In contrast, Mark Seitz argues the children should not be deported and have the “best interest of the child” standard apply to them. The author looks at potential reasons for this increase in number and also proposes recommendations for congress to “ensure that the children are
Between 2001 and 2004 the estimated number of central American migrants that reported detained and deported, doubled to more than two thousand a year. Most of the migrants that leave their home in central America and Mexico have a set goal which is to find their mothers. “An estimated 1.7 million children live illegally in the United States, most from Mexico and Central America” (Nazario, Pg. 241). A study featured in the book from a Harvard University showed that “85 percent of all immigrant children who eventually end up in the United States spent at least some time separated from a
The essay "How Immigrants Become 'Other'" by Marcelo and Carola Suarez-Orozco illustrates the issue of immigrants never truly being accepted by natural born citizens of America. In the essay, it is discussed that immigrants are and have been treated differently. The different ways immigrants are treated differently is almost an unintelligent question to ask. Instead the question, “How aren’t immigrants treated differently?” should be asked. Even the names politicians and society have created to describe immigrants are alienating and harsh, “Illegal, undocumented, alien.” The idea of a human being illegal is something that most people overlook, but the reality is, no human is illegal. This idea of immigrants being associated with names that have such negative connotations is one of many ideas discussed in the essay "How Immigrants Become ‘Other’.”Even though America is known as a “melting pot,” immigrants will never truly be accepted as a part of society no matter the amount of assimilation due to the blatant racism, segregation, and prejudice that non-immigrants have against immigrants.
When Americans think of racism, they usually think of slavery, and that racism is no longer a problem in America. However, this is not the case. Racism is still obvious in America. Racism can be linked directly to stereotypical mindsets of certain groups of people. Today’s racism is not restricted to whites and blacks, and it has come to define many different groups and races. Pigmentation as well as physical characteristics and features still are influential for classifying people. It is easy to overlook the racism that hides below the surface and is part of American life. Today, an estimate 54 million Latinos live in the U.S. and around 43 million people speak Spanish. Although Latinos are the country’s largest minority, anti-Latino prejudice is still common. Very few Americans recognize, acknowledge, and respect the contributions of one of America’s greatest ethnic groups – Hispanics. Americans are often confused as to who Hispanics really are and what they represent in America. Although the United States is known for having a melting pot of diverse cultures, recent studies have shown the rise of discrimination against Latinos and Hispanics immigrants. A person’s legal status should not be an excuse for mistreatment.
Studies show, within 3 months, 80,000 illegals were deported from just Texas and many more in five other states; 700,000 returned to Mexico voluntarily, 488,000 in two other states (Nagle). A child born in the country from foreign parents are citizens at birth and it should not be taken away from them. “Former representative Nathan Deal of Georgia had a better idea, and he introduced a bill proposing that being born in the U.S. only confers citizenship if one child’s parents is a U.S. citizen” (Nagle). When parents are deported their children don’t have a choice whether they go with their parent or stay, the government chooses it for them. Some parents don’t know they can request return upon deportation or their children could be replaced with their relatives or take them with them to their home (Valbrun). A mother sent a request to visit her child but got no response and her child was taken care by strangers and the mother did not accept this idea. Obama stated that they are focusing on deporting immigrants that have committed crimes. “It’s clearly un-American to take kids away from loving families” (Valbrun). Social workers say children are better off living with middle class Americans than their own “poor” parents who want to try to make a living in a new place. An immigrant parent’s worst fear is to be deported and abandon their child
Christine Bowman, writer of the essay “Undocumented Lives: Migrant Latinos in America”, presents a strong response to a book of a similar name. Bowman’s authority is already shown without having to read her review at all due to her choice of topic alone and how controversial it is. She brings up the stereotypes and misconceptions about immigrants and how they are exploited for their hard work, challenging the idea that migrants are only here to take away American jobs (Bowman 261). Along with this, she argues against the complaints relating to the miscommunications between our languages and reminds us that migrants are “scared because they do not speak English” (Bowman 262). As proof of her credibility, Bowman cites a quote that further expands on the language barrier. Her use of I throughout the essay adds a personal touch, allowing her to bring up the things she feels are most important, including how migrant workers should not all be treated as they’re part of the same story (Bowman 260).
