America is and always will be a nation of immigrants. Immigrants embody the endless hours of hard work and dedication that go into the ongoing infrastructure of America. America’s most populous cities are fruitful because of the many men, women, and children who lawfully contribute to the enrichment of society. Thursday’s supreme court ruling against the Obama administration’s proposition to protect undocumented immigrants from deportation through the Deferred Action for Parents of Americans and Lawful Permanent Residents (DAPA), which would grant security to parents of U.S. citizens and law-abiding permanent residents to remain in the States, was saddening for many parents and children. The outcome is, of course, disappointing for a number of immigrant families, as parents, as well. Their children revert to fear and hence, continue to distrust the immigration reform objective.

The underlying cause for strong resistance against Obama's controversial immigration reform policy is due to xenophobia and negative labels associated with Hispanics and Middle Eastern immigrants, especially. What dissidents fail to understand are the fundamental facets that constitute the Obama administration's immigration plan. The prevalent argument is that the U.S. would be opening its borders to crime and increasing the chances of domestic terrorism, gang violence, rape as well as other major offenses. In actuality, to receive the benefits of the administration's immigration program, each recipient is required to complete a thorough background and criminal history check. Additionally, opponents argue that low-income African-Americans and Hispanics will experience a loss in jobs and financial support due the large population of undocumented immigrants who would receive temporary protection from deportation under the law.

What opponents fail to understand is that a large number of applicants have lived the majority of their lives in the U.S. with the intention of providing their families with greater opportunity and a more promising future. These are individuals who, for the most part, have lived a majority of their lives in the U.S., are accustomed to American culture and would be socially displaced if banished to their ancestral country. It's important to consider these circumstances to better understand the immigrant's role in America and to tolerate the aspects of progressive immigration reform in the 21st century. The foreigners who occupy the U.S. are intricate components of the American foundation.