Undocumented : How Immigration Became Illegal By Aviva Chomsky

Furthermore, in most cases, it may seem the United States has a system in which immigrants are not given the chance to form a bright future. In the novel, “Antonio soon found himself settling for jobs that were clearly beneath him. He stood under the baking sun at the on-ramp to the Santa Monica Freeway, selling oranges for two dollars a bag: a dollar fifty for the guy from the produce market, fifty cents for him,” (Tobar, 53). Many of the immigrants that live in the U.S. have little power that allows them to succeed. Some races have benefitted from it more than others. The Cubans, for instance, have had it much easier than most immigrants who have migrated to the United States; whereas, Antonio, a Guatemalan, had trouble finding a stable job that allowed him to sustain himself. In contrast to many other races, many Americans described Cubans as being visitors who represent, “all phases of life and professions, having an excellent level of education… More than half of their families with them, including children brought from Cuba to escape communist indoctrination in the schools,”

The topic of immigrants has been debated for centuries, and has been an even larger topic for discussion since the attack on the two towers in 2001. Many people contemplate whether immigrants are a reason to be scared, not; and if so, then why? If one finds themselves asking this conflicting question, Jeremy Adam Smith’s article, Our Fear of Immigrants, provides an answer. Relying on research from psychologists and sociologists, Smith gives sufficient evidence for why immigrants bring such intense feelings of both hatred and compassion, and recommends a way to increase empathy toward them.

The United States of America, being a country founded by immigrants, is known all over the world as the land of great opportunities. People from all walks of life travelled across the globe, taking a chance to find a better life for them and their family. Over the years, the population of immigrants has grown immensely, resulting in the currently controversial issue of illegal immigration. Illegal immigrants are the people who have overstayed the time granted on their US, visa or those who have broken the federal law by crossing the border illegally. Matt O’Brien stated in his article “The government thinks that 10.8 million illegal immigrants lived in the country in January 2009, down from a peak of nearly 12 million in 2007.”(Para, 2)

Ruth Gomberg-Muñoz’s, Labor and Legality is a book written on the Mexican immigrant network in the U.S. She centers it on the Lions, a group of Mexican men from Leon, Mexico that all share their lives and help explain the many networks and strategies that are used in order to excel and gain happiness. There have been many different sorts of misconceptions about immigrants, and in recent years about undocumented immigrants from Mexico. The U.S. has made a sort of war on illegal immigrants and has made it a seemingly high priority in the media and in politics. Therefore, many Americans have been mislead and ill-informed about the history of immigrants/undocumented immigrants. Gomberg-Muñoz’s Labor and Legality helps set us straight. She unveils undocumented immigrants for the people that they are instead of the criminals that the media leads many to believe. Although she doesn’t have a wide range of participants for her study, I believe that she addresses many of the misconceptions and just plain ignorance that American people have of people that are undocumented; why stereotypes are supported by the people themselves, why politicians include stronger illegal immigration laws, and everything in between. Many of her topics reveal a sort of colonialism that the U.S. practices on Mexico; the exploitation of undocumented peoples to the benefit of the U.S. through economics, hypocritical laws and campaigns, and the racist and prejudice consequences.

Jose Antonio Vargas, a Pulitzer Prize winning author, shares his life-long journey as an undocumented immigrant in his text, “My Life as an Undocumented Immigrant.” As the title suggests, Vargas attempts to convey to his audience, who likely never has and never will experience anything similar to what he has, what it is like to live as an immigrant in the United States of America. Skillfully, Vargas details the perfect number of personal stories to reach the emotional side of his audience, which is anyone who is not an immigrant. Through the use of his personal accounts Vargas is able to effectively communicate that immigrants are humans too while simultaneously proving his credibility, as he has experience and a vast amount of knowledge

Americans may often forget that immigrants are human beings too. A lot of them may not see all the risks that comes with trying to cross the border along with all the issues and problems immigrants face. In Aviva Chomsky’s “How immigration became illegal” she tries to get Americans to understand what it might feel like trying to come to America and really shows it from an immigrant perspective.

The United States is set apart from other countries in that we have a unique economic, political, and spiritual system from the rest of the world. This also poses a unique problem to our society: Since we possess desirable aspects as a country, we have to deal with the issue of immigration. Legal immigration is a great benefit to our society, and if we can control and harness immigration, it will better our country for years to come. While illegal immigration is an enormous problem that needs to be solved, legal immigration is a great asset to our economy and American society as a whole.

