I would rather have in this country a thousand immigrants willing to walk 1,500 miles for an opportunity to live a safe life and work hard, than a thousand people who sit around the house and whine about the loss of their factory job, refuse to move fifty miles to a city where there is work, and scheme about finding their next fix...
The immigrants are a benefit to this country. The latter are just lazy whining complainers without any ambition to improve their lot in life.
9
As a transgender woman I definitely understand what it's like to not feel welcome. There are just as many transgender people in this country as their are Dreamers, so I also understand what it's like to be part of a minority with no power that relies on the help of others to protect them.
However, I still feel like this caravan situation needs to be addressed. My big issue is that this caravan was the result of a domestic political stunt in Honduras. While I dont believe the organizers intended this, the result of that political stunt was direct interferance in the domestic politics of the United States.
We say we are mad at Russia for interfering with our elections. Should we also not be angry at the Honduran political opposition for doing the same thing? This caravan helped Trump more than 10,000 fake Facebook messages could in my opinion. Democrats cheering on the caravan or writing apologies for it multiplied its negative effects.
Plus, if the caravan succeeds what will happen next? I think we will see more and larger caravans. Democrats who argue that we can handle 5,000 more asylum seekers were saying a month ago that the border was completely overwhelmed and that it was taking years to process asylum seekers cases. What happens when 10,000 people show up at once?
5
"As late as 2006, there were still liberals who cared about the economic effects of immigration, legal or illegal. 'Immigration reduces the wages of domestic workers who compete with immigrants,' explained economist Paul Krugman in the New York Times. '…We’ll need to reduce the inflow of low-skilled immigrants. Mainly, that means better controls on illegal immigration.'
That same year, Senator Hillary Clinton voted for a fence on the Mexican border. So did Barack Obama and Chuck Schumer and 23 other Senate Democrats."
A bill introduced by then-Democratic Senator Harry Reid of Nevada in 1993 sought to end birthright citizenship. The measure would have no longer allowed those born in the U.S. to parents who were in the country illegally to obtain automatic citizenship. If the newborn's parents were in the U.S. legally, then birthright citizenship would have been granted. “Any person born after the date of enactment of this title to…a mother who is neither a citizen of the United States nor admitted to the United States as a lawful permanent resident…shall be considered as born subject to the jurisdiction of that foreign country and not subject to the jurisdiction of the United States,” Reid’s proposed law stated.
“Therefore...the newborn would 'not be a citizen of the United States or of any State solely by reason of physical presence within the United States at the moment of birth.'"
https://www.newsweek.com/trump-end-birthright-citizenship-democrat-bill-1193897
14
Congratulations - it looks like you worked very hard to obtain your greencard. Hope The US government continues to recognize and reward hard work such as yours.
4
You are a legal green card holder who has accomplished much and went through the legal process of obtaining a green card as an adult. So, yes, you are now welcome. That does not mean that people who enter the U.S. illegally should be allowed to stay or that the U.S. should not consider doing away with birthright citizenship, as most other countries have done. The U.S. has every right to enforce immigration law and its borders and to write immigration law so immigration is beneficial to current citizens, not just to the foreign residents. Illegal immigration costs the taxpayer in terms of public education, health care, other services and wages that are driven down. No foreigner has a right to cross the border and live here simply because he wants to do so or because he and his children would have a better quality of life in the United States.
17
You are welcome in my sphere any time you wish. It was a pleasure to meet you and hear your poetry in 'Rising Voices' earlier this year. I envy your strength and the idea of the Russian River excursions. Have fun!
1
A green card or a citizenship is not a marker written on our face. You can either be welcoming to immigrants or hate them. How do the white people who keep saying "If you are legal, you are welcome here" actually react when they see immigrants in everyday life? Do they ask to check papers before they say a hello? The message to take away here is that America and its white majority are increasingly resenting having People of Color and immigrants around here. They project their problems and failures on us. And the resentment grows.
3
There are jerks everywhere. Opposing illegal immigration should have nothing to do with being nice to your neighbors. When I hear Spanish in a store, I am as friendly and helpful as I would be to anyone else in line. People have no way of knowing what circumstances brought that person to the community or whether he is here legally. On the other hand, I do think the Spanish speakers (or Chinese, Tagalog, etc.) should become fluent in English as quickly as possible, assimilate to the community and immediately return home of they are not here legally. They might be the nicest, most hardworking people in the world, but they are still here illegally.
11
I am an immigrant myself so I understand how very unusual it is to be living in a time when the president and the political party that controls all the levers of power have become so hostile to immigrants. But never forget that the vast majority of Americans no matter what their politics are kind and decent people individually even though, as a group, they can act in profoundly disturbing ways such as electing a man and a party totally unfit to govern.
This country is not perfect and these days has become more imperfect than I could have imagined when I got here in the 1970's. But it's still better than most places on the planet - and remember that these times too will pass.
18
Mr. Javier Zamora, Sir. Like it or not, we have to follow the immigration laws of any country that we immigrate to and those laws cannot be changed just because it is not convenient for us and we complain about it. We either accept it or stay in our underdeveloped countries of origin.
I am a Permanent Resident since 1972 and an American Citizen since 1988 and I would not mind being asked for ID by any government authority if required and I would not feel intimidated even if I was still Permanent Resident.
Question: How many of the caravan migrants families will you personally take in your home?
17
My family has fought and some have died in every war, pre and since the American Revolution. My ancestor's blood was shed for this nation and what it represents today. I want to remind all newcomers that the US did not just appear nor fall out of the sky. There was a lot of sacrifice and hardship experienced by our honorable American soldiers and their families. They fought fearlessly and some died for this nation's ideals and freedom.
Do not take this country for granted, ever.
13
Yes, in my eyes you are welcome here. You have worked hard. You have contributed to America. I'm sorry that you had to leave El Salvador to come live here. I wish that you could have stayed there, not because I don't want you here but because no one should ever feel that s/he has to leave his/her country of birth to survive. I'm even sorrier that it was our actions as a country that created the situation.
I'm here because my relatives had to flee Eastern Europe due to anti-Semitism in the early part of the 20th century. In fact, many of us are here because our ancestors had to flee to survive economically and physically. They helped to create America. And so will you Mr. Zamora.
53
@hen3ry--It was the corruption and associated poverty and violence that created the situation. The author doesn't mention that El Salvador and other Central Americans benefited from the 1986 amnesty, NACARA, and, most recently, Temporary Protected Status, TPS. The latter has allowed 200,000 Salvadorans to work here legally since 2001, to get educations, and to send literally billions of dollars home each year. In fact, remittances are now 17% of El Salvador's economy. The reality is, if conditions in El Salvador are worse now than when the author came here, it's because SALVADORANS are still tolerant of corruption. Money from immigrants in the US hasn't made the country better off, and may have made it worse off. IMHO, having a good chunk of your working age population in the US, having left children behind in ES, without protection, and sending money back to them, makes them targets for gangs and feeds violence.
The author might also note that Mexico, a wealthy country and #15 in GDP, also relies heavily on remittances, to the tune of $28 billion a year, and is one of the most corrupt countries in the world, 135 out of 180, according to Transparency International.
22
The US is one of the most corrupt countries in the world, billionaires who pay no taxes, exploit their employees, break every OSHA law in the book (Bezos), and we have a trillion dollar deficit BECAUSE the rich refuse to pay taxes. The rest of us get poorer and poorer, because our wages stagnate or fall, as we pay higher and higher taxes to support the rich, the church, the military - all overbloated parasites sucking our blood. That is the very definition of a corrupt, third world, feudal economy. Who are we to call another country corrupt?
19
@Ali
That may be the reason that these folks are coming here, but it does not distinguish their small land from all of China, India, and more than half of the world's nations and populations.
For this ungrateful green card holder to be openly critizing our elected president's policies regarding immigration is beyond the pale.
Oh, the poor guy--he "feels differnet, unwanted." Most Americans alive today--and certainly their parents-- have experienced such feelings and still managed to survive and prosper. And they were citizens.
8
Native-born Americans have to know that America is not only a territory and a physical entity, it's an ideal and a concept that resonate on communities outside the US.
