“What, then, is the American?” – Crèvecoeur
Perhaps the conversation of immigration in America has always been centered around the idea of the American. What is an American? What defines such a type of people?
Did you know that most of the 11 million undocumented people in the U.S. have been here for five years or more? About two-thirds have been here for at least a decade.
Much like Trump’s invalid abortion debate, his immigration stance is demeaning and derogatory.
Let’s face it: our immigration system is broken. Building up a wall is not the answer to glue it back together — if it was ever together at all.
Even Catholics and Christians have united together to call for immigration reform policies within the United States. The “We Stand Together” network offers a vision that reflects “God’s grace and love for all people, including undocumented immigrants.” It is not a matter of whether or not secularity should be put into play; it is a matter of moral values and having a sympathetic, compassionate attitude towards our fellow human beings.
Understandably, the concept of an “illegal alien” is harrowing and bothersome; perhaps this is why the Library of Congress banned the term from the modern American vernacular. The idea that anyone can enter our borders is terrifying. However, coming from a former immigrant, I can testify that it is not at all easy to enter American boundaries. One must jump through many loopholes, even to the extent that one must give up their rights —including their educational degrees. Take it from me: my father and my mother immigrated to the United Kingdom as a stepping stone to immigrating to the United States. Our lives in England were not perfect but ideal. We had the car, house and my parents earned a more-than-meager salary.
They taught me that it was possible to achieve the American dream outside of United States boundaries.
When having finally reached the U.S., my family and I were illegal aliens for almost two months. My parents both held Bachelor’s degrees in Nursing, with 7+ years of experience, and we were still labeled — no, branded — as illegal aliens. I understand that two months is nothing compared to others (my dad’s best friend was an illegal alien for years and had to jump from hospital to hospital due to his lack of a green card). However, the idea of being branded as an illegal alien — not just an immigrant — was and still is particularly haunting.
It is, first and foremost, the reason why I choose to always do excel in everything that I do. Perhaps there will always be something inside of me that is afraid that if I do not do well, then I will be deported. I know that it is silly since I am now a naturalized citizen of the United States (a process that took 7 years).
Perhaps the question we should ask is not whether one holds a blue passport; perhaps the question is what our definitions are of an “American” and who is worthy enough to receive a golden ticket and why and how can we judge one’s worthiness.
thisgirlchristine 
October 5, 2016 at 4:20 pm
This is a great question that many people disagree on. Logically, immigrants are Americans… that’s how this country started and we are built on the notion of the American dream. The Statue of Liberty is meant to greet immigrants coming into our country. But it is unfortunately true that this day and age, Americans (who are too far descended from immigrants) are becoming increasingly xenophobic. I also came to this country, but on a much easier route. My mom being an American and my dad being Canadian. But now that they are divorced and he lives back in Canada, he has a really hard time even getting into the country to visit. It’s a sticky situation.
October 5, 2016 at 4:25 pm
Allison, I completely agree. The ideology of the immigrant and also the great ship of freedom that is the Statue of Liberty and America has now become an anchor. The increase of xenophobia is insane. I appreciate your story, as it presents a different story.
October 12, 2016 at 11:37 am
It’s a great coincidence that I found this post because I recently learned the history of “other” in America through a voting perspective in my political attitudes and behavior class. Americans have always had a xenophobia against someone throughout its history. One of the first groups were those who were Jewish or Catholic, and the Irish and Italians and then basically any immigrant who came from Eastern/Southern Europe and then Asians immigrated in waves in the late 20th Century (to grossly oversimplify).
The trend among all these groups is that they were associated with the “riff raff” of society, they lived in overcrowded housing, they took low-paying jobs, they couldn’t assimilate to mainstream culture whether through language or behavior.
As my professor put it, we’ve always been questioning who has the right to vote–a statement that can easily be spun to say, “Who gets to be considered American?”
And I feel that conversation isn’t going to go away anytime soon, not as long as there are people who fear certain countries or feel hate against other countries…and unfortunately, people have been finding ways to do just that since the beginning
October 12, 2016 at 10:32 pm
The term “illegal alien” is historically comical, because the American pioneers, also known as the leftovers from England shipped to the new land, were the original aliens who proceeded to oust the natives from their land. I think the difficulties in the conversion of education is particularly painful. In my family background, many relatives immigrated to the US, as professionals with degrees from top-tier universities, that were then unable to practice and were degraded. It will be interesting to see what a new round of immigration reform policies will bring.
October 12, 2016 at 11:14 pm
The true irony in the American Dream is that when “Americans” first came to this new land they were in fact the “illegal aliens” that are so feared today. Yes, the immigration system is broken, quite honestly it is possible that it is never meant to be 100% fixed. But the xenophobia is very real, and is something within our control. It should be viewed with the same caution and care Americans view homosexuality or race in.