Migration is such a tough and tricky subject. People cannot be “illegal” but from an immigration standpoint the rules can be tricky. Young Americans’ future can be in jeopardy due to the legality of their residence in this country as illustrated in the soundbite “A house divided” on NPR. I believe the USA is a land of opportunity and if children are brought over without consent and have been living peacefully in the country they should get a pass. The end of the soundbite from NPR had a very powerful message regarding the siblings who’s future was uncertain, “..maybe they want their identity to be more than documented, undocumented and citizen.” There should be more to a person than their citizen status, and if they’re a functioning member of our society why shouldn’t we embrace them with open arms?
This gets complicated because where do lawmakers draw the line on immigration? I believe border security is important and necessary, but is riddled with flaws. Even former First Lady Laura Bush agrees and understands the importance of border security. The zero tolerance rule is cruel and I believe does more harm than good. Laura Bush states “These images are eerily reminiscent of the internment camps for U.S. citizens and noncitizens of Japanese descent during World War II, now considered to have been one of the most shameful episodes in U.S. history.” and I can’t help but agree. No matter what your politics are you should be empathetic and focused on people, not policy. It can be hard to decide between sticking to “the book” and doing what is morally right. Laura Bush reveals some horror stories from the immigration system and provides a call to action not by condemning the people in charge, but by reminding us of the country values we were founded on and calling upon those within the government who she knows are kind and compassionate.
Personally my own family’s migration history is not talked about or idolized. I am third generation American and hearing my grandparents talk about their experiences here in America they have fond memories. America is seen as a land of opportunity for those who had none amongst old-timers. They had no choice but to come here and work hard for what they have, which is the same ideology that I have. There was some discrimination but my grandparents used to brush it off as unimportant, they put their head down and got to it. I had members of my family serve in the military and fight for the USA, and when I ask them what made them do it the response is generally “I will fight for the freedom I was given”. My family did not cross at the border, instead we came through Ellis Island. My family’s experience is not one that is highlighted by this week’s literature.
Questions:
If the administration changes in this year’s election, can we really expect immigration changes? What is the actual plan?
3.5/5 this one was tough for me personally. I also couldn’t get access to the NYT video.
I’m bumping your grade up one point John because I appreciate the nuance of what you shared here. You should have free access to all NYT content using your Baruch email address: https://guides.newman.baruch.cuny.edu/newyorktimes Let me know if you encounter any future access problems and I’ll forward you the materials.