3
I hear you, I don't feel welcome in this town or this country, not sure at all where to go. Hang in there. Hope for a better world or at least a better country for the next generation, but we've taken ten steps back in my lifetime and probably won't get ten steps forward again in that lifetime. Ironically, my mother was treated better; she was born here but didn't speak English, and a dedicated teacher kept her after school to teach her. I wish I knew the name of that teacher. When mom improved her English skills, her teacher gave her a copy of A Child's Garden of Verses. I think I still have the book, fallen to pieces now. Mom spent the rest of her life reading books in English. Sad that she didn't read her native language, but continued to speak it. Now even our names are English. People think I'm an Anglo-American, it's a bit like walking around in drag. Other people may not know who or what you are, but you know who you are. That is your place in the world.
21
@Stephanie Wood
They say whereever you go, there you are. A lot of people think they will be happier if they move--change neighborhoods, or towns, or states, or even countries, but they find, mysteriously, that the new neighbors and town are just as unfriendly as the one they left. This is because they have brought the same self with them.
3
@Stephanie Wood. Seems like you're an American to me. I don't see the safety issue.
If you don't like Montclair move to Verona. Or anyplace else in the entire United States you like.
Or if you really feel that unsafe in Montclair and the United States there is always your other country of citizenship.
3
Never feel you are valued any less because you are an immigrant. Coming from a family who immigrated here in the 1940's, I love hearing their stories about wanting a better life in America and striving to fulfill their American dream. In my family, you would be welcomed wholeheartedly.
Immigration is a beautiful thing. We should embrace the fact that we are a multicultural society, not spread hatred and fear across the nation. Being an American is amazing because we all have a different story to tell.
I am disgusted to hear the rhetoric coming from our president and his supporters. It is truly a departure from the norms that we have had our entire lives. But fortunately, there are people like me fighting for you, and denouncing the hate coming from the president and his inner circle of supporters. We, as Americans, should do the right thing and all reject the abhorrent language coming from this White House.
26
@Brandon--On the contrary, Trump's immigration policies are a return to the norms we've had our entire lives--that you come legally, are healthy and self-supporting, and do not commit crimes. That you assimilate to this country, not it accommodating you. We've even had immigration time outs, beginning in the 1920s, that helped immigrants assimilate and earn better wages because they weren't competing with new immigrants who drove wages down.
27
@Brandon
Perhaps you are unaware that Obama spoke against illegal immigration and that his policies, as recounted in the case Lynch v Flores, 2016, United States Court of Appeals for the 9th Circuit, were rebuked by the judiciary and he was forced to abandon the effort to discourage illegal immigration through his polices. Bill Clinton, Democrat President, spoke about the need to control illegal immigration in a State of the Union speech-- and his wife, Hillary, also defended having defined and enforced borders. Harry Reid , Democrat majority leader, was against birthright citizenship. Democrat Governor Brown warned Californians against an influx of Vietnamese who would steal Californian's jobs. Who would have guessed that so many Democrats were hateful racists? https://www.dailywire.com/news/37702/watch-tucker-carlson-explains-why-democrats-have-jacob-airey
8
"The president stirred up fears of a caravan that was an 'invasion of our country' — so dangerous that he is sending thousands of United States troops to intercept the invaders at the border. " You just got your green card and already you are opining on the horrors of our President and you are looking at our nation's determination to control immigration at our border as something unacceptable to you??? And you wonder how to "blend in"? Here's a hint, holder of a green card at our sufferance: When a caravan arrives at the border, its individuals cannot be processed. That means they can overwhelm border guards and march on it without being vetted. I'm really annoyed--no make that really angry--to read your arrogant self-centered views--the views of a man who is still an alien non-citizen-- as to what we have a right to do on our border and what our elected president has a right to do and ARE right to do.
15
You know, I did want you until I read this: "He’s [President Trump] also floated the idea that, despite the Constitution, being born in this country is not a guarantee of citizenship. This is the cynical manipulation of white Americans’ fears; fears of the other. Watching this on TV, I feel exactly like I felt in my first days in this country in 1999 — different, unwanted."
You are not even a citizen here, Javier. You are an alien guest. One would think you would have a little more common sense than to think that citizens of this great land will be taking their cues on our policies from aliens. I, for one, have zero intention of doing that. I listen to other citizens because they are part of this club; you are not.
And this cry-baby attitude of yours--" I feel exactly like I felt in my first days in this country in 1999 — different, unwanted."
Gee, I wonder why.
12
The covfefeans, a bigoted lower form of life who strive to destroy anything different from them while taking wages, human rights, and Earth itself for the apocalyptic ride, don't wish you here. To such Republicans, you're not welcome.
To Americans, you are.
Welcome to the United States, Javier Zamora. Welcome home.
2
In every country there is always hate and fear present but there is also love and acceptance like by your two white friends camping at the river. There are still more of us who flt into the accepting category here than the are hateful.
You escaped El Salvador because of hate and fear. The America I grew up in defined itself by being the defenders of the weak and imperiled, the defenders of liberty and freedom. You cannot change trump and his racist followers anymore than I can but you can set an example to him and all of us Americans perhaps by helping those separated and incarcerated children at the border that you feel America has forgotten. Your green card makes you legal but it doesn't make you an American, your actions will define you, not trump. Please help all of us to restore the American way.
2
Congratulations on your legal status! What would happen in El Salvador if 10,000 person caravans marched on the legislature, executive office, police head quarters AND the homes of the gang leadership and demanded an end to the violence! If all those people made the effort to change and improve their own country they might not need to flee to the US!
11
Welcome Javier,
Your experiences and ability to express your thoughts, and your friends, whom hold you inclusively and respectfully, will keep you in good stead.
Your struggles and successes become theirs, and their concerns become yours. This is how we are meant to live and love as Americans.
Cheers!
3
You have skills and a job earned on merit, and are a self-supporting, Tax-paying citizen with a green card that says you came here the right way via immigration. What you have to fear are the criminals back in your country who will target you know, knowing you have yankee dollars to spare. Si!
4
How do the Progressives respond when advised that former Democrat Presidents like Obama and Bill Clinton called for border security and for policies that discouraged illegal immigration or that Hillary Clinton did as well? Do they call Obama and the Clintons "racists"?
How do they respond when they learn that Harry Reid came out foursquare against birthright citizenship,calling it "insane"? Did they call him" a racist"?
How do they respond when the learn that Cesar Chavez, liberal leader of the grape pickers union-- Cesar Chavez, the Progressive hero "who opposed illegal immigration so much he would send his men into the desert to assault illegals trying to get into the country because he reasoned that they would cause wages to drop for legal immigrants"?
“Until recently, most Democrats agreed with Chavez” ...They opposed unchecked immigration because they knew it hurt American workers. And they were right.”
How do they respond when they learn that "as recently as 2006, the Democrats were in favor of building a border wall and for enforcing the immigration laws"?
"After the fall of Saigon...Democratic Governor Jerry Brown opposed letting Vietnamese refugees into California ... "There is something a little strange about saying, 'Let's bring in 500,000 more people' when we can't take care of the one million Californians out of work.”
https://www.dailywire.com/news/37702/watch-tucker-carlson-explains-why-democrats-have-jacob-airey
13
@Oxford96
Excellent summary of the facts that are ignored or misrepresented by the Dems and the MSM. But the real question is WHY have they purposely not shown these facts? The answer to both, i.e., why did they state one thing then and the exact opposite today, is simple: Votes and Power. What’s missing is solving the problem. If the MSM would do their job, they would present ALL of the facts in order to get both sides to get to a useful compromise. But, alas, that, of course, would not be in their self interest.
7
@Frederick Round
"Twenty years after Bill Clinton told Americans they had the right to be upset about illegal immigration, his wife scolded the country for enforcing border controls.
So, what changed?
Not the economics of it. The law of supply and demand remained in effect. It’s not a coincidence that as illegal immigration surged, wages for American workers stagnated.
What changed is that Democrats stopped caring about those workers. About the middle class, really."
https://www.dailywire.com/news/37702/watch-tucker-carlson-explains-why-democrats-have-jacob-airey
Yes, the Progressives abandoned the middle class and took on the issues of the aliens, seeking more votes. They stopped caring what happenend to our citizens, but their rhetoric gave no hint of it. The Left only awoke to that fact after the election and they were startled to see that someone had noticed their abject neglect.
7
As someone who is ambiguously white I would say yes and no. It depends if you look like money. If you do you have nothing to worry about. I got it from Maine, Long island NY, NYC, San Diego, US customs and naturally Texas. I even been called black ( not the word they used ) in Louisiana and Florida. But I'm mostly confused with being Mexican. Except by Mexicans who call me Dominican or God bless them Gringo. Even got the impression I was going to get killed in Yokohama by a bunch of kids.
