Nassau News

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The issues of homeland security and border protection have been a popular topic of debate among the 2008 Presidential candidates. In 2004, President George W. Bush began planning for an immigration reform that would create new laws to help control immigration issues in America. The plan was to allow immigrants temporary access to the country as workers. According to a CNN.com report in January 2004, the key points of the plan were, “Workers in the United States illegally can join a temporary labor program, those workers then can apply for permanent U.S. residency, but they will receive no preferential consideration, employers hiring these workers must show they cannot find U.S. laborers to fill the jobs, these undocumented workers get guaranteed wage and employment rights, these workers receive a temporary three-year visa, renewable once, they are expected to return to their countries once their visas expire, Congress will be urged to increase the current annual limit of 140,000 green cards, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security will administer the program.”

Most recently, border protection has been the highest concern among government officials. On Jan. 28, 2008, President Bush addressed these issues in a State of the Union Address.

”America needs to secure our borders -- and with your help, my administration is taking steps to do so. We're increasing worksite enforcement, deploying fences and advanced technologies to stop illegal crossings. We've effectively ended the policy of "catch and release" at the border, and by the end of this year, we will have doubled the number of border patrol agents. Yet we also need to acknowledge that we will never fully secure our border until we create a lawful way for foreign workers to come here and support our economy. This will take pressure off the border and allow law enforcement to concentrate on those who mean us harm. We must also find a sensible and humane way to deal with people here illegally. Illegal immigration is complicated, but it can be resolved. And it must be resolved in a way that upholds both our laws and our highest ideals.”

An South American Immigrant's Plans
Francisco Lopez is a 23-year-old student and Fortunoff employee from Ecuador. Lopez moved to America in 2002 for school. Lopez now attends Farmingdale State where he is taking classes as an Electrical Engineering major.

“I like living in America.” Lopez said. “I like the culture, how diverse it is. Schools are better here than they are in Ecuador but after I get my degree, I plan to go back to Ecuador.”

When asked how he would feel if the government had only granted him temporary access to the country as part of the “Temporary Worker Program”, Lopez said he was not in favor.

“I came from Ecuador six years ago. The reason I came to this country was to get my degree.” Lopez said. “I wouldn’t come to this country if they only allowed me to stay for a few years; otherwise I would have stayed in Ecuador to finish my degree. That’s the reason I came to this country, for my degree and after a few years I am thinking to go back to Ecuador.”

Hempstead resident Francisco Lopez speaks with Nassau News at the Source Mall in Westbury, Long Island.

An Asian Immigrant's Thoughts
Meehyun Perozzi, who declined to be on camera, had similar views. Like Lopez, Perozzi came to America from Korea when she was 20 years old. She earned her degree in business management from New York Institute of Technology and now lives in Levittown with her husband, Phil, a Long Island native. When asked what she enjoys most about America, Perozzi said, “Women have more rights here than they do in Korea. I feel I have a lot more freedom here.” She went on to explain, “Even just little things, like in Korea women get stared at for laughing too loud.”

When asked how she would feel if the government had only granted her temporary access to the country as part of the “Temporary Worker Program”, Perozzi said she would still have come. “I would still come for my degree. I had opportunities here in school that I did not have there.” Perozzi also said she is here in America for good and has no plans of moving back to Korea.

A Lawyer's View
Nora Demleitner, Dean and Professor of Law at Hofstra University whose area of expertise includes immigration law, recently discussed what she believes are the biggest problems associated with immigration. High rates of immigration to an area such as Long Island create higher costs among residents.

"There will be higher costs for education and housing on Long Island." Demleitner said. She also discussed the belief among Americans that there is more pressure on the economy and job market. "Many Americans believe that their jobs are at risk when there are more migrant workers competing in the job market."

Dean Demleitner talks about the issues that surround immigration and the need for a better system. Click the embedded player below to hear her interview.

Recently, the government decided to increase the budget for border protection. More border patrol agents have been added and new structures are being designed. Demleitner explained that crime at the border is an issue. "There are fatalities and smugglers at the border." Demleitner said. When asked how she sees the future for immigrants in America, Demleitner said that it is difficult to predict. "The views are similar among the Presidential candidates." Demleitner said. "However, the next president is going to have to figure out how to build a coalition among parties."

Demleitner believes the "Temporary Worker Program" proposed by President Bush is too broad and is not enough to control the problems associated with immigration. "The plan must make more sense. If you try to force people to go home it will not work," she said.

With the large number of people who having migrated from other countries, Long Island is a very diverse part of America. The diversity on Long Island has added to the culture of America. With the upcoming presidential election in November 2008, it will be interesting to see what is to come in the future for immigration in America.

Additional multimedia

To view Esposito's difficulties and successes visit her blog to read her production memo

To view transcripts of the interviews visit Esposito's blog