a good or bad thing. History books point out how this country treated Chinese railroad workers once their labor was no longer needed, how Mexican braceros were welcomed for their work during World War II but treated as second-class human beings, or how thousands of U.S. citizens were swept up and deported under Operation Wetback in 1954.
Last Thursday, the U.S. Supreme Court added to this country's schizophrenic treatment of undocumented immigrants when it upheld an Arizona law that penalizes businesses for knowingly hiring undocumented workers. The court said federal legislation does not prohibit states from requiring employers to use the federal E-Verify system to check on the status of workers.
Although many constitutional law experts believe the court's ruling is very narrow and does not tip what the court will do when it rules on Arizona's even more controversial SB 1070, the anti-immigrant crowd is jubilant.
"We're going to put the profits-before-patriotism crowd in the back seat," said Arizona state Sen. Russell Pearce, the Republican who lobbied for SB 1070. "I'm very confident we'll win a 5-4 or possibly a 6-3 decision," he said. "States have never been pre-empted from enforcing federal law."
Texas Congressman Lamar Smith, chairman of the House Judiciary Committee, praised the court's ruling. "Not only is this law constitutional, it is commonsense. American jobs should be preserved for Americans and legal workers."
Someone forgot to tell Smith that Americans and legal workers largely left grape picking, landscaping and other low-paying jobs a long time ago.
On one hand, we welcome and enjoy the fruits of undocumented workers. On the other hand, we want to forget that they even exist. That they are sub-human and deserve nothing for their contributions but swift deportation.
This country does not want to learn from its past, and it is the undocumented immigrant who has helped to build this country who will suffer the consequences.