So when and where you're safe depends where you are. Walk down fifth ave in NYC or the Galleria in Houston color don't matter if you got it. Why worry about being safe here? You had guns pointed at you in other countries. It will continue to happen here just like everywhere else.
If you don't mind me asking why do you think you are suffering an injustice because you have wait five more years to vote?
7
Yes, you are welcome.
Illegal immigrants and their enablers in the Democrat Party are less so.
15
So many folks are fleeing lawlessness and crime seek to come to the US.
Mexico should have a standard of living/GDP equaling France or Spain but for endemic corruption, similar in Central America.
The difference between illegal and legal is critically important.
Those evil forces of corruption are coming here via illegal immigration. Most illegal entry involves large payments to cartels/gangs on both sides of the border.
Focusing on the illusion of white nationalists everywhere ignores the actual fact of the growing presence of Ms 13 types ...
3
"the illusion of white nationalists everywhere"
...or the actual presence of white nationalists everywhere, who help give an inexplicable near-half of the polls to the demonstrably racist "covfefe" GOP.
A sane country would give bigots no sanction, much less a vote.
1
@Lane
Most illegal and legal immigrants pouring into the U.S. for 50 years have fled their own broke down countries that they and their ancestors broke. They are fleeing their own violent, ignorant and psychopath sons, husbands, fathers, uncles and neighbors - who are then able to chain migrate to the U.S.
i.e. Raise better sons or don't breed so many of them. And don't expect American taxpayers to do that heavy lifting.
2
Now here I disagree. The rise of satellite TV beaming into foreign communities has made the US appear so much more attractive and welcoming. Everyone want to be a Real Housewife of Beverly Hills... or live on a beach in New Jersey.
1
I am sorry to say, a large part of the United States, does not welcome immigrants. Ironically, this is the same group that claims Christian values and a desire to “spread democracy “.
2
I've heard and read too many times concerns - fears - by legal immigrants to the US that Trump is somehow going to invalidate their legal immigrant status.
Where does much of this fear come from? It comes largely not from Trump but from the left. The left in this country does a great job of stoking these fears by hyping Trump's rhetoric and deliberately misconstruing it. Trump's legitimate push to end illegal immigration has been translated by this paper and too many on air "pundits" as anti-immigrant in general. It hypes the false notion that Trump and Republicans are anti "brown people," "anti Hispanic," "racist" ... when the question is always about illegal immigration, which is a color-blind concept, based in law and national sovereignty issues.
No, if you are here legally, do not let ANYONE tell you your immigration status is in question. It is a lie perpetrated for political purposes. Do not believe the fear mongers. They are using you.
6
A little historical perspective I think might help to reframe this issue. With the exception of Native Americans we are all immigrants!
1
United States could have and still could invest Billions of Dollars in Central and South America instead of wasting them on Iraq, Afghanistan. US could joinn and train their police and military and actively engage in wiping out the drug cartels, the murderuous gangs. That will make these countries safe and eventually reduce the migration to a considerable degree and save us all the money in supporting the migrants. But we will never learn. We want to export democracy to Middle East which we never can and ignore the countries bordering us.
3
"My father left because of the war in 1991. Mom followed three years later. I followed, unaccompanied, in 1999."
I'm sorry, but I find it hard to believe that a 9 year old traveled thousands of miles on foot by himself, facing down guns and other perils. As a matter of fact, I don't believe you at all.
12
@mpound
Unaccompanied doesn't necessarily imply "on foot by himself". His parents could've easily purchased a plane ticket and sent it to him. It might just mean that his relatives took him to the airport where he boarded a plane by himself, and was then met by his parents when he landed.
@Susan Cuevas he came on foot in the company of strangers--I know this for fact.
2
@mpound I am sorry you are having trouble believing this, but I know this young man personally and he did, indeed, travel on foot at the age of 9 and in the company of strangers in order to get here.
2
As a liberal, I resent the constant accusations by those on the political right, that I support "open borders." I know of no one who supports such an idea. There is no "liberal" legislation supporting it. Are borders are, in fact, militarized as the author notes. This is yet another FOX News canard that has been repeated over and over again.
Let's try to be honest here: if we were all subject to the same sort of ID requirements as Javier (e.g. carrying citizenship documentation), we would quickly identify all those who are here legally and we could stop having this conversation. But, two things stand in the way of a national ID card: 1) Those in power in the U.S. really don't want true immigration reform. They benefit from undocumented/illegal labor (and they know they are getting away with it). 2) Americans get all bent out of shape about ID's. They have some strange notion that their privacy would be violated. Hey, if Americans are so proud of their citizenship, they should be proud to produce the evidence.
By the way, in Europe it's common, if you're stopped by the police they will ask you for your Identity Card. It's standard operating procedure. Why not here?
8
@mrfreeze6 Wrong. Why should AMERICAN CITIZENS be required by the government to carry some ID card stating they are citizens simply because we are being flooded with millions of folks who are here illegally? That does nothing to solve the problem of foreign nationals who have utter contempt for US law.
1
@mpound Great question! Answer: If you were required to show your citizenship today, could you do it? How do we know you're a "citizen?" And how do we know who is or isn't a citizen?
You're simply another American who doesn't want to bite the bullet and reform immigration. You'd rather hide behind ambiguity rather than demand everyone prove their status.
1
I've heard and read too many times concerns - fears - by legal immigrants to the US that Trump is somehow going to invalidate their legal immigrant status.
Where does much of this fear come from? It comes largely not from Trump but from the left. The left in this country does a great job of stoking these fears by hyping Trump's rhetoric and deliberately misconstruing it. Trump's legitimate push to end illegal immigration has been translated by too many on air "pundits" as anti-immigrant in general. It hypes the notion that Trump and Republicans are anti "brown people," "anti Hispanic," "racist" ... when the question is always about illegal immigration, which is a color-blind concept, based in law and national sovereignty issues.
No, if you are here legally, do not let ANYONE tell you your immigration status is in question. It's a lie perpetrated for political purposes. Don't believe the fear mongers. They are using you.
4
Short answer: no. The President has made it clear. I'm sincerely sorry.
2
I hope you appreciate the many opportunities and benefits your new country has offered you.
Almost half the world — over three billion people — live on less than $2.50 a day. Why wouldn't these poor people be drawn to the US by what seems to be the promise of untold riches, or at least an enormous bump in their living standards?
It is important to note that Mexico offered caravan members homes and money, but most of them turned it down in favor of the much greater largess of the American taxpayers. (These people are poor and uneducated, not stupid.)
Hot off the press but mostly ignored by the mainstream media: a few days ago a dozen migrants in the caravan filed a class-action lawsuit yesterday against President Trump, the Department of Homeland Security and others for alleged violation of their constitutional rights. The suits are being funded by Nexus Services Inc. through a civil rights law firm called Nexus Derechos Humanos (Human Rights). Sounds like a case of biting the hand before it feeds you.
I wonder who is master-minding, bank-rolling and organizing these lawsuits? Perhaps the NYT should investigate?
Open borders is not a sound or sustainable policy, and these seekers of economic opportunity must comply with existing laws and policies. And, as reported by the NYT, there are more caravans forming behind this initial one. Sounds like an invasion to me.
Thank you for following the US's legal process for obtaining a green card and seeking citizenship.
15
What would happen if the 7,000 plus people of the caravan decided to fight the evil in your country? Running away does not solve problems. Americans fought and died to keep America free. What happens if America is attacked? Will you fight or will you run away? America must have strong fighters to keep America free and safe. America cannot utilize people who run and hide when challenged. I was born in the ghetto. When I was younger, my clothes and shoes had holes in them. Gangs ruled the area where I lived.
I was always hungry. Most times there was no food. By the age of 5, I picked cotton for a living. I am an American. My people have been in America since the 1600s. How can I feel sorry for you when my life was possibly worse than yours. Many Americans do not sympathize with you because America has taken from Americans in order to feed citizens of other countries. After all the sacrifices that our families made, Americans feel that it is time for Americans to be first. The American dream is for Americans who earned the privilege through struggles and sacrifices.
12
Mr. Zamora, I happen to have been born in the USA 86 years ago, so I am an American, which for me means nothing more than that I am a citizen of the United States. To say I am an American tells you absolutely nothing about who I am, what is on my mind, how I behave.
I am also a Swedish citizen and for me that means nothing more than that I was granted citizenship after living here quite a few years.
