If I were to ask you “what would you do for your family?” what would be your response? Most of the time I would expect people to answer that question with “anything” and I would agree. From a young age, I was unintentionally taught to fear deportation. The reason I say it was “unintentional” is because although I knew I was born in the U.S I had family who was not, and their fear of deportation seemed to rub off on me, especially after hearing horrible stories related to it, so I engraved a longing fear into my mind. Aside from this fear came a desire to help struggling immigrants, even if it is by simply spreading awareness of the struggle that Hispanic immigrants endure. I am part of a UWM organization called LSU (Latino Student Union) and …show more content…
Moving to another country and having to adapt would be hard in most cases. As previously mentioned, a big factor as to why immigrating to the U.S happens is because of opportunity but some other factors may include safety, income, natural disasters, and sometimes it is simply having the strong desire to provide a future for the children of the immigrants. It is generally known throughout the world that the U.S is the one of the main countries that offers plenty of opportunity and an exceptional education system. I believe if an average American citizen were to put themselves in the shoes of a Hispanic immigrant then I am sure they would find the opportunities that the U.S offers to be very desirable, as Hispanic immigrants do. “Growth in the young adult population will come from immigrants and their U.S.-born children. Thus, immigrants and their children will provide virtually most of the growth in the U.S. labor force over the next forty years”. (Passel 2011) In this quote from Passels article he points out the growth rate of the young Hispanic, immigrant population that is expected to occur in the U.S. This fact shows how a large quantity of our future population will ultimately rely on the immigrant youth
With the difficulties and the dangers of migrating are big, people are willing to risk their lives in order to reach the American Dream. People dream of making it to the US and having a big luxurious life when in reality all the jobs they can get is working in the fields and or factories. They discrimination they are going to face because how they look and speak, the idea that they may never make it to the top unless they go back to school and get a degree. The harsh realities with being an immigrant in the United States is big, always having to worry about ICE, or losing a job, this constant fear of being deported. In every society there is hegemonic society that prevails over everyone else and controls everything and everyone. In a country that strives to for every person to be equal is a myth, we live in a world were only the rich will prosper and the poor will get
Eleanor Roosevelt said, “the future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams.” That statement holds strong for immigrants in America. Equal access to opportunities allows immigrants to achieve the American dream. Their success correlates with America’s success because of the contributions immigrants provide to America. Unfortunately, the current immigration policy in America denies many immigrants the American dream. It is crucial to understand the historical context of immigration in America. Initially, most immigrants were from Europe and were not restricted by any immigration laws. Now, most immigrants come from Latin America but are restricted to severe immigration laws. The Latino/a community is one of the most severely affected groups because the current immigration system disproportionally affects Latino/as. Recognizing how the experience of Latino/a immigrants have been both similar and different in the past from other immigrant groups and dispelling common misconceptions about Latino/as today bring an awareness how Latino/as are affected.
There are many challenges that one must face as we go through life. I have faced a few myself, however, none proved more challenging than moving from my country; Jamaica, to the United States and subsequently moving to the state of Wisconsin. Deciding to leave behind family and friends is the hardest decision to make, however, there are a few things that I was not prepared for that made the transition more challenging than expected. Moving away from all that is familiar culturally, socially and economically can be even more of a daunting task than imagined. There are things that are taught to us by our parents and others that are more dictated by our environment than anything else, so when I immigrated to the United States I had three major challenges to overcome.
Much of my family still lives in the area where my great-grandfather settled and started his church. My great-uncle now pastors his father’s church and lots of family members attend his church regularly. My grandma’s family has always been big on getting the family back together, and they hold a family reunion every two years in Blue Island. I have only had the privilege of being a part of a couple Contreras family reunions, but when I have been, the overwhelming sense of family and inclusion stood out to me. My Mexican family taught me what it means to love family unconditionally and it doesn’t even matter if we didn’t grow up together, we are still family. No matter what life throws your way, you always will have family, and I hope to embody this sense of family in my own someday. My family has shaped who I am as a person, and prepared me to be the type of person that has a positive impact on the people around me. I believe that I can have a positive impact on my fellow students at Southeastern
Whether they were on Broadway or in Hollywood, being a Hispanic actor meant you were put into this stereotyped box that was and is hard to break through. How many times has there been a Hispanic or Latino in the role of a hero, wealthy man/woman, or doctor in film or television? The following quote from Lin Manuel Miranda is to explain the struggles of a male Hispanic actor aspiring to be on Broadway. “I couldn’t see a way for me [a Latino man] to have a career in musical theater based on the musicals that already existed. I don’t dance well enough to play Bernardo [of ‘West Side Story’], or Paul in ‘A Chorus Line.’ And I don’t have an operatic voice enough to play the ‘Man of La Mancha.’ And if you’re a Latino man, that’s all you get… I
