By Jim Heffernan
This is an excellent book written by a man who immigrated here from Uruguay in 2000, riding on a student scholarship and visa. He pursued his education earning a Ph. D in business and became a naturalized citizen in 2010. He is a professor and Wharton School of Business and has researched immigration for 20 years.
I was drawn to the book because my experience with immigrants told me that a lot of what I heard about the menace was not true.
In the early nineties, I wanted to learn to speak Spanish. Regular classes taught me the grammar and the vocabulary, but not the ability to actually communicate. I thought if I volunteered as an aide in English as Second Language (ESL) I would learn to speak the language.
I was in my late 40’s and I was never able convince my brain to make the changes needed to adapt to another language. I did meet many Hispanics and Chinese who impressed me as wonderful people. One of them now is a local restaurant owner.
The book is divided into 2 parts with six chapters each. The first part deals with the economic questions of immigration. The second part deals with the social questions of immigration. I found his treatment of the subjects even-handed and honest.
The author also talked about people who came here for the dangerous, dirty, and demeaning jobs that support key sections of our economy.
Some of them snuck over the border, but most entered on visas that allowed them in for a limited time. Many of them stayed beyond the limit of their visas and became “undocumented” Most of the undocumented immigrants have been here for ten years or more.
I agree with the author that the biggest problem with immigration is our outmoded methods for dealing with it. Immigration is, and always has been, a positive influence on our development as a nation.
Immigration has been a hot item in this last election. Immigrants have been portrayed as a menace and mass deportations have been promised by the winning side. I’m hoping it becomes another empty promise that was used to gather votes. Immigrants are vital to our food and construction industries. We’ll miss them sorely if they’re gone.
As always, discussion welcome at codger817@gmail.com
307 Pages (47pages Acknowledgments., Notes and Index), Published June 6, 2024 Available at Cloud and Leaf Bookstore, Manzanita and Tillamook Public Library
