Sindawe:
You mentioned sending money back to Mexico. So many of them do it, in fact, that money sent from Mexicans in the US is Mexico's second-largest source of income!
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i think that is true with every wave of immigrants sending money back home
my wife is an immigrant
one more thing to note i truly believe the immigration process was a hell of a lot easier 60-150 years ago
and just to clarify my position i wish they would stop illegal aliens cause there presence has a negative effect in my career path as far as wages are concerned (along with my dissappearing benefits)
compare this from 1870 ellis island to what the prcedure is now
Group One Immediate Arrival
The ferry landed in a slip next to the main Ellis Island building. A gangplank was put down and a man was at the bottom shouting that men should go one way and women and children the other. The immigration official would examine them for admission. The newcomers came off their ship with their baggage. Their outer garments were tagged with their manifest number from the steamship, a card often seen in photographs. After they walked into the building they went directly to the Baggage Room. where they were told to check their belongings. Many chose to carry their belongings with them because they were afraid of theft.
Group Two The Medical Inspection
It is their job to observe the immigrants as they walk single file up the grand staircase that led to the second floor Registry Room. As they made their way upstairs, medical officers observed their movements in what became known as the six second exam. They were looking for any obvious deformities or medical problems. Experienced inspectors were able to take in six details in one glance; namely, the scalp, face, hands, neck, gait and general condition. If anything unusual was noted, the immigrant would be stopped and a closer examination would be done. Next, came a more formal inspection. One of the most famous exams was for the eye disease known as trachoma. Examination was done with a buttonhook, a metal instrument used to button gloves. It was used to pull the eyelid back to exam for signs of this infection. Immigrants with medical problems were identified by marking their outer garments with white chalk. Abbreviations were used for the various problems, H for heart problems, Pg for pregnancy, E for eye problems, L for lameness . The intelligence of the immigrants was tested due to laws that had been passed excluding "idiots, imbeciles or morons and other mentally deficient persons." Students should be told that it was not always easy for medical examiners to test for mental deficiency. Students should be reminded that answers to questions asked by examiners might indicate just being stressed and nervous rather than from mental deficiency. It was often times very difficult to make the correct diagnosis. Immigrants who had obvious symptoms of mental or physical problems were sent to the examination room. Here, they would receive a more detailed examination. If they passed the examination they would be sent back to join the main group, If they did not pass, they would be held on the island in separate dormitories until they were cured so they could enter the United States. Immigrants not cleared for entry were deported back to their country of origin.
Group Three The Legal Inspection
After the medical inspection, the legal inspectors asked a series of questions already posed to the immigrants by the shipping companies. The inspectors asked the same kinds of questions to see if the answers matched.
The inspector would be assisted by interpreters when needed and a registry clerk recorded their responses. Immigrants were told that it was to their advantage to show letters from friends and relatives already living in the U.S. The questioning only lasted two to three minutes, but to those involved it probably seemed like forever. Immigrants who gave answers that were questionable were then sent to a special inquiry board. The boards of inquiry were independent tribunals. Their decisions were final and not subject to court review. Inconsistent responses might result in further examination. The objective was to exclude people who might become public charges, act immorally, or cause social unrest. The following questions are from Do People Grow on Trees by Ira Wolfman. These were typical questions asked by inspectors:
1. What is your name?
2. How old are you?
3. Are you married or single
4. What is your calling or occupation?
5. Are you able to read or write?
6. What is your nationality?
7. Where was your last residence?
8. Which U.S. seaport have you landed in?
9. What is your final destination in the U.S.?
10. Do you have a ticket to your final destination?
11. Did you pay for your passage over? If not, who did?
12. Do you have much money with you? More than $30.? How much less? More?
13. Are you going to join a relative? What relative? Name ?Address?
14. Have you ever been to the U.S. before?
15. Have you ever been in prison? in a poorhouse or supported by charity?
16. Are you a polygamist?
17. Are you under contract, expressed or implied to perform labor in the U.S.?
18. What is the condition of your health?
19. Are you deformed or crippled? .
