Laura and Miguel are dating, but they can't go away with each other because Miguel is an illegal immigrant. He has to avoid all places that might ask for identification, because he has none. None of the legal sort, anyway. Like many other illegal immigrants, Miguel was brought to America as a baby. Should he be held accountable for his parents' choices? Since the denial of the Dream Act, students like Miguel still have to be aware of their social interactions because if they are caught, they could be deported back to their home countries. They can't get their license, a decent job, go to clubs, or even travel with their girlfriends to Alaska for the holiday, because what if he's asked for identification? It's always better to be safe than to be sorry.
The Dream Act was going to be a relief for the children who were brought to America, in order that they might be able to reach for a better education or a better position in the economic ladder. It was supposed to allow children to live their own American Dream free of their parents' burdens, but it seems to have come to a halt. Hopefully this issue will be brought up again in Congress and new legislation written to hopefully one day adequately allow the immigrants to assimilate into the culture they grew up in.
Besides not being able to get a job or drive a car, students cannot freely do what others take for granted. Some vow not to marry until they obtain a green card, because their partners' parents are afraid that they are marrying simply for U.S. citizenship. Many are frustrated because the idea of going out on a date is tainted by the lack of money, not because they don't make any but because they can't make any because a job requires the proper identification. Either way, the dream has been stopped, but if President Obama's State of the Union address is any indicator, hopefully we'll be seeing some reform in the next two years.
2 comments:
I feel that it's a bit unfair for these "immigrants," who have lived in the United States practically their whole life, but are still denied legal citizenship. A lot of immigrants today are not brought to America by their own will, but by the will of their parents. What if these immigrants don't know their own native language if they've been brought up in the United States their whole life? What their native country is in a civil war? Many of these people can't go back to their "homes," so they have to stay in America, forced to work low-paying jobs. I think there should be a way for these immigrants to integrate into the country better, because many of these immigrants can contribute to our society's welfare. Plus, seeing how many of them have grew up in America their whole lives, its not like they can go change their lifestyle like that if they were to move or get deported back to their home country their parents were from. It's simply unfair and many are stripped of the freedoms we Americans take for granted in our everyday lives. Immigrants help bring culture, diversity, and uniqueness to America. We would never want this to happen to us in the future, so I don't think we should disallow these immigrants from U.S. citizenship.
I'd like to start this comment by saying that I really like it!!! Just like Miguel, I'm also affected by this issue that's occurring in the U.S. I can't do the simple things like an American citizen can such as obtain a driver's license, travel out of the country, or simply go out to clubs to have a good time with friends, unless asked for a high school i.d.
This issue has affected me since 2001 when I arrived in California and I was really upset and angry when I heard that the Dream Act did not pass this past year. The Dream Act gives me, as well as oteher students in my position, hope, hope that we will succeed in this country which we have adopted and adapted to.
I really hope Obama does keep his word and helps the millions of immigrant students who want to succeed and achieve so much in this nation, students like myself. I agree with Stephen in that we immigrants bring diversity, culture, and uniqueness to America. And no offense, but if it weren't for my fellow immigrants, then who would be working out in the fields all day, in all kinds of weather? Who would be house cleaners and lawn mowers? Who would do all the hard labor work? How about the government takes into consideration all of those hard-working people and appreciates them for what they do every day? How about the government stops identifying ALL immigrants as just Latinos? How about we actually deport those immigrants who are harming and causing crimes in this nation instead of deporting innocent, hard working people who are actually trying to make a living? How about we stop separating families due to deportation?
Obama said it's time for change and I really do hope and pray that change occurs very soon!!! I don't think I deserve to live with the fear of deportation or the sadness of not being able to travel to my native country to visit and MEET my little cousins who are growing up without knowing me!
Hopefully 2011 will be the year for change in this country, change for the better of this nation!
Post a Comment