Immigration: An Essay

I am mad, mad as hell, and the worst part is, it feels like there is nothing I or anyone can do to stop this.

The campaign of "he who shall remain nameless" came full circle on July 21st as the Republican National Convention came to an end. The comments he made during his nomination acceptance speech were reminiscent of the statements he made last year when he launched his campaign, and announced that all Mexican immigrants are "rapists" and "criminals." 

As he is relentless in delivering his hateful rhetoric that all immigrants are rapists and criminals, I too have an obligation to make anyone who will listen understand that it's simply not true. I can't sit here and produce data in pie charts and graphs, although the data does exist here, and here. All I can do is tell you my personal experience being a daughter of immigrant parents and the stories of those I've encountered along the way.

I came to the United States at the age of two. My parents had green cards and later became United States citizens. I was fortunate to enjoy the privileges that come with having a legal status. However, I know and refuse to be oblivious to the struggles of those Latinx, whose only crime is the pursuit of the "American Dream." The hope of a better life for their families has been the motivating force to leave everything behind in their countries of origin and come to a country that often times is not very welcoming to immigrants, despite America being built on the very foundation of immigration. 

Every day on my way to drop my daughter off at the Jackson Heights-Roosevelt station in Queens, I drive by a particular street near 74th street and Broadway. Every single day, regardless of the blistering heat or punishing cold, men stand on this corner, as early as dawn, in hopes to be selected to work for the day. 

Liberty Island, NYC 2016 | Picture by Katherine Gomez

These "day laborers," most of Mexican decent, wake up every morning just like you and I do, except we wake up knowing, roughly, what our day will bring. On the other hand, these men wake up with a full day of uncertainty ahead of them. Some will be "fortunate" to be picked up by someone who will undoubtedly pay them well below minimum wage for their labor, and no OSHA regulations for mandated breaks. The working environment may bring its own set of perils and uncertainty, as the conditions are often hazardous and safety regulations are usually not adhered to.

Some will go back home, having waited all day, with nothing to show for; others with only the one meal provided by the charitable work started by Jorge Munoz. A bad day at the office for these men can also mean not coming home at all. By the virtue of standing on this corner, well known by immigration authorities as a congregation spot for undocumented day laborers, they are at risk of being picked up by US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), arrested, and most likely, deported. Take into consideration that some of these men may be the sole provider of the household state-side or in their country of origin. The families will unboudtebly be economically affected. All the possibilites of a day at the office are bleak, to say the least.  

Therefore, I urge you that next time you hear that 180,000 undocumented immigrants are roaming the streets to attack unsuspected citizens, please think about the gross generalization of this unfounded statement, concede that perhaps the majority are searching and working hard for the same dreams that you and I have for our families. But most importantly, remember that our nation was built on the premise of welcoming "your tired, your poor, your huddled masses yearning to be free" to our shores.