Saving Lives Gets Shut Down By the Government: An Introduction

On February 22, 2008, Daniel Millis and three colleagues were stopped by US Fish and Wildlife Service officers who spotted gallon-sized bottles of water in the back of their Toyota 4Runner. They are members of a group called No More Deaths and they work with another group called Samaritans to leave life-saving supplies in the desert. Millis admitted that he and his friends had been placing plastic bottles of water along the refuge’s trails and picking up discarded bottles as well. Daniel Millis was arrested that day for littering. His crime was leaving bottles of drinkable water for immigrants who were dying of thirst. Sometime in the first week of September, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit overturned Millis’ conviction by a 2-1 vote. What was so disturbing, however, was how limited the court’s decision was. As a result, people can still be arrested for doing exactly what Millis did. The government claimed that the water bottles Millis left behind were “garbage.” The appeals court disagreed. The court concluded that the water bottles left did not meet the common meaning of the word garbage. Although Millis got off the hook, the next person to leave water bottles where he did risks going to jail.

Illegal immigrants enter the United States to enjoy a better economic life. Most of them are fleeing economic oppression, unemployment and poverty. Whether entry is legal or illegal, it doesn't matter to them. Entering illegally is their only way to get in. Many of them have risked their lives in order to live the American dream. . To illegal immigrants, the benefits far outweigh the risks so they take their chances. The lack of balance between law and human compassion causes heated debates over the illegal immigration issue. It involves right and wrong, legal and illegal issues. One of the main questions I have come across in researching is weather or not immigration is even an issue or not for the US. Many scholars say they stimulate our economy and others say they are corrupting it by taking all the low wage jobs for citizens. It is an important research question to ask because as society changes and immigrants make there way across the US borders our opinions will be the one thing that can make a difference in improving society.

When researching this particular subject of immigration I did not know what to expect. I personally have not formed my own definite one-sided opinion because I agree with so many different views. I found out many statistical facts that are overwhelming and frightening. Thousands of immigrants cross the California border every day and Millions of dollars are spent on their healthcare, and education. Many people feel that immigrants are dangerous to American Citizens. In California 80% of homicides and drug-related crimes are committed by foreigners. One of the popular themes I came across was American economy. Many argue that immigrants take citizen’s jobs, and live off of American resources. The opposing viewpoint is that migrants stimulate the economy. Many of the sources I found talked about different immigration policies recommended. Some of the policies are based on religion, some on economy, but all face the problem if they are unconstitutional. One interesting point that I would never of thought of was the fact that the first colonized Europeans in America were immigrants too and look at how far our country has come. The sole reason immigrants take such a big risk in seeking a new start in America is their pursuit of happiness. Many immigrants send all the money they make back home just to feed their families. Immigration will never end in the U.S. and it will always remain a controversial issue. The hard part is forming your opinion in order to make future decisions that will potentially improve society for everyone.

DO NOT ENTER!

Davis, Garrett "America Should Discourage Immigration (1849)." Immigration: Opposing Viewpoints. Ed. Mary Williams. Greenhaven Press, 2004. 25-31. Print.

Preview this book

In 1849 Garrett Davis delivered a speech promoting America to discourage immigration. In his opinion immigrants endanger America. “It is because the mighty tides of immigration, each succeeding one increasing in volume, bring to us not only different languages, opinions, customs, and principles, but hostile races, religions, and interests, and the traditionary prejudices of generations with a large amount of the turbulence, disorganizing theories, pauperism and demoralization of Europe in her redundant population thrown to us.” He admits that among masses of immigrants there are men of noble intellect and great moral worth, “but the number is lamentably small.” He states that there is no way to distinguish the noble from the vicious. Davis mentions a problem in the government with the German and Slavonic races and how they attempted to elect candidates of their own blood to congress. “This is the beginning of the conflict of races on a large scale.” Davis says he has anxiety for the future of America and that, “No well-informed and observant man can look abroad over this widespread and blessed country without feeling that way.”

Davis’ opinion is very important because his main concern is the safety of Americans. He has evidence that nationalism has become a threat to the government and his fear comes out in his writing. He also questions the nobility of the immigrants and their loyalty to the country. By purposing that immigration is a threat to American’s safety he challenges his audience to consider agreeing with his point of view in order to fix this so called problem. Davis stresses that immigration is and always will be a problem and as far as fixing it, “the sooner the better.” Davis writes very convincingly, “If they are more vicious, they will corrupt; if less industrious, they will promote idleness; if they have different ideas of government, they will contend; if the same, they will intrigue and interfere.” Davis’ fear of the future comes out in his writing, which can potentially strike fear in his readers. He makes a believable argument that is very enticing for readers that feel that immigrants possible pose a threat to the safety of American citizens.