In my novel, America Libre, mainstream backlash against Latinos in the United States does what five hundred years of history has failed to do: unify the people of Latin America. The book envisions a dark future when long simmering tensions among Hispanics erupt into violence during an economic recession. One of the prime sources of these tensions is a spasm of legislative backlash against immigrants and English-only laws. As many readers of America Libre have pointed out, some of these conditions are already emerging.
From the Washington Post:
Latinos in Prince William County, angered and panicked by a county resolution to crack down on illegal immigrants, are swiftly banding together against what they see as an assault on their community. They vowed this week to block the resolution through a boycott, a petition drive and possibly a labor strike or lawsuit.
Immigration is a thorny and divisive issue. Yet it’s only the tip of the iceberg. Over the next several decades the U.S. will face a challenge to its sovereignty unlike anything since the War Between the States. If we react with fear and prejudice, the repercussions could be much uglier than anything we face today. The choice is ours.
Raul Ramos y Sanchez