In both of my countries, there are individuals who have a different concept of what it means to say I am American or I am Swedish. Since I learned Swedish late in life, I speak Swedish with an American accent just as many born here speak English with a distinctive Swedish accent. But at least 5 times when some born-in-Sweden Johansson has met me, believing I am a Swede speaks to me and I answer, that person says "Men du är inte svensk". For each such person this is an important message but I do not know why.
For me that is harmless. Imagine if I said to a born-in-Sweden American, "You are not American, you have a Swedish accent." Funny eller hur?
For you, being seen as different can put you in harm's way. That I know all too well and there is no change in sight.
The US Census Bureau could at least do one thing for you and that is to end its archaic and racist-based system for classifying Americans. For me, you are American, period, and your genome is 99+% just like mine.
Try to keep your hopes up that all this will pass.
Only-NeverInSweden.blogspot.com
3
@Larry Lundgren
Right on!
1
I wonder how Donald and Melania Trump would feel if by some divine magic their 12 year-old son Barron were plucked from their family and placed in confinement somewhere out of reach or given to a foster family. Would Donald cry? Would his feelings of privilege be replaced with anguish?
And where are the children he separated from their caregivers NOW? How many cry themselves to sleep in the dark of night?
3
Right from the start in 2016, I noticed that klump almost always says "American citizens," rather than "Americans" as presidents usually do. I suspected back then and I believe more strongly now that this is the reason: citizenship is a piece of paper that can be revoked. Just think of the German Jews, whose families had been Germans for centuries. In 1935, their paper rights were torn up, just like that.
4
@Lanier Y Chapman - Interesting observation that connects with my comment directly above yours. But I note in my comment that to be American or Swedish is for me simply a matter of citizenship. There is no American "race" nor is there a Swedish "race" (the quotation marks are to indicate that the so-called races are the political inventions of racists, one of whom was Herman Lundborg, the Swede who created the Swedish Institute of Race Biology in 1922 and who was closely linked to Adolf Hitler since the two of them wanted to fabricate a pure "race" consisting of subsets of German and Swedish citizens chosen by them.
I wonder about, but know nothing about, revocation of citizenship possibilities in the US or any other country.
I am curious how you would define American if you believe there is a way of defining American in terms other than citizenship.
If you read my comment you will see that there definitely are Swedes who have a way of defining being a Swede as something different than being a Swedish citizenship.
That mode of thought is what lies behind neo-Nazi, alt-Right, White Nationalist ideology.
My info in my comment above yours. Gmail at my blog.
Okay President Trump, Javier has manned-up big time. Now it's time for you to man-up and guarantee his safety as a permanent, legal US resident. I expect only one man to come out of this little challenge, and he's already here.
Welcome to America, Javier!
6
It was Donald Trump, Jr., after all, who said the only color his father cares about is green.
3
You are not alone.
My family has been here since 1740, and Mr. Trump and his rabid supporters make me feel unwelcome in my own country.
7
"It has been hard for me to accept that I have, in a way, benefited from the “American dream,” whatever that may mean today."
Honestly Javier,
Not only have you benefitted greatly from the "American Dream", you are the poster man for it!
Name another country in the world where you would have been as welcome, and as supported!
All countries contain dangerous places, most cities do too!
I am happy you have been so successful and rewarded in your short life.
7
You are very welcome here.
3
@Fighting Sioux
See Sioux Nation v. USA...have you been paid or got your land back?
1
First of all, welcome, Javier. Your experience is worth reading at this tumultuous and difficult time. Many people think having a Green Card makes you "safe" but depending on your native country and the color of your skin, that is not necessarily true. I am a Green Card holder, currently in the process of becoming a U.S. Citizen. It is certainly not a simple process. I am from Canada and speak English (which helps me understand the process but doesn't make it less rigorous and time-consuming). The reason I moved here was not to escape violence or poverty, but to be with the person I love. I went back to school to get my Master's degree in Education and teach for the public school district. Do I sometimes miss Canada? Of course. I am also aware that the rise of the alt-right is happening there, as well as other countries such as Brazil and the Phillippines. The answer is not to flee and find "the best" place to live, but to try and find solutions in the place where you are. Suerte, Javier.
3
Stay off the welfare rolls and work hard then you’ll be accepted.
6
So you finally got your green card in 2018 under the Trump administration? Yet, you disparage Trump?
Makes no sense to me.
You should be very grateful.
11
@Jackie America is a nation of laws, not of men. The writer’s Green Card was granted through due process of law, and the law itself reflects the wishes of the people as expressed through their elected representatives. If you can accept that the Electoral College turned the loser of the popular vote into the sitting President, then you must also accept that the writer’s gratitude is owed to the American people and their Congress, not to the occupant of the oval office.
1
It's really very easy. Even a Salvadorian can understand it.
You are here legally? You are welcome!
You are here illegally? Get out, criminal!
See how easy that is?
14
@JND
Starting with Ivana and Melania Trump.
2
This entire piece is selling faux fear— trying to convince us you’re fearful IN CALIFORNIA—of all places—where migrants of all types are welcomed and protected? Puh-leaaaaase! This is just another hysterical anti-Trump propaganda piece—pretending to be concerned about a threat that just doesn’t exist.
You want to feel threatened legitimately???....just be an actual citizen and move to any number of Democrat-controlled cities, such as Chicago or Detroit—and forget to take your body armor.
13
You hit the nail on the head. You are not an American citizen. Why, because there has never been a path to citizenship. President Trump has upped the rhetoric to epic levels but dirty little secret that neither party wants to acknowledge is that there is no path to citizenship and no one asks why not. I’ve seen no candidate offer one. A bill was floated in the House of Representatives to do just that but it died in committee. This is the sick part of the immigration debate. The author states he’s living here, has gone to College, become a writer. Why shouldn’t there be a faster process for people like him to officially became an American citizen? It’s morally wrong that people come here and live for decades contributing in countless ways yet all they have is a green card. Rail on our idiot President all you want. As far as I’m concerned both the Democrats & GOP are morally corrupt on this issue.
1
Yes you are welcome in my America
My earliest known white ancestor was married in Lancaster County the Virginia colony in 1640 where he died in 1670.
My earliest known free person of color ancestors were living in South Carolina and Virginia from the American Revolution.
My enslaved black African ancestors were living in Georgia from 1830/35 where they were owned by and bred with my white ancestors.
My brown Native American ancestors were living in Georgia and South Carolina from 1830/35 where they mated and married with my black and white ancestors.
That makes me all and only black in America. Placing me behind and beneath two white ethnic Slavic communist atheist model gold digger wives like the Czech Ivana and the Slovenian Melania Trump, Indeed their ethnic Slavic communist atheist fellow Russian traveler Vladimir Vladimirovich Putin seems to be Donald Trump's beloved.
3
@Blackmamba - Black eventually, at least if I had saved all your many fine comments, I would have your history and maybe a family tree for you.
Fairly new Times columnist Thomas Chatterton Williams tells me in a Tweet that he is close to finishing his book that I believe is intended to argue that America must end its system of assigning people to "races". I am going to ask him later if there is a title for the book.
I think you should be given a chance to write an OpEd. I think I will even send your comment to TCW. And just in case you missed it, his interview of Adrian Piper and another interview of her gave Adrian Piper a good chance to explain that her major accomplishment was fleeing from America to Europe, saving her life (her words), by being in a place where people were not focused on establishing her "race".
By the way, Dorothy Roberts now has an hour-long lecture on YouTube, given at Fordham on the fact that there is only one genetically distinct race, the human. Found that today so have not had time to view it.
Larry L.
Only-NeverInSweden.blogspot.com
@Larry Lundgren
Love you my brother...back at you. Thanks for the 411.
1
@Larry Lundgren
Unlike Thomas Chatterton Williams and Barack Hussein Obama both of my parents color aka race was black.
And I was born and bred black and poor on the almighty South Side of Chicago and I am a product of the Chicago Public Schools K-12.
And I had a black street godfather named Pony Soldier aka Mickey.
1
Make yourself at home and disregard the garbage that you perceive to block your enjoyment of your new rights such as an ignorant Presidential figure like Trump. He is going to fadeaway.
3
I too have one of those permanent residency cards, though it is white, with a maple leaf on it. It wasn't particularly hard to get, I've always felt welcome, no one has ever questioned my right to be here, and no one has told me to "suck it up snowflake and be grateful I was allowed in."
Because of that, I truly am grateful.
I'm not sure I'd feel the same if I had crossed borders in the opposite direction.
3
Apply for US citizenship as soon as allowed. In this environment green card status is not permanent. Rights and privileges associated with it have changed over the years. Unfortunately, so have attitudes of many Americans. Good luck.
