As Nazario tours
Veracruz, a state in Mexico through which Enrique traveled, she speaks to a man
who lives near the train tracks. Migrants often pass by his house, asking for food and supplies. He shares with
Nazario a profound comment about illegal
immigration: "'If we don't want to be stopped from going into the United
States, how can we stop Central Americans in our country?'" (Nazario 103).
This comment shows
an important side of the illegal immigration debate. Who are we, citizens in a
secure country, to deny entry to immigrants searching for the same
opportunities we have? Everyone in the US (except Native Americans, a
small fraction of the population) is here because of our or our ancestor's
immigration. However, even with that in mind, not every migrant is traveling solely for
economic security or to be with family. Some are evading the law or
participating in illegal work, activities that countries want to keep out. This
uncertainty about the purpose of migrants leads to another thought shared by a woman in Veracruz, who says plainly,
"You don't know who they are" (127). All immigrants have different
stories and different motivations for what they are doing. For this reason, I
think it is too soon for any new overarching laws governing immigration. Instead, migrants should be evaluated on a case by case basis until we are able
to make more educated decisions when enacting laws. What are your thoughts on
this issue, and do you think countries should have the right to refuse entry to immigrants?
I agree with you, Molly, that migrants should be permitted into the country on a case by case basis. I believe that countries have the right to refuse entry to immigrants, especially if it is in the best interest of the country. For example, allowing all immigrants into America could cause unemployment and lead to the deterioration of public services, aspects which have already been impacted by immigration (in Los Angeles Country, for example). However, I do not think that countries have the right to deny migrants their abundant resources to those in search of a better life, either economically or to reunite with families. One of America's core characteristics is the "American Dream" and the freedom to all of a better, happier, and more secure life. Therefore, I feel that it is against the United States' beliefs to deny these rights to those suffering more than the majority of the American people ever will.
ReplyDeleteAs you mentioned, our nation is made up almost entirely of immigrants. The problem we are facing today is by no means "new". With every wave of newcomers, there will always be a crowd of people who believe they are not needed and only violate the policies freedoms of everyone else already living here. Older generations are always going to look down on immigrants, as they have done for years and years past. I (obviously) don't think this is the answer. In addition, I don't think refusing them entry on a huge scale will solve any problems, not now or in the future. There will always be more immigrants, and our country will always have to adapt to their presence, as we have done numerous times in the past. I agree with you in the sense that they should be give more personal consideration, but at the same time, I think only time will tell how our economy adapts to these newcomers and how much we can really control the situation.
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