Take off the bandages

Soon, Congressman Mike Garcia will have an opportunity to vote for comprehensive immigration reform. The Reconciliation Bill which is part of the Budget Resolution just left the House of Representatives and presently in the Senate and includes $107 billion for a broad legalization program.

Almost 20% of Congressman Garcia’s constituents are immigrants who are students, essential workers, farm laborers longtime residents, they are people in our towns and neighborhoods, who urgently need a path out of the shadows.

Throughout history, immigrants have proven to be a tremendous asset to this country. Because of their current youthful makeup, they stand to be the lifeline of the baby boomers who are no longer having children.

It is the immigrant youth of today that will salvage social security for tomorrow. I sorely wish that xenophobes would take off the bandages that blind them to this reality so that they could finally embrace the immigrant, if not for the sake of brotherhood, then for their own sake.

Garcia represents these folks the same as any citizen. The immigrants who reside in congressional district 25 are his charges just as much as any resident born in the U.S.

This is a tenant of our National Constitution upheld by the U.S. Supreme Court just recently. For the most part, these are individuals who came with the third major immigration wave of the 1980s. Most who came after have been deported by presidents Obama and Trump.

Long-time immigrant residents have waited almost 40 years for comprehensive immigration reform. They are part of the social fabric that provides many of the essential services on which we all depend. It is time they are made to feel at home for, whether some like it or not, this is their home.

Xavier Flores

president AV-LULAC

Palmdale