Because of the United States’ policy of granting birthright citizenship to those who are born on the United States soil, mixed families can suffer from the effects of deportation. Most commonly, the parents (who also tend to be primary caretakers and breadwinners) are the ones who risk deportation, while the children are allowed to stay due to birthright citizenship. According to an Urban Institute report, 93% of Mexican national men who were deported lived in the United States for over a year (Enchautegui 2013). Of the 93%, 76% were head of households. Thus, the report concluded that deportations increased economic hardships (Enchautegui 2013). Furthermore, there is a concern that deportation, because the parent is undocumented, could result in children being placed in foster care – resulting in a change in family structure (Dreby 2012). This not only has negative financial implications but harmful emotional implications for those families who have to suffer through this experience. Therefore, the policy of disbanding sanctuary cities could not only have financial ramifications but emotionally traumatic ramifications for those children that remain
Zayas, L. H., Aguilar-Gaxiola, S., Yoon, H., & Rey, G. N. (2015). The distress of citizen-children with detained and deported parents. Journal Of Child And Family Studies, 24(11), 3213-3223.
Imagine one day that all of a sudden when you and your siblings arrive home from school, and your parents are nowhere to be found. Your neighbor informs you that ICE officials raided your house and deported your parents. According to CNN News, that’s exactly what happened to the Soza siblings, Ronaldo, 14 and Cesia, 17. They are a prime example of what the effects of deportation can have on children. According to an ACR report there is an estimated 5,100 children who are currently in the foster care system. The foster care system would put the child in danger of never seeing their parents again. According to ICE there is an average, 17 children who are placed in the foster care system, due to the detainment and deportation of their parents
States, and thus, a few individuals having a place with these gatherings don 't recognize as
Furthermore, racism can be seen in anti-immigration laws, the criminalization of immigrants by the government, media, and citizens, as well as in the abundance of harsh notions they all promote. The criminalization of people of color has been historically prevalent in order to give them a bad image and justify racist acts against them. Consequently, an AP survey conducted in 2011 showed that, “...52 percent of non-Hispanic whites expressed anti-Hispanic attitudes” (Associated Press). Another study conducted in 2014 found that ”... opposition to undocumented immigration in the U.S. may not be as strong as it is currently if the undocumented immigrants appeared to be more Caucasian” (Anastasopoulos 13-14). Race has been used to give many negative
A deportation of a family member can bring about many hardships for the entire family, but economically and emotionally. The topic of deportations is important given that “an estimated 4.5 million U.S. citizen children live in families in which one or both parents are undocumented” (Gulbas & Zayas, 2017). The voices of children should be researched further and heard when creating new immigration policies. I am interested in this topic given my own personal background. I grew up in a household where both my parents are undocumented as well as myself. Although I didn’t experience either parent being deported, I still recall consciously knowing that it can happen someday. This same fear of being separated by a loved one is experienced
Imagine yourself being a child of an undocumented immigrant, how would you feel if you watch the Television every day, and all you see is people been deported to their countries of origin because of their illegal status? Immigration has become one of the hottest topics that everyone is talking about, to specify, undocumented immigrants has suddenly become the target towards improving the nation’s economy. However, the damage that are resulting as we impound the fear of deportation on these undocumented immigrants are been neglected. Over 11 million undocumented immigrants resides in the US, formed families and have U.S born children (Suro and Suarez-Orozco). Today, among 15 children, there is one U.S born citizen with an undocumented parent (Suro and Suarez-Orozco). These children are nurtured by illegal parents who goes through emotional distress everyday due to the difficulties they face as they watch politicians calling out on
When immigrants come to america seeking a free country where they can get paid and feed their whole family. But as soon as they come over they have to hide and try not to get deported back to mexico. All of these Candidates tell people that they have plans but they never actually do anything about the “problem”. Nothing is going the happen with immigrants if no one takes the initiative.
In the book Child Migration and Human Rights in a Global Age, Jacqueline Bhabha writes about the implications deporting immigrants has on the idea of nuclear families. She references conclusions made by Jean Piaget, a famous developmental psychologist, about the negative impact children feel caused by separation from their parent or parents. Piaget states that the presence of parents is “essential for a child’s development of morality” (Bhabha 20). Research about the impact of separation with regards to immigrant children who are eventually reunited with their parents, reports the complex emotional turmoil experienced by the child or children. Therefore, thrusting a child into the migration process only proves to be more harmful than helpful. Clinical reports reveal considerable negative impacts on children and on family relationships both during and after the “separation phase”. Parents forced to part with their “children may feel guilt, but expect gratitude for the sacrifices that they made for their child, but in reality, the child ends up feeling more anger, and resentment towards the parent for leaving them” (Bhabha