Immigration is a highly controversial topic, especially here in the United States. With such controversies, we wonder a few things: Why do they come to America? How are they treated once they arrive in America? How can we help? etc. Please continue to read about immigration and the heartbreak/fear they face every day.
How did Mexican Immigrants come to be in America?
"Some Mexicans were already living in the Southern and Western regions of the North American continent centuries before the United States existed. Many more Mexicans came to the country during the 20th century, and Mexican immigrants continued to arrive in the late 20th and early 21st centuries." (LOC) Immigration law has swung back and forth on immigration sometimes welcoming them and other times slamming the door shut on them.
Misconceptions about Immigration:
“When Mexico sends its people, they’re not sending their best,” he said. “They’re not sending you. They’re not sending you. They’re sending people that have lots of problems, and they’re bringing those problems with us. They’re bringing drugs. They’re bringing crime. They’re rapists. And some, I assume, are good people.”- Donald Trump
Meet Jordi Munoz: A Successful Immigrant
Despite the negative views on immigrants and why they come to America, Jordi Munoz is a great example of how immigrants benefit America. While waiting on his green card, he hacked the sensors of his Wii, wrote some code, and created the first autopiloted drone. He then later launched 3D robotics.
Treatment faced in Detention Centers
"a gynecologist in Georgia performing hysterectomies on migrant women in the custody of Immigration and Customs Enforcement without fully informed consent. Women from the same immigration detention center in Georgia have also reported being subjected to unnecessary gynecological procedures."
". That administration imprisoned migrant women and children and refugees in ever greater numbers while they waited for their cases to be reviewed by immigration courts. Some migrants were held for years behind bars."
"a complaint against the Department of Homeland Security for sexual assault, abuse and harassment in ICE detention facilities. The Adelanto detention facility in San Bernardino County was listed among the top five facilities in the country with the most sexual assault complaints."
"ICE agents forcibly removed migrant children from their parents at the U.S.-Mexico border. Audio recordings of children crying for their parents and images of kids in cages caused a moral dilemma"
Immigration Centers in the Rio Grande Valley
As someone who grew up so close to the border in Brownsville Texas, Immigration is something that was always discussed. I've had friends who have had their family members ripped away from them, Family in the detention centers, and have heard saddening stories of the treatment they faced while being detained. Right now in Mcallen, Texas Immigrants are "living in overcrowded spaces and sometimes are forced to sleep outside a building where the water “tastes like bleach,”.
"they aren’t receiving proper medical care and children don’t have enough clean clothes. Unable to clean themselves, young mothers reported wiping their children’s runny noses or vomit with their own clothing"
“Basic hygiene just doesn't exist there,” Gialluca said. "It’s a health crisis ... a manufactured health crisis," she said.
How can you help?
Migrant Center for Human Rights: The migrant center for human rights provides free and low-cost legal services for detained asylum seekers in Texas.
The Thanks-Giving Foundation: This center is where overflow asylum seekers are being sent to an Oak Lawn Methodist Church Respite Center. This foundation allows for families to be sent to El Paso while en route to their families
Val Verde Border Humanitarian Coalition: This organization helps refugees by providing them with access to phones, restrooms, showers, laundry, and warm meals.
The Young Center for Immigrant Children’s Rights: This organization accepts donations that provide more child advocates for immigrant kids inside the detention center.
Texas RioGrande Legal Aid: This organization provides free legal services to low-income people seeking immigration assistance
South Texas Pro Bono Asylum Representation Project: An organization that is looking for volunteers and attorneys that provide legal services to asylum seekers detained in South Texas.
Learn more about the organizations here:
Immigration is not bad in the United States, if anything immigrants help the United states grow and help in many ways. They are just like us, people with dreams, aspirations, goals, etc. They come to the United States for a better life. The way they are treated is unfair and heartbreaking. It is time to make a difference and help these immigrants and especially change the way they are treated by ICE and our government.
Works Cited
https://www.americanbar.org/groups/public_interest/immigration/projects_initiatives/south_texas_pro_bono_asylum_representation_project_probar/
https://www.texastribune.org/2019/06/23/immigrant-detention-center-mcalllen-overcrowded-filthy-conditions/
https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2019/10/02/trumps-most-insulting-violent-language-is-often-reserved-immigrants/
https://www.latimes.com/opinion/story/2020-10-01/immigrants-detention-ice-abuse-hysterectomies
https://www.cnbc.com/2017/06/12/5-self-made-hispanic-us-immigrant-millionaires.html
https://time.com/3742067/history-mexican-immigration/#:%7E:text=Beginning%20around%20the%201890s%2C%20new,States%20to%20escape%20the%20violence.
https://www.hrw.org/news/2021/03/05/mexico-abuses-against-asylum-seekers-us-border#
https://www.latimes.com/opinion/story/2020-10-01/immigrants-detention-ice-abuse-hysterectomies
Credits:
Created with images by utah51 - "immigration law" • mantinov - "Enter to USA is prohibited" • Mariusz Blach - "American flag waving in the wind, US flag motion close-up, United States of America national flag. USA stars and stripes" • Zack Frank - "White House"