"Immigration laws are the only laws that are discussed in terms of how to help people who break them." --Thomas Sowell
By Alex P. Vidal
NEW YORK CITY -- This could be a heightened emotional rather than political issue.
President-elect Donald J. Trump may have taken a tough stand on immigration issues during the campaign period, but it remains to be seen how will his incoming Republican administration implement the feared mass deportation of "illegal aliens" estimated to be around 11.5 million in the entire United States.
While his upset win against Hillary Clinton hogged headlines days after the November 8 elections, the gnawing fear among undocumented immigrants dominated the discussions in communities that may be potentially affected by Mr. Trump's ascension to White House on January 20, 2017.
Now that real panic has beckoned, it is best if we begin with the definition of terms to describe and identify the involved parties, so as not to cause confusion, misinformation, and miscommunication.
Although the term "undocumented" should be the generic to describe those staying in the United States illegally, let us be clear about Mr. Trump's real targets--and how far can he possibly cause torments to the culturally diverse population.
ANNOUNCE
When he began lashing at "rapists and criminals" last year to unravel his intention to run for president, Mr. Trump stepped up his acrimony with a stunning proposal to build a wall in the border.
He was referring to the Mexicans or the Latinos from Spanish-speaking countries and territories who used the U.S.-Mexico border to sneak illegally into the mainland USA.
This group of "illegal immigrants" are considered "undocumented" because they entered without legal papers or government-issued identification cards, among other valid documents after outsmarting border patrols.
To add insult, some of them commit criminal acts and violate the laws, thus their chances of being deported swiftly become certain.
Some Chinese and Cuban nationals, who arrived under mysterious circumstances, may also be classified as "undocumented" because, like some tricky Latinos, they have no passports, birth certificates, among other legal papers, when they set foot in the US via sea.
Most of them did not go through proper immigration procedures upon entry.
ASIANS
Another group of Asians that include Indians, Filipinos, Indonesians, Malaysians, and Vietnamese who arrived on tourist or temporary visas may be classified as "overstaying" if their visas have expired and have extended their stay without authorization from the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), a component of the United States Department of Homeland Security (DHS).
They may be technically called as "illegals" for having violated the terms and conditions of their visas or their failure to go back to their country of origin as specified, but they can always obtain valid documents like passports from their respective consulates.
They can't be tagged as "undocumented".
If they did not commit a crime and their behavior is not inimical to the interest of the state, and regularly pay taxes, TNTs (Tago Ng Tago) may not be easily "harassed" into falling in line to the deportation proceedings especially if they have competent lawyers and valid or justifiable reasons for extension of stay.
There is no doubt Trump's deportation guillotine is now being sharpened, but it will take a horrific number of manpower and federal cash out to round up all the 11.5 million warm bodies without being hounded by international watchdogs and accusations of inhuman treatment when emotions start to rack up and families start to break up.
"I love argument, I love debate. I don't expect anyone just to sit there and agree with me, that's not their job." -- Margaret Thatcher
By Alex P. Vidal
NEW YORK CITY -- Fil-Am voter Delia Gatmaitan of Queens did not cook dinner and "we decided to eat what was left in the refrigerator so we won't miss the debate" last night (September 26) between presidential nominees Hillary Clinton of Democratic Party and Donald Trump of Republican Party.
Gatmaitan, 66, and live-in partner, Raul, 28, a Hispanic immigrant, both Clinton supporters, have been waiting the first presidential debate since August.
Their housemate, another Fil-Am voter, Darcito Bartolome, 70, a Trump supporter, was also glued to his TV set monitoring the event at the Hofstra University in Hempstead on NBC channel, one of the networks that broadcast the "live" debate.
Like many partisan observers, they were divided on who won the first of the series of debates.
CIVILITY
According to Ruth Ben-Ghiat, professor of history and Italian studies at New York University, "Civility went south fast in Monday's debate."
She said, "Donald Trump lost his composure early, ranting, interrupting (over 20 times) and sniffing. (Under the weather, or out of his comfort zone?) Hillary Clinton started out soft, playing the grandmother card, but quickly escalated to tough talk and occasional sarcasm. It could hardly have gone otherwise. Clinton hit hard at Trump, bringing up his admiration of Russian President Vladimir Putin, his 'long record of engaging in racist behavior,' his denial at having supported the Iraq war, and his refusal to allow the American people to see his tax returns."
A specialist in 20th-century European history, Ben-Ghiat added: "In doing so, Clinton did Americans a big favor: she revealed Trump's limitations. He is simply unable to make those leaps of imagination and generosity necessary to transform from a businessperson to a national political leader."
