Two great articles today in NY Times on the complex topic of immigration. No matter which side of the equation you are, they are must reads.
The first is on the tiny African island nation of Cape Verde, where the number of people who have left approaches the number who remain and almost everyone has a close relative in Europe or America.
One impressive stat. "Migrants (around globe) sent home about $300 billion last year — nearly three times the world’s foreign aid budgets combined. Those sums are building houses, educating children and seeding small businesses, and they have made migration central to discussions about how to help the global poor."
But they are also tearing apart western countries. The second article is on President Bush's personal stand on immigration even against the pressure from his own party.
"Late last spring, Republicans in this West Texas oil town called for a boycott of Doña Anita’s Mexican restaurant, a retaliatory step against its owner, Luz Reyes, for closing shop and showing up at a rally against proposed new penalties for illegal immigrants.
But President Bush’s three best friends here defied the boycott and went to the restaurant, Mr. Bush’s favorite when he lived here, regardless."
To my friends (particularly outside the US), who think Bush is a cowboy when it comes to global affairs. Please give him some credit for being just as stubborn about and grateful to immigrants who raised him. And immigrants in general. Unpopular as his stance is.
