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Immigrant protests

Last week saw some of the biggest protests in US. The protests were against US Government immigration policies. Interestingly, these protest were in support of the illegal immigrants. Isn't this like Indian people pouring to the streets in support of illegal Bangladeshis? That's why I found it amazing.

US Government is planning to bring law, which will help to curb US immigration. The opponents of the law claim that illegal immigrants, about 12 million as per official figure, contribute to the US economy and they do not directly compete with American jobs. America is a nation of immigrnats and thus, these illegal immigrants must be absorbed in US.

This is where the difference lies. India has long history and people have been living at a place for generations. So there is a sense of attachment for their land and outsiders are considered as intruders. Moreover, they do interfere with the local jobs. For example, in Assam, Bangladeshis were ready to work at lower wages on tree plantations, which made the local Asamese unemployed. Similar is the case with north Indians in Mumbai. Even in Europe, which also has history, people are against the illegal immigration from Asia and Africa.

Therefore, people in US protesting for illegal immigrants has nothing odd, because they must have also came to US as immigrants.

posted by ninad @ 9:54 pm