2
My father, a Jew born in Poland in 1917, arrived in the US in the summer of 1939 because being the oldest son, his father had sent him out of Europe and to America "just in case." My father lost his whole family, served in the US Army during WWII, etc, etc, etc. My mom was first generation (Alsace and Prussia). Here's where things get sticky and I open myself up to any and every attack:
Any immigrant who carries an American flag to our border is welcome, and I will stand with them to fight for their right to be treated justly and receive a fair hearing. My father and my grandparents wanted to come to America to become American (and if you think Jewish refugees from Europe had any easier a time, you don't know your history and haven't been keeping up with current events). They didn't want to bring Alsace and Prussia and Poland here, they were fleeing those places. A flag is an extremely powerful symbol. Think about what the flag you are carrying means to those you hope will welcome you.
America stands for diversity … under one flag … which anyone can carry.
37
@Charles Becker--Your grandfather was fleeing persecution by an "other". The people in the caravan are "fleeing" poverty and violence by criminals from among their fellow citizens. In fact, many illegal aliens are brought here by gangs they're supposedly fleeing, or are recruited by the gangs once they're here.
18
@Ali, And who exactly do you think “the other” was? Mr. Becker’s family was feeling violent criminals, marauding gangs, smashing anything Jewish and causing terror, and....killing. That’s why the “caravan”, the majority of which is made up of women and children, are desperately seeking safety. By the way, the majority of illegal aliens are NOT gangs. Read. Get your facts straight.
4
These so called "Migrants", this is their land. They have been doing this for thousands of years
before first European immigrants crossed Atlantic, put the fence and declared this United States of America, with the British "Common Law" as the sources of the new country. These descendants of European settlors call themselves as "American". But things are changing. By middle of this century 3 out of every 5 person here will be non-European descendant.
1
I wish every American had to apply for a green card and then naturalization. I did, the easiest possible way (I’m a successful white Australian who got married to a successful white American so green card to citizen was theoretically only three years, English is my first language, there were zero legal issues, I could do my own paperwork, and - wonder why? - no one ever questioned whether I was a desirable immigrant.)
It’s still an expensive, time-consuming (three years was five including processing), and stressful process - it is not easy to get a green card or become a citizen, even when you have it easy! A lot of Americans seem to think it’s like Hollywood, you get married and (magic!) you’re a citizen - NO.
But that’s not why I wish every American had to go through the process of becoming an American. It’s so they can wait four hours in a crowded, shabby room with no air conditioning waiting for their final naturalization interview, and watch people coming out of theirs. Watch people dropping to the floor in tears of joy. Watch people dancing and singing with their families in all kinds of languages. Watch people rejoice and pray in every way imaginable.
I didn’t “need” US citizenship - I came from a free country, a developed country. I wasn’t sure I even wanted it that badly until that day, when I saw first hand what was so incredible about America. Every American should go through the process, if only to realize how lucky they were not to have to.
112
I recently discovered that some of my ancestors, including my grandmother, might not have become citizens, ever, after being here for decades and marrying an American (whose family had been here for centuries). Based on this, I wish the US would deport me back to Sweden.
8
I hear you. The beauty of my situation is that I had the ridiculously good luck to end up a citizen of two great nations... and after 10 years in America, I now live most of my year in Australia (starting from December 2016... hmm, what happened around then? Don’t recall!)
Someone is undoubtedly going to jump on me for not being 100% “in,” but I never claimed to be. No sane person would trade Australian citizenship (and the excellent universal public health care, women’s rights long settled, strict and effective gun control, and practically free university that comes with it) to be a US citizen. Well, Rupert Murdoch did, but I have a feeling he wasn’t worried about the basics...
The thing about being lucky enough to have a ton of rights is that you use them, but you are also then obligated to work your tail off to give others the same choices. I don’t believe in American exceptionalism, because Australia has the US beat on almost every (which means “not every”) meaningful measure. I do believe in America, the idea, and I do believe in citizenship as a duty and not a right.
With great privilege comes great responsibility... duel citizens don’t have divided loyalties, we see the best in both places and try to make that a reality in both places. I didn’t run home to Australia, I came back to regroup and fight, and when it feels right, I’ll go home to the US. They’re both home, and I dearly want to make them both a more happy and inviting home. Running away is not the answer.
10
@HB You are now owned by the US government, a US tax slave forever and a day. If you return to Australia and divest yourself of any and all US assets, you will be required to file US tax returns on your Australian income, and information returns of your Australian assets. Welcome to the worldwide taxation policy of the US government.
5
You are welcome, appreciated, valued, and truly admired by this 2nd generation American. You embody the courage of my ancestors from Europe.
This land was made for you and me.
102
@Alex Alex has expressed my sentiments, exactly. You are welcome here.
8
@Edward Hamel
And, your reply is welcome here. :)
2
@Alex
It must be mighty nice and relaxed not to be colored black/brown like Trayvon Martin, Jordan Davis, Michael Brown and Tamir Rice in America.
Africans did not come to America as immigrants nor refugees. They were enslaved properly. And their heirs were separate and unequal.
MAGA?
1
The author should feel lucky. I have a GC approval since 2011 but I am held back due to per country cap limits to maintain "diversity". I am tired of being demonized as an H1b job stealing cheap labor while serving as a physician to an underserved community and also being treated as a disposable immigrant by both the political left and right.
There are many disadvantaged poor people living in unsafe conditions throughout the world, wonder why no one ever suggested per country caps under DACA to support diversity?
6
You were selected precisely because you were willing to work with an underserved population. Did someone force you to come here, aren't there citizens in your own country who would benefit from your expertise and skills? Instead of coming through the H1B programme why didn't you opt for another route--perhaps because you wouldn't have been selected otherwise?
4
Questions for Mr. Zamora:
Do you feel safer in the United States or in El Salvador?
Which country has given you greater opportunity?
If the answer is El Salvador, I believe you are still free to return there.
If not please stay in the United States, become a citizen and vote. Some of us welcome you.
Many native born US citizens don't feel safe either. Some of us have moved to different countries.
5
As an first generation immigrant i can totally understand the nerve wracking proceess for permanent residency or citizenship!! No wonder people try to resort to extremely dangerous steps to flee poverty or violence since the legal process so onerous!! How many in Trump base would have been here if their ancestors had to go through the same process they want to make even tougher while fleeing violence and persequetion in Europe?
This breaks my heart. The USA is supposed to be the land of the free not the land of the fearful. We are opportunity and endless optimism and promise. It is in our collective national DNA for the majority to be open, friendly, enterprising and welcoming. Sadly, none of that is currently true because of the bully-in-chief and his enablers and the hatefulness and lying that has infected so many. Bring back hope, bring back kindness, bring back compassion and common decency. May your next five years be successful and fruitful without conflict.
1
We just can't take in everybody who wants to come here, and that's a fact.
11
I had a green card once and I'm grateful for it.I came to this wonderful country and tried to be an American.Worked hard,learned the language ,history,culture,served in the army.Realized that most people are good but there are some bad ones.Learned about the shame of slavery and about the million soldiers on the Union side who died to have it abolished.I understand the difference between legal and illegal immigrants.Illegals break the laws they are criminals and should be treated as such.Javier make yourself welcome here you are a great addition.
9
@GDK
"Millions of soldiers on the Union side" did not die to abolish slavery. Now that America has let you in, please learn to read...a history book.
Approximately, 620,000 soldiers total from BOTH the Union and Confederacy died in the Civil War, roughly 360,000 Union and mercenary militias, and 260,000 Confederates. Sheez.
1
About passing the house with the Confederate flag...the message of that flag is not the message of our government, much as Progressives would have it so. There is no racist policy emanating from this administration, much as Progressives would so characterize it. Just because a policy affects people of a different race does not mean that the policy is aimed at them. We have have laws here; we are a nation of laws. What that means, which people from other nations may not fully understand, is that respect for our laws and Constitution is the major thing that binds us as a nation. We are not an ethnic nation as are European nations. We are a nation of immigrants the world over, of all races, all of whom agree, when they become citizens, to one thing: respecting our laws and holding our Constitution above anything they bring with them from the "old country." So if you cross our border uninvited, unvetted and illegally, you have made yourself a law-breaker. The borders are not there to keep out people of your race; just look at the racial composition of the million of immigrants who legally enter every year.
