Astronaut proposes legalization of all immigrants

September 15, 11:26 PMImmigrant Community ExaminerWilfredo Rodriguez-Padilla

Previous Next

11 comments Print Email RSS Subscribe

Subscribe

Get alerts when there is a new article from the Immigrant Community Examiner. Read Examiner.com's terms of use.

Email Address   Include other special offers from Examiner.com Terms of Use

Image provided by NASA.  Jose Hernandez on the far left.

Jose Hernandez, the prominent Mexican-American astronaut, became a magnet for controversy after taking a stance on illegal immigration. The rare political commentary from a US astronaut advocated for the legalization of all immigrants.

“I believe it's only fair to find a way to legalize them and give them an opportunity to work openly, so they can also retire in a traditional U.S. system,” said Hernandez in a phone interview with Mexico’s Televisa network.

Hernandez also stated that the American economy would benefit from such a move. Historically, the US did benefit from immigrants. From fruit pickers to Nobel-prize-winning scientists, immigrants that chose to live in the US have contributed immensely to its economy and culture.

However, it is undeniable that his statements fueled an already hot issue. Proposing to legalize those that live in the country illegally was too much even for NASA to handle.

In a statement released to The Associated Press, NASA spokesman James Hartsfield said that Hernandez’ views were “not representing NASA, the astronaut office or any NASA organization in his responses.”

In a video hookup from a Mexican restaurant owned by his wife in Houston, Hernandez said, “I work for the U.S. government, but as an individual I have a right to my personal opinions […] Having 12 million undocumented people here means there’s something wrong with the system, and the system needs to be fixed.”

Despite the controversy, Hernandez refuses to back off from his opinion. His humble beginning helped this spaceman relate to the plight of the millions of immigrants that come to the US in search of the all-American dream. For many people in Mexico and the US, his courage to stand for what he believes gives them hope for a borderless world.

He recalled his voyage to outer space and related the experience with the immigration issue. In an interview with Televisa he said: “What surprised me is when I saw the world as one. There were no borders. You couldn't distinguish between the United States and Mexico.”