IllegalAliens-2.jpg
Our May 5 cover story–headlined “Should Illegal Aliens Get Workers' Comp?”–generated quite a stir, and not because of the content. It was the image with the article–depicting an Hispanic man in a wheelchair with crutches, holding both an American and Mexican flag–that drew reader complaints.


We didn't get a lot of negative feedback–a few e-mails, a couple of phone calls. But those who did respond were upset, angry and offended over what they perceived as NU's message–that the illegal immigration problem is primarily due to violations of our border by Mexican citizens.

Not true, these readers said, pointing out that not all Mexicans working here are undocumented, and that illegal aliens are also coming in large numbers from Central and South America, Eastern Europe and the Middle East, as well as from India and Pakistan.

One reader e-mailed the following, echoing others voicing similar complaints:

“I want to make a comment on the article written by Joan Collier on the week of May 5th. I read the article and it makes sense. I agree that illegal immigration is a hot topic and difficult to resolve. However, the reason for my e-mail, being of Mexican descent, is the pictures of the Mexican and American flags. Is she insinuating that the only illegals in this country are Mexican, or that Mexicans should or are the only ethic group to be excluded? I think she chose a very poor picture to illustrate her article, and in the way it offended people like me who are not illegal.”

Let me clear one point up right away. Our author, Joan Collier, had nothing to do with the choice of image to accompany her article. That decision was mine alone, working with our art department.

I apologize to anyone who was offended by the image. We did not intend to convey the notion that Mexico is the only source of illegal immigrants in the United States.

However, since Mexico is our closest neighbor, and since the U.S. government is busy building a wall along our common border to stop the flow of illegal immigrants into this country, it was the first image the popped into my mind.

Of course, illegal immigration is rampant and involves people from dozens of countries and scores of nationalities. Perhaps it was unfair to single Mexico out. We did not mean to insult anyone, only to illustrate a major national problem that will be a huge issue in the upcoming presidential election–one with insurance implications, at least from a workers' comp angle. That's what the article addressed.

(To read the article, click here.)

For the record, I am in favor of a sensible immigration reform program that recognizes the reality that millions have made lives for themselves here, and become productive members of our society and economy. There should be a way to legalize their status without resorting to mass deportations–which would be both impractical and immoral–while continuing to welcome workers from abroad with badly needed skills, as well as energy and new ideas.

This country has always had a love-hate relationship with immigrants. Many fear they are taking jobs from citizens. Others dislike the cultures they bring with them.

But the fact is this country was built by immigrants, and we owe our cultural vibrancy to our willingness to shrug off whatever differences brought along from the “old country.” It is one of our chief competitive edges in this global economy.

Another fact is that we'll need more immigrants–lots of them–to keep our economy sound and growing. With our Baby Boom having long since gone bust, and with our workforce aging rapidly, where else will we get the people we'll need to expand economically and keep the Social Security system afloat?

As the first-generation son of a Polish immigrant who escaped fascism and came to the U.S. via Ellis Island, and as someone who sees the Statue of Liberty every day on my subway ride to work, I have always been sympathetic to the plight of those seeking a better life here.

Living in New York–a thriving and constantly shifting immigrant community–has only deepened my belief that part of being an American is opening the door to welcome new people into the country.

While our borders cannot be left wide open, and we need to keep track of who is coming and going, there has got to be a better solution than demonizing those who, like my own ancestors, came to the U.S. seeking relief from political oppression, discrimination or poverty.

A recent cartoon in The New Yorker sums it up best. It shows a group of Native Americans on the shore watching as a boat load of pilgrims approaches. “They certainly look undocumented to me,” one observer says to his fellow.

What do you folks think?

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