Global Business Perspectives

I attended a very interesting event today at the Dearborn Inn today for the Detroit Economic Club (DEC).  The Honorable Julie Myers, Assistant Secretary of Homeland Security for U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) spoke about the enforcement of our immigration and custom laws: leveling the playing field for law-abiding companies. 

As I sat there listening to her speak about the hard line the government is taking on immigration, I couldn’t help but think about the humanity of the people who spent the only money they had to cross the border into this country illegally.  Their stories are not black and white.  They are of desperation and survival.  I can only imagine what it would take for me to leave my country, my family, my language, my culture and everything I have ever known for a country that prosecutes illegal aliens. 

There is an entire business centered around moving humans across the border.  For some this can take 5 months time.  They live in jungles, do not eat, face robbers and the notion they may be hurt.  For many women this means being raped.  All for the land of opportunity.  When they arrive, they are kept underground, forced to do illegal things, fake paperwork, they can’t claim the taxes they pay (often times paying more than the citizens of this country pay), and are often marginalized with absolutely no voice. 

I know there are laws, I respect the law, but that doesn’t mean I lose all compassion for those that are very like our ancestors coming here for a better life for themselves and their families.  I think we need to have immigration legislation that reflects the reality of where we are today.  We cannot forget how lucky we are to have been born American citizens with given freedoms and opportunities. 

I wonder if the people coming to this country looked more like us and talked more like us if we could deny their humanity like we do today?