Imagine being at risk of being pulled over at any given time, the only reason? The color of your skin. “2010, the state of Arizona passed a law authorizing local police to check the immigration status of anyone they reasonably suspect of being in the United States illegally.” (11 Facts...). The ability to pull people over for the sole reason of looking illegal. This seems aimed at Latinos because they are the ones that are easily recognizable, and often stereotyped as not being legal residents of the United States. For example, if two people were lined up and one had a light complexion and light features, and one had tan skin and darker skin, when asked who looked like an immigrant, a large majority would choose the individual with the tan
In Marcelo M. Suarez- Orozco and Carola Suarez- Orozco’s article “How Immigrants became “other” Marcelo and Carola reference the hardships and struggles of undocumented immigrants while at the same time argue that no human being should be discriminated as an immigrant. There are millions of undocumented people that risk their lives by coming to the United States all to try and make a better life for themselves. These immigrants are categorized and thought upon as terrorist, rapists, and overall a threat to Americans. When in reality they are just as hard working as American citizens. This article presents different cases in which immigrants have struggled to try and improve their life in America. It overall reflects on the things that immigrants go through. Immigrants come to the United States with a purpose and that is to escape poverty. It’s not simply crossing the border and suddenly having a great life. These people lose their families and go years without seeing them all to try and provide for them. They risk getting caught and not surviving trying to make it to the other side. Those that make it often don’t know where to go as they are unfamiliar. They all struggle and every story is different, but to them it’s worth the risk. To work the miserable jobs that Americans won’t. “I did not come to steal from anyone. I put my all in the jobs I take. And I don’t see any of the Americans wanting to do this work” (668). These
The animosity between Mexicans and Americans had an extensive history, based on various stereotypes and a lack of cultural understanding. Americans in the Southwest believed that Mexicans were, “lazy, shiftless, jealous, cowardly, bigoted, superstitious, backward, and immoral.” The Mexicans, however, thought Americans were “arrogant, overbearing, aggressive, conniving, rude, unreliable, and dishonest.” Tensions peaked during the 1846-1848 Mexican-American War, in which the United States rapidly and cruelly dispatched their Mexican foes, committing horrendous atrocities that General Winfield Scott claimed would “make Heaven weep and every American of Christian morals blush for his country.” To many Americans, the war affirmed their beliefs
Being a Hispanic have impacted all my entire life; I lived 15 years of my life in Mexico I love being there because most part of my family live in Nuevo Laredo, I was cursing my last months of 8th grade and one day my mom told me that she was thinking about send me here to the U.S to start learn English; since I’m a U.S citizen and I didn't know the language of my country, I accepted. The most hard prove was live without having my mom at my side, since I live with my aunt now; when the days passed here in the U.S I started to depressed myself because I missed so much my house and all my family, one day in the middle of the night I call my mom crying and I told her that I really want go back to Mexico, but she didn’t take into account my desire my mom just explained me that it will be the best for my future and with the time I will be thankful with her for don’t let me go back. My mom, and my grandmother are the ones who motivates me to be a better student. Actually I’m in dual enrollment and I have taken AP classes; sometimes is hard for me talk, read or write in another language that the one I was accustomed but, every time I fail I get up and persist until I’m able to do what I want.
There are over twelve million undocumented immigrants living in the United States. Many came to America to work, go to school, or be reunited with family members who are already residing here. Most migrants want to work and pursue the “American dream”. There are many barriers for residents to achieving success at the work and life balance. The immigrants fall back on public assistance to support them.
There is so much controversy about immigration in the United States. There are many perspectives about how Immigration is seen by White Americans. Some are more extreme than others. Even though the Unites States was founded by diversity and on the inclusion of immigrants, stereotypes presented by society drives White Americans to go to the extreme of deporting immigrants. The stereotypes that propel this idea of deportation are immigrants on welfare, crime done by immigrants, and how immigrants affect jobs. These stereotypes can be promoted from many different parts of society ranging from media outlets to the upper government of the United States.
Many Immigrant families have obstacles/challenges to confront as soon as they step into this Country. Not only the Illegal parent’s with the
...ork many jobs in order to survive, in order to just get a small taste of the dream. They also face discrimination struggles. Many American do not want these immigrants to have the opportunities. The area that is it mostly seen is in education. Children with immigration background often work harder to achieve the American Dream. Despite all the obstacles, these immigrants believe in the American Dream and will find a way to achieve it.
My family has become very concerned with the current hostile political climate. Although their status has always been a concern it has never caused so much fear and uncertainty as it is today. Mexican and Mexican Americans have been a target for discrimination for many years as explained at the beginning of this section. It is unbelievable to think that what people of my ethnic group experienced about 90 years ago, is still happening today. It is clear through my parent’s story that their main reason for coming to this country was to be able to provide a better future for their families back home and their children. Which was something that would not be possible in their beloved country. My heart breaks thinking that my cousin who was brought to this country when she was three months old runs the risk of being deported to a country that she has never lived in. This is her country, and just as the Mexican and Mexican American farm workers who were deported in the 1930’s all she wants is a chance at a better
Some immigrants are force to move to the United States because the situation of their countries are hard. The flow of Mexican