2007 DMN Texan of the Year: The Illegal Immigrant

Undocumented immigrants are no longer a rarity in the US, representing a hefty and growing percentage of workers in the cleaning, agriculture, food-processing, landscaping, restaurant and construction industries. US immigration rates since 2000 have exceeded those from previous historical periods, and government enforcement has essentially vanished. The Dallas Morning News, in naming a "Texan of the year,” gave the honor to the illegal immigrant, thus highlighting the dilemma confronting the nation: Employers and consumers in the US expect services at a low price, and the temptation of jobs is too great for immigrants from impoverished nations to ignore, while some US citizens resent any drain on public resources or rapid change in communities and culture. “What you think of the illegal immigrant says a lot about what you think of America, and what vision of her you are willing to defend,” concludes the editorial in the Dallas Morning News. “How we deal with the stranger among us says not only who we Americans are today but determines who we will become tomorrow.” – YaleGlobal