SMALLNESS
She stressed further: "The candidate who claims to do everything big showed the smallness of his thinking tonight. With his off-key rejoinders, he demonstrated repeatedly how he sees everything -- people, properties, cities, and entire countries -- in terms of how they factor into his business and personal universe, which seem to be one and the same. I'll get to Pennsylvania Avenue one way or another, he said tonight, as though the White House and his new Trump hotel are entities of equal importance. Perhaps they really are, in his mind."
"Clinton alone demonstrated the composure, wisdom, and broad vision necessary for executive office. She won the debate hands down," she explained.
Activist and television commentator Sally Kohn said "Trump's train went off the rails."
TRAIN
Donald Trump's supporters like to refer to his movement as "The Trump Train." Well, tonight The Trump Train went off the rails. Big time, Kohn pointed out.
"Admittedly, to many observers, the train was already way off track. Maybe it started the moment his campaign began, when he dismissed Mexican immigrants as 'rapists.' Or maybe it was when he attacked Sen. John McCain. Or later, when he attacked a Gold Star family. Certainly, many Americans have paid attention to the media's attempts at fact checking -- including one report that Trump only tells the truth 22% of the time, and another that found in five hours of talking, Trump outright lied an average of every 3 minutes and 15 seconds," she observed.
Kohn added: "But for those who somehow thought, up until Monday night, that Donald Trump might somehow be qualified to be president, Monday's debate was a wake-up call. He seemed like a defensive, petulant bully who could only insult Hillary Clinton and America -- and couldn't offer a single solution, let alone details. He came across as not only dreadfully unprepared for the debate, but dreadfully unprepared to be president. Which is the truth. And it's high time all Americans know it.
BIASED
"But don't believe me. I'm obviously biased. Believe Frank Luntz. In his live focus group of undecided and leaning voters, just six people thought Trump won while 16 said Clinton was the victor. In moment after moment, the focus group preferred Clinton. For instance, Clinton's response to Trump's attack on her stamina scored better than Trump's attack. And Hillary's plan to defeat ISIS actually scored better with the Trump leaners in the group than with the Clinton leaners.
"In moment after moment, Hillary Clinton presented a knowledgeable and clear-eyed vision for how to help working families and continue America on the path to security and prosperity. Donald Trump, in contrast, lied, and got defensive. He was petty and insulting, and then lied some more. Lies apparently can only get the Trump train so far. Eventually it runs out of steam.
"Hillary Clinton showed herself to be the kind of person you want in the White House. And Donald Trump showed himself to be the kind of kindergartner who should have his train taken away and instead given a timeout."
"Some leaders are born women." Geraldine Ferraro
By Alex P. Vidal
NEW YORK CITY -- If Sen. Miriam Defensor-Santiago becomes Philippine president and Secretary Hillary Rodham Clinton becomes US president this year, it will mark the first time that two lady presidents will lord over since the two countries signed the Treaty of General Relation on July 4, 1946.
The treaty relinquished American sovereignty over the archipelago following the end of World War II and the Philippines was recognized as an independent state.
It paved the way for the Philippine-American Friendship Day, which the Filipinos celebrate every 4th of July.
Like the late president Ferdinand Marcos, Santiago does not read her speech.
The Filipinos were so proud when Marcos spoke extemporaneously or without any prepared speech during a 1982 state visit in Washington D.C. after then President Ronald Reagan finished reading his prepared speech in a White House ceremony.
PERFECT
Older by two years, the 70-year-old Santiago would be Clinton's perfect counterpart in the Asia-Pacific as they are both members of the legal profession, and have deeper understanding of diplomatic relations and international law.
It would be a dream match to watch the two articulate and brilliant female leaders discuss issues in the age of technology and social media.
The summit meetings and state visits would no longer be boring.
There is also interesting comparison between their respective husbands.
While former president Bill was rumored to be a womanizer (who can forget the Monica Lewinsky scandal?), former DILG Undersecretary Narciso was rumored to be a gambler (cockfighting).
DELEGATES
But while Clinton is almost a cinch away from clinching the presidency in November (she is very much ahead in the number of delegates against Bernie Sanders in the Democratic primaries, and is favored based on various surveys to whip would-be Republican bet Donald Trump in the national contest), Santiago has not been doing well in surveys.
Her campaign has suffered a major snag due to health problems.
On the other hand, if Grace Poe wins in the May polls and Clinton clinches the US presidency, she may not be able to match Clinton's intellectual savvy and prowess; but, nevertheless, Poe will also make history like Santiago.
