Analysis: The Tortilla Curtain
"Although we are proud to be a nation of immigrants, Americans have never really been comfortable with foreign newcomers" ("New Myths and Old Realities"). In The Tortilla Curtain, Boyle implies that the main cause of racism is white people believe that the large number of new immigrants are completing for scarce jobs and draining social service funds in the society. In the whites' view, the social status of immigrants is inferior and lower. They are a threat to the US economy. In the story of The Tortilla Curtain, Boyle wrote that the illegal immigrants have increased the crime rate of the Arroyo Blanco Community. After coyotes attacked Delaney and Kyra's two dogs, Delaney went to a community meeting to discuss on the gate issue. One of the neighbor, Jim Shirley, pointed out that there have been two houses hit right on his block-Via Dichosa--within a month. The thieves break-in the Caseys' house when they are away. The Caseys lost about fifty thousand dollars worth of Oriental rugs, home entertainment
In the Fresno area, employer sanctions cases-penalties against employers for hiring illegal aliens-averaged about one per week through 1995, when the responsibility was shifted from the Border Patrol to the Fresno INS office. John Crockford, Agent-in-Charge of the Fresno Border Patrol office comments that "We always knew that agriculture and a high percentage of illegals..60percent of the average work crewKWe're not sure what percentage in construction are illegal, but we were surprised when we did construction-site enforcement how many people would run." (Fresno Bee) center, and a brand-new Nissan pickup. The crime rate of this community has gone up, therefore; it is necessary to have a gated entryway. (Boyle 42-43) Jack angrily points out that illegal immigrants are costing taxpayers a lot of money. The illegal immigrants in San Diego County contributed seventy million in tax revenues and at the same time they used up two hundred and forty million in services such as welfare, emergency care, schoolingKetc. (Boyle 102) ------------------------------------
Some common words found in the essay are:
San Dieago, Border Patrol, Tortilla Curtain, Curtain Boyle, Jim Shirley, Fresno Bee, Califronia Texas, Diego County, Delaney Kyra's, Economic Fear, illegal immigrants, tortilla curtain, border patrol, crime rate, tortilla curtain boyle, curtain boyle,
Approximate Word count = 725
Approximate Pages = 3 (250 words per page double spaced)
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