A positive step in the immigration debate surrounding Illinois’ 14th Congressional District took place at a press conference held by Democratic candidate John Laesch on Tuesday morning outside the World Relief Immigration Services office in downtown Aurora. Laesch gave a speech calling on Republican candidate Jim Oberweis to take back his anti-immigrant and pro-national ID card message portrayed in a series of mailings and TV ads recently sent out to district voters. "The idea behind this advertising campaign is to make people so afraid of immigrants that they are willing to cede their civil liberties, the right to privacy and allow for a big-brother solution like a national ID card," said Laesch.
John wrote his own blog on this issue at Fireside 14. He pointed out that the last four soldiers from this district to lose their life while serving our country were all of Hispanic heritage. http://www.fireside14.com/...
The campaign literature sent out by Oberweis states that a national ID card is the best way to provide security for America. But ironically, a white male with a registered address in Sweden is used in the reference photo of what the cards would look like. John made clear that he could see though Oberweis’ attempt to appear politically correct, when it is clear from previous statements that undocumented Hispanic workers are at the heart of Oberweis’ insistence in the ID system.
Laesch also brought up his adversary in the primary, Democrat Bill Foster, who "in some ways even goes further than Mr. Oberweis’ proposal." Laesch noted that Foster’s plan wants all workers in the U.S. – not just immigrants – to carry national ID cards as proof of employment eligibility.
But John was not there to stick solely to the topic of immigration. As he pointed out, his opponents do it enough already. "These ads," said Laesch, "are designed to make people afraid by blaming immigrants and keep people distracted from the real issues like stagnating wages, unfair trade agreements, out of control healthcare costs and the war in Iraq." Laesch rejected the idea that any human being is illegal. "At the end of the day we may have different skin colors, different languages and different cultures, but we all belong to the human race. "
Laesch also pointed out the real disparities between our country and Mexico. According to the World Bank, in 2002 half the population in Mexico was living in poverty and 1/5 in extreme poverty. "Thanks to NAFTA and other free trade agreements," said Laesch, "employers in Mexico are able to take advantage of hard times in Mexico." Although we cannot feasibly absorb, nor are we responsible to fix all of the world’s economic problems, Laesch said that through programs of responsible economic activity on our country’s part, such as insistences in banning sweatshop-made products and the rise in standards of living in manufacturing nations, we can "[embrace] workers’ rights here in the U.S. and abroad." In the 14th Congressional District, John is the only candidate committed to making these vital changes.
Though he supports the rights of those who wish to immigrate to our nation to do so freely, he doesn’t advocate flat-out amnesty or just giving away citizenship. John believes that there should still be an efficient, legal and practical path in obtaining citizenship, one that rewards immigrants though requiring applicants to learn English and passing citizenship tests – goals that will only benefit those moving to our country by helping them in their new jobs and in working with their new fellow citizens.
"Throughout my campaign, I have consistently put forward practical solutions that build unity – unity between workers in Mexico, China and the United States," said John. "Understanding that what happens to a worker in Mexico happens to me, meaning if a sweatshop owner in Saipan, Mexico or China is not paying his workers fair wages, it drags down wages in the United States and at the same time causes people to seek a better life in the United States. "
John closed in reminding everyone that fear of the unknown – a different culture and misunderstanding of the facts - could take Americans down a dangerous path that would force American workers to carry national ID cards. He reminded the media of Ben Franklin’s famous statement; "Those who would give up a little liberty to gain a little security will deserve neither and lose both."
John was joined by several supporters, including Eric Burgos and Bertha Munoz at the conference.