8
If you are invited to live in another family's home for an extended period but find yourself in the middle of a fight over how many non-family members are in the home, what should you do? If half the family says, the house is full and there are people here we didn't invite. The other half of the people saying, we have to take the locks off the doors and let anyone who wants to, come in. Uninvited guests climbing in through the back windows and the basement. What should you do? What would you do if it was your home and your family. As a minimum, I think most of us would want to put locks on the doors and kick out any non-invited guests. If people were refusing to leave and invited guests were siding with the uninvited, I think most people would want to kick out all non-family. If adopted family members and blood family continued to help uninvited people to enter, their family membership would be questioned. If you say, let the people come and stay, there is room for everyone, please post your address. There are millions of homeless Americans living in the streets. I'll pass on your invitation and address.
5
Let me take this opportunity to welcome you, and if you find yourself in Philadelphia I will buy you a beer.
1
I have not read your poetry, but if it is good, it is so in part because it is honest and subtle and not full of stereotypes. I think you will find the people that the left regularly accuses of racism and bigotry much better and more nuanced than they are painted by the media. We distinguish between those who come to the US legally and those who come illegally because we believe the rule of law—the very thing that motivated them to flee their own country, must be preserved. This does not mean we hate them, does not mean we don’t understand that many who come here illegally are looking for a better life, and does not mean we don’t have compassion for them. But the rule of law must be preserved and an immigration policy that allows millions to come and stay illegally cannot continue.
I watched not long ago as a group of German exchange students, locked arm in arm with the large number of Chinese, Indian, Korean and white students who attend a midwestern high school, sang a John Denver song together. That is a picture of the diversity many of us who are conservatives—including my Hispanic family members, believe in. People who bring together their cultural distinctive but sharing a commitment to the core values of this countery’s founding documents. So please do not let the fearmongers on the left cause you to fear the 62,000,000 who vote for the GOP. Instead, go visit a large, conservative evangelical church in the Midwest and see for yourself if it is a place of love or hate.
4
I am an immigrant, but i am not white, i love America because it gives me the opportunity that i would never have in my native country. I am compassionate about the true immigrant who need to fleet their country for a better life. But there is law and order in this country that protect all of us. The safety net system is set up to help people in need. NYT is so biased and do not tell the whole pictures. People who seek ayslum is immediately qualify to get on all social serviice. There are agency in China to coach people how to fool the US government and have a baby in US for free. After 18 years, these anchor babies can pledge citizenship for their parents, and their parents can ride on our social system. NYS spent 37 % of the budget on Medicaid. How are we going to substante this kind of expense?
6
as a green card holder myself, no american citizen owes you anything. in fact, it is us who owe the rest to pay back for everything we use and the people who jave been loving here for a long time have spent generations building
4
I'm a citizen and I don't feel welcome here by many on the right. Welcome to the club!
2
Can we have a little honesty here? I have no ill feelings toward anyone based upon their race or nationality. But I don't believe one has to be racist or insensitive to believe that our country's immigration laws should be strenuously enforced or to believe that those laws are being abused by many improperly seeking the economic advantages our country offers.
It is a mockery of our system for pregnant women to sneak across our borders so that their children can be citizens and lay claim to US public benefits and improved immigration status for their follow-on relatives. It is a mockery of our system for people to sneak across our borders with the full intention of living illegally in our country, only to then assert asylum when they are caught. It is a mockery of our system for open borders advocates to facilitate enormous migrant caravans and to coach migrants how to make specious and unverifiable claims to forestall their deportation.
We are a nation of laws, and those laws should be enforced. And as for Mr. "Green Card But Still Uneasy," he should attribute his uneasiness to the millions of his countrymen who are actually breaking our immigration laws every day.
33
@AR Clayboy
No, you cannot have "a little honesty here," because that honesty would spoil the narrative of those who are trying, whether or not intentionally, to destroy America by attacking the concept of borders.
8
@AR Clayboy Well said.
4
@AR Clayboy
A question: When you demand enforcement of immigration laws, do you envision rounding up the citizens who exploit undocumented immigrants for their own advantage? If your call for tough enforcement is serious, it will include -- in fact, start with -- charges against those upstanding Americans who exploit undocumented workers and manipulate the immigration system in search of cheap labor.
3
The rhetoric would make someone think no one cares about the difference between legal and illegal. They do. The problem is not legal immigration. It is illegal immigration. The immigration issue has been blurred by politicians and media to make it political beyond its nature. If we listen to the media, we will feel all kinds of unjustified fear.
35
I wonder sometimes just how big the Mayflower must have been. It seems that most Trump voters have no idea of their families' immigration stories. They act like their families have been here since that first settlement voyage. My grandparents came here from parts of Europe, east and west, as young people during the early years of the 20th century. I talked with all of them about their journeys.
How is it that Trump fans don't know that immigration is the way almost all of us got here? And have they forgotten or never knew of their own immigration histories? The way they mock Elizabeth Warren as Pocahontas tells me they aren't Native Americans. So what makes them so special that they can dismiss and disdain immigrants as if their families never were in that category? Mr. Zamora, welcome and good luck. You are the kind of person America should always have room for.
13
@Paula
"It seems that most Trump voters have no idea of their families' immigration stories. "
It seems that most anti-Trump voters intentionally mesh the concepts of legal and illegal, in an attempt to attain their goal, which, for whatever reason, seems to be to allow anyone and even everyone in the entire world to enter our nation unexamined. "Come on down!" has to be the most irresponsible policy ever supported by so large a group of citizens. What are they thinking? That enemies of this nation are welcome to come on in, or that no enemies of this nation would ever think of doing so--that smugglers and human traffickers should just bring the stuff--or people--right on in, or that no smuggler or trafficker would be grateful for having an easier time of it without risking penalties? The idea is so insupportable by any logic that there are only two possible reasons it exists at all: One, it is supported by those who would gain the most from it (enemies and smugglers) and two, that people who wish to destroy this nation by destroying the concept of borders are hard at work influencing an ignorant populace.
6
Thank you for the article - it was such a sobering view of how frightening our Country has become for immigrants - even those with Green Cards.
As far as I’m concerned you’re as much a citizen of this Country as someone who was born here.
If I could naturalize you today, I would.
Americans must press their legislators to pass immigration reform - we cannot allow individuals, like the author of this article to live in fear.
You shouldn’t have to wait 5 years - it’s unconscionable.
6
I think the "American dream" is the opportunity to improve one's life circumstances, e.g., rising from poverty, leaving a poor country, having a better life than one's parents did, etc.
I know most American citizens, not just poor ones, would be very grateful to receive scholarships and fellowships to attend UC/Berkeley, NYU and Stanford, and would go to great lengths to express their gratitude and appreciation for having been given such amazing opportunities and benefits.
Mr. Zamora doesn't seem to understand just how fortunate he is; only about 40% of working-age Americans have a college degree, and he has two, yet nowhere in his article does he express his understanding of or gratitude for what he has received.
Americans are not anti-immigrant, as he suggests. Americans do not like or welcome illegal immigrants, which is why Mr. Zamora's decision to follow America's complicated immigration laws is such a wonderful example.
Perhaps one way he could help repay his many benefactors would be to produce a brief Spanish-language video to be shown in schools in Latin American telling his story about how he has achieved the American dream--legally.
60
@Ro Ma
I think that we need to show that video here in this country.
3
Thank you for doing the right thing to get your green card, as unpleasant as your experience ended up being. You showed respect for US law and for all the US citizens and legal residents. You are a welcome and valuable asset to your community and country. People who act like entitled jerks tend to not be welcomed period. There is also self fulfilling prophesy.
I am also sorry that the Reagan administration invaded and/ or overthrew the government in several countries. That was wrong and he should have been held accountable.
Please understand that many in the US can hear 5 gunshots in a morning not over a period of months. These areas have "situations" that dictate what, when, and how people can live. Gang violence is in many cities. I am thankful I live in a real brick house because I am awakened by gunshots in the middle of the night a couple of time a month. I live in a diverse working class neighborhood in a smaller city. The neighborhood fights back by keeping the kids occupied and employed. We also have a neighborhood patrol that in the past had been armed and restricted access to the area because the police would not respond, it was too dangerous. It's getting better.
32
@skramsv
"I am also sorry that the Reagan administration invaded and/ or overthrew the government in several countries. That was wrong and he should have been held accountable. " I am not well-versed on the politics of those overthrows by the US, but I heard at the time that these were communist revolutions. Communism has been a direct threat to our nation and to our capitalist system--the one that has brought us the prosperity to which these immigrants flee; you don't see all these Progressive immigrants dying to get into communist countries.
