Calif. Lawmakers Say This Could Be the Year for Immigration Reform - Page 2

^ I agree with you 100%. Other ethnic groups have much to gain from CIR and the DREAM Act, but they are not as vocal as Latino groups are.

This gives off the impression that immigration reform is really a Latino issue, which can spark resentment among on-the-fencers in country already prone to nativism (because of our economic woes and people losing their jobs, savings etc. and looking for someone to take their anger out on)

Ya it's ridiculous. Personally, I'm Russian.. and in our culture people are so up on their high horse and often too embarrassed to say they are undocumented. I think thats the problem, people are scared and embarrassed, ashamed somehow.

Let me add my two cents:

Unfortunately, in this country, you can be undocumented, BUT, if your skin is white and you have colored eyes and light hair (regardless if you have an accent or not) people will immediately assume you're either born here or have the proper documents. Nobody will think you as undocumented.

It's the opposite if you have tanned skin, brown eyes and dark hair. There will always be that split second where they'll think "is he or isn't he documented?" Especially if they have an accent. But that's just my views, and as you can tell, even I fell for the stereotypes.

It all comes down to that: stereotypes, stereotypes, stereotypes.

I should add that I'm Mexican, and that, while my skin color is lighter than average, and people seem to think I was born here, I get annoyed when I tell them of my status and they give me the surprised looked , followed by "are you serious? No! you're joking!!" Why would I lie about that?

It amazes me as well when people talk about undocumented the automatic assumption is off course "Latino." Even Obama has talked about getting Mexico's support to fix the broken immigration system in this country. However, just like someone else pointed out, its not an issue that affects only Latinos, so the president and other people should consider coming together with people from diverse ethnic backgrounds, given that many undocumented people come from different ethnic groups not just Latinos.

Not to be a dick, but it's safe to say that the hispanic population has a higher ratio of being undocumented, especially in the southern border states. Because of the nature of this issue, there's only 'estimated' census data, but it's common sense - the mexican/u.s. border will get crossed by, mostly mexicans.

Another thing to consider is that there always be more people crossing the southern border, than those who have to fly 10 hours via 787 and expire on a temporary visa, which is difficult to acquire in the first place.

That being said, no, I don't think it's ok to generalize all undocumented population as mexicans, because it's simply false. But there is some validity behind the assumption.


Back on thread topic, I doubt Rivera meant it as an ignorant statement, probably just mentioned the latino thing since he could relate to hispanic kids.

im Albanian, and even though i came on a visa, my friends paid $40,000 to come here, fly from Europe to Peru, from Peru travel by bus in Mexico, and from Mexico into the U.S. Not only Mexicans cross the borders...

where ever we are from, we all share the same problem
so, we should be united

Indeed. We all fall in one category.

wow, that's crazy. white people crossing the border. Did they at least see Machu Piccu on the way here?