Throughout life, every individual must face obstacles; some more difficult than others. In the story “The Trip” by Laila Lalami, poem “Exile” by Julia Alvarez, and article “Outlaw: My Life as an Undocumented Immigrant” by Jose Antonio Vargas, there is a main character who has to face many challenges because of the fact that they’re immigrants. In all three texts, it is evident that being an immigrant has many affects on their lives. However, this label and the obstacles that come with it didn’t stop each character from pushing forward.

Anthropologist Leo Chavez presents a very descriptive and detailed account when he wrote Shadowed Lives, UNDOCUMENTED IMMIGRANTS IN AMERICAN SOCIETY it takes readers into the lives and experiences of illegal immigrants. Chavez is detailed within the book points are placed regarding people's choice to migrate as well as their stories of crossing the border into the United States We can learn a lot from Chavez's book, making distinct opinions on immigration itself, and the difference in immigration culture after migrating.

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).

On the other hand, Aviva Chomsky clearly demonstrate that people look for a better future and head towards the opportunities, immigrants in U.S. are not fighting for a student loan or access to a free clinic, they are fighting for the opportunities that they are denied in their native country. The myth that “Immigrants only come here because they want to enjoy our higher standard of living” (Chomsky 121). It is a myth because immigrant must of the time they come here to work and build a better future for their families without enjoying the benefits that a U.S. citizen has. According to Chomsky states that “Poverty, lack of opportunity, and danger push people to leave; opportunity, availability of jobs, education, and safety pull people elsewhere” (Chomsky 122). The lack of jobs on their natives’ countries made them to look for a better future, also in most countries the violence is incredible high compared to the U.S. that the jobs are everywhere and their security system made the immigrants feel safe even though there trap in their cruel system. In addition, the medical system is better for example a Filipina Nurse states that “The thing I love about America hospitals is that we have enough supplies and equipment. In the Philippines we boiled our own rectal tubes, you use the catheters over and over. But, here you just use it once and dump it out” (Chomsky 125). Compared, to the Philippines their resources are limited most of the time, while the U.S. has all the basic

Undocumented: How Immigration Became Illegal by Aviva Chomsky is a compelling book that addresses the hot button issue that is immigration in the United States. With immigration being one of the main focuses in the most recent presidential election, it is clearly evident that immigration, both legal and illegal, plays an important role in today's society. Chomsky addresses this issue with a modern liberal outlook and questions the legitimacy, if any, of the illegality of immigration.

Immigration, a very popular topic, but most people only think about one side. The U.S citizen side is common knowledge, but what about the immigrant’s side? In the novel, The Book of Unknown Americans, by Cristina Henríquez, and in the article "Sick and Afraid, Some Immigrants Forgo Medical Care”, by Jan Hoffman, the major theme is immigrants and their fear. As shown in the novel and the article, immigrants have feelings and families, hopes and dreams. Immigration is a very controversial issue in the United States, but it should not be, since immigrants are people too, according to both of theses sources. Medical issues, the fear of harm, and unfair treatment, are the major things that both of these sources have in common and agree on. Immigrants are struggling in America, in more ways than one, and many are wondering if coming to America was the right choice.

Immigrants are people who live in a country that they weren’t born in. The term “illegal immigrants” is used for the people who cross the border without becoming a resident or citizen. Some Americans believe that their country is being taken over by illegal immigrants and that these immigrants don’t deserve to live here. Many immigrants are treated as less than human. Even though immigrants can take over many roles of citizens, immigrants should have more rights because they are discriminated against by US law and immigrants deserve the basic human rights.

Have you ever had a dream in which you are in a hole and you are trapped and you can't speak, call or do anything? In which you are isolated from everything and have no way to ask for help? This is how many slaves and immigrants feel many of the times.In the Life Of Frederick Douglass, Douglass life was never easy. He had to go through the mistreats of his masters as well as other slaves. He was taken away from his family and forbid him from having any type of education. Most importantly, the masters tried to hide the truth from which we learn that Douglass discovers and he values it, helping him ameliorate his situation. Meanwhile, In the article, “On immigration, Oppress Not The Stranger”, by Jonathan Freedman, It talks about how many people think that an estimated 11.7 million immigrants are here in the US to exploit the benefits that is given, when in reality, many immigrants come to the US for just a simply better life for their kids. Immigrants come to think that coming to the US is better, but many of the times they get treated like animals but they still deal with it for their kids. Many take low income jobs and hide their identity so there kids can stay here and make an education out of it. Immigrants internally deal with the calling of names, with the fear that they live, and most importantly they have to deal with their kids being scared in school that someday there parents will be deported. With this being said, both Frederick Douglass and Jonathan Freedman