2
Emotional stories never fail to reach a majority of readers, particularly, readers that are descendants of immigrants. But I always wonder why all those who participate in a caravan headed towards a rich country with the excuse of escaping violence, don't use that same caravan to overthrow their own corrupt government? The answer is that there is no economic gain in doing so.
42
The whole point would be equal opportunity. The problem is, these are unarmed peasants with no resources to overthrow a corrupt government.
2
@ART Be very careful about judging poor, oppressed people because they can't "overthrow" their own governments. I'm sure you wouldn't make such a ridiculous comment if some of your neighbors began openly defying your local government and took up arms because they felt economically oppressed. I'm sure you'd be the first one out there raging against them.
5
Are you serious? The caravan is mostly women and children. You think a few thousand of them should go up against the police and the army in their own country, who may not think twice about firing on unarmed civilians?
6
You ask: Am I Welcome?
Obey and respect the laws of your adopted land.
Become self-sufficient as soon as possible.
Learn the majority language of the land (English).
Try to blend in, by seeking the company of the locals'.
Be proud of your new country and admit it.
If you can fulfill these suggestions, then you will be welcome!
30
@Andrew
Those are excellent guidelines, similar to those used by 150 countries around the world.
But how about drilling down a bit -- something distinctly and uniquely American?
“Learn the majority language of the land”. I’ve got news for you but English isn’t the language of the majority of the USA and it hasn’t been for close to two decades. Thankfully there are many, and I’m one of them, that speak more than one language and many speak several. Also the rhetoric in your statement is unmistakable in its fear mongering.
@Andrew
What exactly does "blend in" mean? Change your skin color? Stop speaking your native language? Stop associating with other people who look and sound like you? Start going to my church?
Start watching NFL football games? Start drinking Budweiser? Buy a gun?
There is no "American culture" to blend into, except perhaps what's defined by our consumption habits. Our nation has always been an amalgam of different cultures and traditions, and proudly so. Before Mexicans, Chinese and Indians, there were Poles, Italians, Irish and Swedes. Virtually all of us trace our ancestry to people from foreign lands and take pride in naming our family origins.
So, no, Mr. Zamora, please don't try to "blend in." We want you just as you are. Share with us the vibrancy of your own cultural roots. Help us Americans find a way to shed our fear of foreigners and see immigration as an opportunity to relish, not a problem to be solved.
1
Pres. Trump's campaign slogan was: "Make America great again." But he and the Christian Conservatives supporting him figuratively are toppling one of the prime symbols of America's greatness, the Statue of Liberty -- where a most Christian message is inscribed: "Give me your tired, your poor, your huddled masses yearning to breathe free."
We need to welcome more like Javier, not confront them with armed troops.
13
@Expat Bob
The US, is supposed to be a nation of laws. The words on the Statue are an ideal. There is a huge difference between legal and illegal immigration. MR. Zamora is setting up a strawman. He is legal. He followed the rules and he was granted entry.
15
@Newsfreak613 So, I wonder, since we are a nation of laws, when will all those who employ "illegals" be subject to punishment (fines, jail, prison)? Most undocumented people in the U.S. come here because they want to live "the american dream." Someone must be employing them illegally. When will they have their day in court?
5
@Expat Bob We gladly welcome the greatest number of LEGAL immigrants of any country in the world. We do so year after year. I fail to understand why my fellow citizens cannot grasp the difference between legal and illegal immigration. Do you realize you are a racist for not supporting legal immigration? For every illegal entrant through our southern border, DHS resources and time are allocated to the illegals and not to legal aliens attempting to immigrate legally from Africa. Those poor souls, who have genuine asylum claims, do not have the advantage of crossing our border like Mr. Zamora had. Great that he received an EB-1 visa, but he he lost me when he justified his actions because the USA allegedly caused a civil war in his country. Then why stay here in this horrible country Mr. Zamora? Why not go back to El Salvador and change things there?
3
The enormous demographic explosion throughout the planet has been creating population unbalances everywhere.
We must held accountable myopic politicians ( GOP ) and various religions inciting widespread procreation.
But this demographic problem is here to stay and now many US permanent residents feel the security of their position being questioned and in jeopardy.
The rule of law , once established, has to be respected for everyone.
Mr. Javier has followed the law and must be protected from some demented politicians trashing the rule of law .
We have to address the humongous demographic explosion sooner rather than later , before it will be out of control.
9
I obtained my green card September of 1964 from the american consulate in Genoa. A week later I flew to New York, at passport control the officer looked at my papers, my Italian passport and my green card and, with a greeting expression, said " welcome to the USA, sir ".
How times have changed.
26
I don’t know that you can say that. I had the same experience when I got my green card 3 years ago. All the ICE people I interacted with were courteous and professional.
26
@Roberto Fantechi
Times have not changed you have the paperwork you are welcome.You are afraid for your life in Central America but offered asylum in Mexico on the way to US you have no right to ask for asylum here.
8
@Roberto Fantechino
No they have not. President Trump is loudly and correctly against illegal immigration. Msnow me where he says he is against ALL immigration
4
Who knew I could be brought to tears this early in the morning. What a beautiful piece.
Thank you for your story. Thank you for your bravery. You are always welcome in my home, and in the homes of millions upon millions of other true, not fake, Americans.
14
@Sarah
If a person has a green card, he is welcome to come and go anywhere, the same way any citizen is welcome. Your inviting him into your house (for how long?) is because he has a green card? if he was illegal? a Tourist?but why go so far - do you invite everyone in Dallas to your home?
The "new green Card Holder" should say thanks!! not ask this stupid question, he is luckier then millions others.
3
@Sarah
If there are 50 people that come to live in your house ,eat your food, use your bathroom without flushing, ask you for money and etc... your will probably call the police. But when the police comes, they cannot do anything because they are poor and have no where to go , and your neighbor start criticizing you because you have no heart to help or you ruin the neighborhood. Will you have a second thought? This is the state of our country.
2
You have had a difficult experience and I am sorry for that Javier. I keep hearing about how immigrants are not welcome in the US and I don't see that at all. What I see is that people who self-select and enter the country illegally are not welcome. That has been going on for a long time and many citizens, including myself, feel unsafe about that. Things are not so easy to live in the US. We struggle here too. We can't have the whole world come here. If you have come legally, you are welcome. More people than not feel that way, so please know that.
31
If you came here legally you are more than welcome. We need all the talented, hard working citizens we can get. Also, cultural diversity is a blessing. But, the key word is legally and I think we should expand and expedite the legal immigration process.
34
Immigration is like sharing a house, one cannot expect to move new roommates into the house without most of the other roommates agreeing. Otherwise, there is acrimony like we have in the US now. The acrimony has caused the US to have two bad presidents who have caused or will cause unnecessary death and destruction around the world. (You have to know who I'm talking about but if you don't, I mean Bush and Trump.) The elections were close and I don't think it is a stretch to say that if the Democrats had implemented effective legislation to reduce legal and illegal immigration that we would have had two better presidents, Gore and Clinton (although I would have preferred Bernie.)
What I'm saying is that sometimes we can't do everything for everybody in the world so we need to pick a path that is not perfect but better for all concerned. After all, wouldn't be better to spend $28 billion on stabilizing Central America rather than on a symbolic wall? Instead of congratulating ourselves for letting comparatively small number of people into the US, isn't it better to fix those conditions that made them want t leave their countries in the first place?
17
Javier, when the time comes for you to define what being American means, you'll know it for sure. It will not be a trivial or minor sacrifice. It may be controversial but there'll be a clear path with risks and hardships. You'll know what to do, without exception, even though that will cause other folks concern and worry. We make errors here which we spend lots of time talking about to the extent you'd think that's all we do is mess things up, but we do get a lot of things right. You'll know that right thing when you see it, so don't worry. You'll know what to do, and that will make you an American.
1
I'm glad you're here. I think you increase our nations wealth in so many ways.
Thanks for sharing your tale and may you be happy in life.
11
I just read the article on the shameful, racist display at the elementary school in Middleton, Idaho. The possibility that the very individuals entrusted with the responsibility of teaching young people reading, writing, and the basics of good civic behavior should mock an ethnic group (in this case Mexicans) is utterly incomprehensible. The additional fact that the district superintendent, Josh Middleton, chalked this up to "poor judgement" as opposed to "malicious intent" indicates a complete absence of mature moral judgement.
