Since the tragic loss of the DREAM Act, Obama has been searching for ways to improve America’s flawed immigration policy. Even though recent numbers show a huge decrease in the number of illegal immigrants entering through Mexico, Republicans view immigration — in all its forms — as anti-American, completely forgetting that nearly all of their ancestors were once immigrants themselves. The new changes to immigration laws is long-overdue.
This still stands for something.
Forget give me your poor, your tired, your huddled masses. Forget the economic benefits that steady immigration brings. Forget the entrepreneurs, doctors, public leaders, teachers, and creatives that immigrants are or become. Republicans feel like foreigners are taking over our nation. Why else would they insist on English being an official language instead of a naturally required language? Why else would they try to spend money to electrify the Mexican-American border? Why else would they oppose allowing the children of immigrants who have met certain requirements as adults to remain American citizens?
Official status aside, immigrants who arrived as children and who have grown up in America are citizens. They go to our schools, they hang out with our groups of friends; they make up our daily lives. While they might be culturally exposed to their home traditions, most of them have little real connection to their places of origin. They are Americans. Sending them back because they came here illegally (though certainly as children not under their own volition) is harmful for two reasons. First, America loses a worker, a consumer, and possibly a brilliant influencer who positively impacts our society. Second, the deported person goes back to a place that they are not familiar with, have no real experience in, and as a result find it very difficult to assimilate and find a job or opportunity.
Obama finally made a move to help alleviate this situation. It is not as expansive as the old DREAM Act would have been, but it marks an effort to realistically tackle the issues of immigration instead of insisting on outlandish policy and fortification measures.
Ironically, one of the biggest reasons why Republicans hate China is because of their growing economic clout. Yet China’s longterm growth potential looks dismal when you look at its population forecasts. Whereas America, specifically because of our immigration, will look forward to a much more sustainable population growth and economic future. Why take away American-educated people, who will stay and live in America for much of their productive lives, simply because they don’t “belong” here?
To xenophobic Republicans, nothing will make them understand that immigration is one of the biggest strengths that America possesses, even while they talk nostalgically about their forefathers who braved the elements and chance in their struggle to get to, and succeed in, the United States.
