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Essay on Non Welcoming Stance for Latin American Immigrants

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Though the statue of liberty was finished in August of 1885, immigrants from many nations came to the United States even before the green lady was standing in the New York Harbor. The poem, The New Colossus by Emma Lazarus, was later added in 1903, to signify the “golden door” that to many immigrants who were escaping strife or looking for a better life thought would await them in America. Though the poem suggested that America was a land of flowing milk and honey, immigrants did not find such a warm welcome that was suggested by the torch holding lady. In Mario Puzo short story, Choosing a Dream, he describes America as a place where immigrants or anyone can achieve “some economic dignity and freedom”, however, this is not the case for…show more content…
When they first started to enter, many joined the agricultural workforce due to the Chinese Exclusion Act and later the Immigration Act of 1924 limiting the number of cheap laborers available. But in many places there was exclusion in basic activities such as shopping or attending school. In towns, they were only to go out shopping one day a week. Their children put in segregated schools with the African American children. During the 1860's political restrictions were put in place not only to limit to claim rights given to them via citizenship but also to protect their land. The government claimed millions of acres of what was once Mexican-owned land for themselves. Unfamiliar to the law or language there was nothing the immigrants could do against the Americans. Once slavery was abolished,Latin Americans took the place of African Americans becoming farm hands in the South and across the Midwest. Soon they migrated into other fields of hard labor such as mining or railroad, jobs that Americans did not want. Under the foothold of the “white man” regardless if it was a southern plantation owner, Texas cattle farmer or machine operators a system was forming that placed Latin immigrants at the bottom. Moving into the 1900's, Latin Americans continued to come into America. Moving away from agricultural work, many families moved to urban areas like other immigrants to find work. As the Mexican revolution began
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