The immigration issue, illegal immigration to be exact, has been a hotly debated topic for years and tends to be brought up more during presidential elections. How will the new president address the issue? How will citizens as a whole benefit or be affected?
Donald Trump, the Republican nominee for presidency has been extremely outspoken about his beliefs and the plans he has for illegal immigrants if he is in fact elected.
“Build a wall!” has been his most repeated plan of action. But how will a wall affect and benefit the United States?
Being a legal immigrant to the United States and having that mediator demeanor I see both sides and understand their points. Rules, regulations, policies and laws were created and established so there is order in a country and a process to follow.
I can speak from personal experience that becoming a legal United States citizen was neither an easy nor a cheap task. Immigration laws are changing constantly and when we first started the process back in 2003 it took more than five years and thousands of dollars to finally receive our naturalization certificate; we were finally U.S. citizens.
Like many other immigrants, both legal and illegal, we came to this country seeking a better future. A world full of opportunities, that even though need hard work, sweat and tears, can be achieved through hard work and sacrifice.
I understand when Trump says our immigration policies have to be followed and the United States has to defend itself from “outsiders.” Realistically and sadly, we live in a world, in a country, where terrorist attacks have occurred, where violence has plagued our streets and where we no longer feel the safest like we once did.
What Trump has failed to acknowledge is that generalization is one of the worst things we can do as intellectual humans. “You are Colombian, you must sell and use cocaine.” “You are Mexican, you must be illegal.” “You follow Islam, you must be a terrorist.” What does generalizing a certain group of people do? It furthers breaks us down and makes us stand against each other.
Even though Trump has certain right points about illegal immigration, he has failed to show respect and emotion to the many families that are forcefully separated every year. Many, but not all families that come to this country do so out of desperation. They are fleeing their country’s violence, poverty, disparity and corruption. Parents want their best for their children, they want their children to have an opportunity at life.
One of the things I have noticed comparing my life in Colombia to my life in the United States is opportunity. Many people have the opportunity to succeed but choose not to. Others have no opportunity at all and would give anything for a chance at success.
Whatever decision is made about illegal immigration, not everyone is going to be pleased and not everyone is going to be benefited. In a happy and perfect world, something we are so far away from because of our own actions, each country would have the necessary opportunities to give to its people.
Let’s not forget the United States has been the land of opportunity … opportunity for some and hell for others.
