The Unbearably Sniffly Plight of Guatemalans without a Scam
12/01/2008
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Here's a sob story with above-average arrogance and stupidity: it concerns the unhappy state of poor Hispanic foreigners who can't wangle a legal way to immigrate: [Immigration policy: Law gives many no shot at U.S., Des Moines Register, November 29, 2008, by Tony Leys].

As if immigration were some sort of universal right.

As Steve Sailer has pointed out, there are five billion persons on this planet who live in countries poorer than Mexico; most of them would like to come here, given the chance.

Many Guatemalans considering immigration to the United States have two choices: Try to sneak into the country illegally or stay home.

Marilu Cabrera, a spokeswoman for U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, said most unskilled workers from Guatemala and similar countries have no practical way of legally immigrating to the United States. The exceptions would be for those who have immediate family members already living here legally, or for those who would take temporary jobs at employers who prove they can't find other workers.

"You do need that sponsorship. You can't just decide 'I want to live in the United States,'" said Cabrera, whose federal agency helps coordinate the supply of permits.

Even if they had immediate family members here legally, would-be migrants from Guatemala and most other countries would have to wait four to 11 years for a visa, Cabrera said. People from Mexico could expect a longer wait, because of the huge demand from that country, she said.

The rules have not stopped Guatemalans from making the trip, however. The country, which is about three-quarters the size of Iowa, has about 13 million people. Federal experts estimate about 500,000 are living in the United States illegally. By comparison, only about 18,000 Guatemalans obtained permanent-resident permits, or "green cards," last year. Only about 8,000 became U.S. citizens.

Big surprise — they newbies are not interested in becoming Americans. It's money that they love.

Where I live in overpopulated California, Alameda County already has mandatory water restrictions, and the rainy season is not starting out well — the Oakland area has received only half the normal amount of rain so far. Water supply alone means that the billions of Earthlings who might wish to move here cannot. Not to mention the other issues of sovereignty, infrastructure, employment, schools, healthcare and social comity.

Oh, and what the citizens want. Americans want immigration to be legal, controlled and reduced.

Persons living in poor countries should avail themselves of strategies like microlending, because America can't rescue the unhappy billions. See my blog item, Microlending Creator Says His Strategy Outshines Immigration.

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