I am half-Mexican and attended a similar, primarily Anglo school district as a child. I was always the best student in my grade level. I had taught myself to read by the age of four and was continuously given breakout learning opportunities by the more perceptive of my teachers. As a result I excelled.
I won a contest sponsored by the local American Legion for an essay that I submitted on the importance of voting at age 8. I was also the tallest child in my class and athletic so no one ever picked a fight with me. But early on I picked up on the way that some kids deliberately mispronounced my last name that there was a contempt by a section of the richer, whiter kids for people like myself.
I was HBHS's only National Merit Finalist and won a university scholarship based on my grades and my test scores. But I resented the prejudice and it took me years to get past it.
These very foolish teachers have no idea of the hurt they are inflicting.
44
@Robert
But you are listening to what the liberal media is saying about what Trump has said and their biased interpretation of what he means. What ever Trump says, no matter what he says, no matter his original intent, the liberal media, most of the media in the USA, will make it sound racist and hateful. If Trump calls MS-13 criminals the mass media immediately claims he says all immigrants are criminals. If Trump insults one woman, Rosie O'Donnell, the liberal media says he insults all women. If he is recorded making bawdy talk with a bunch of the guys on a bus, the liberal media, Hillary Clinton leading the charge, says he boasts of assaulting women. The liberal media, en masse, have decided to conflate illegal and legal immigration and say that Trump insults and wants to keep out all immigrants, which isn't true. Illegal immigration on our southern border was a problem when Obama was first elected. He deported more people than any other president. When Trump proposed a wall it was just a continuation of what already exists. There already is a wall on the Mexican border and people, Mexicans, keep sneaking across the border, illegally, by the millions to soak up our social benefits.
If I were to try to live in Mexico, people there would call me Gringo.
3
@Robert
There are some bad people around the world this is the greatest country still.
@Robert
1. Your teachers gave you good grades.
2. You won a scholarship.
3. You won an American Legion essay contest.
Weren't the adults and teachers in your life pretty helpful to you? If they had been so "foolish" they could have given you low grades. You seem to think your abilities happened in a vacuum without any mentorship or any teaching, but it seems like your teachers helped and recognized your abilities. Give them credit. Give credit to others who helped you. Racism is real, but so is exaggerating one's individual struggles. You weren't so alone as you think you were given the account above, so show gratitude towards the ones who helped you.
7
What is an American?
An American is the child, grandchild, great grandchild or, great great great grandchild of an immigrant.
And a significant number of American citizens conveniently ignore this fact in their rush to denounce immigrants and refugees.
68
@Deanna Barr Again, for the thousandth time....no problem with legal immigrants, just the illegal ones.
7
@Deanna Barr
Africans were not immigrants. They were enslaved property.
Natives were not immigrants. They were pioneers.
1
Your text made me think of those by Harriet Tubman:
I looked at my hands, to see if I was de same person now I was free. Dere was such a glory over everything, de sun came like gold trou de trees, and over de fields, and I felt like I was in heaven...
Of course, her life was never an easy ride but her legacy inspires many like yours will.
10
"Whether I wanted to or not, I’ve lived within the exhausting and dehumanizing dichotomy between the good versus bad immigrant narrative. "
Every industrialized nation in he world has such a dichotomy.
When I visit another country I am expected to obey the rules of my host country and in turn they allow me to stay for a certain maximum amount of time. The bar should be no lower for the opportunity to remain as a permanent resident.
There's nothing intrinsically dehumanizing about judging someone's behavior as acceptable or not. Your rhetoric is running away with you.
36
@Jp This makes sense.
2
"Not when the president himself is questioning the 14th Amendment."
You should have noticed there is a lot of public discussion going on about what Amendments remain relevant and which should be done away with.
" It has been hard for me to accept that I have, in a way, benefited from the 'American dream,' whatever that may mean today."
You mean you refuse to accept that you have benefitted from the American Dream. You're living here as a permanent resident. This is a land that was at first settled by Spain and subsequently built up by a belief in Manifest Destiny by the US government. It fashionable for recent immigrants who have achieved success to deny such success. But you are genuine beneficiary of those polices and the American Dream. Welcome!
9
Thanks for sharing, Javier, and please hang in there! We need more people like you.
4
Yes, yes, very welcome. All the best to you from this Republican. The NYT and many of its readers are unable to distinguish legal from illegal immigrants - but most of us can do so.
15
@Ambrose Rivers I guesss you didn't catch the fact that Javier was living as an illegal immigrant for about 20 years before he got his green card in 2018; so how you like him now? Either way Ms. Rivers, please just fess up to the fact that your support for the the Grand Old Party and you adamant convictions concerning immigration law are really just a ruse for the deep seated prejudice harbored in your heart. How else would you explain your willingness to overlook the fact that Trump is colluding with the Russsian Government and has been doing so for many years, that Melania is a Russian spy, that Putin's army of spies have invaded the U.S. and the fact that NYC is in greatest danger that it has ever been of a nuclear attack. Watch the documentary, "Active Measures" and find out for yourself. The issue is not a few thousand Central Americans looking for work, no, the real issue is how much longer shall the American countenance the traitor currently sitting in the White House.
7
@Ambrose Rivers There is actually not that much difference. Both come for the same purpose - to better their lives - and both tend to fill jobs where there are shortages in the US labor force. Most legal immigrants are "lucky" - they have family members to sponsor them. We don't allow much legal immigration on the basis of employment, even when we have a need for it.
2
@Mel
Wow Mel, “ ... actually not that much difference.” Between legal and illegal. Have you no sense of how vital to civilized life is adherence to the rule of law?
1
As someone who went from being a foreign student, through a green card, to citizenship, my friendly advice to you would be a quote from "Bridge on the River Kwai", where Colonel Saito says to the British POWs: "Be happy in your work!"
2
I think you WOULD be welcome if you do not identify with those who do not have green cards, do not even have a visa but insist on staying here.
Can you come and join those of us who want the law to be obeyed?
You have obeyed the law. Congratulations! Now please do not join those who would undermine the very law which gave you a green card.
33
@Ludwig Just to explain, by "those who would undermine the law" I meant the editorial board. Many undocumented immigrants have made their lives in the US and I fully understand (though not agree with) their desire to live here outside the law.
But I do not particularly like the support for illegal immigration which the editorial board is giving. Their reasons are political, and they receive much less of my sympathy.
24
@Ludwig Zamora and others are romanticizing the illegal immigrants who break the laws as Exotic Criminals Who Happen to Be Good. Why is he romanticizing crime and breaking the law? This romanticization of breaking the law like an attractive criminal a la Bonnie and Clyde is itself a binary dichotomy that flips the binary hierarchy but retains the binary division.
4
If you don't feel welcomed by Trump supporters, you can share that you were so enthusiastic about a country led by Donald Trump that you applied for permanent residence in that nation. Many of us ended up in Trumpland by accident or through complacency. You, however, made an affirmative choice to be governed by Mr. Trump.
2
I don't feel welcome by either party, was born here, father's family has been here for centuries. I wish I lived somewhere else, like Canada. That would probably be even harder to do than a green card, and I don't want to put my pets in quarantine. So a lot of Americans feel stuck here, against their will. Not my country of choice.
@Philip Greenspun I became a citizen of Trump's America last year. My sole purpose was to vote him out.
Pets do not need to be quaranteened between Canada and the USA...just need an up-to-date rabies vaccine. You are thinking of the British Isles and Australia.
1
Trump has said many time that he welcomes immigrants who come legally. He doesn't welcome immigrants who come illegally. The author has a green card and fits into the welcome category.
16
Amongst friends who also have green cards these days, the fundamental conversation and feeling is that its no use having a green card anymore. You still get discriminated and scrutinized as an outsider.
7
@Bertie Bertie, you get discriminated against in the US daily, based on income, skin color, accent, clothing, and appearance.
1
Excuse me, but Mr Zamora did not come to the US by himself, he was brought here, presumably by his parents. What is their status under the law? This emotive piece does not resolve the basic question which Advocates ignore: what is the point of the most liberal legal immigration syste in the world if another path is defended for illegal aliens?
14
All white people in the US are illegal aliens, so who are we to call anyone else illegal aliens?
@Stephanie Wood So it seems you do not consider this to be a legitimate Country? Who knew? And what color is your sky? More Progressive, Advocate nonsense!
2
I have been listening very close and I haven't heard ANY anti-immigrant rhetoric. I have heard lots of rhetoric and action against ILLEGAL immigrants, but not one single solitary comment, let alone action, that is anti immigrant. Get it right
26
@John Wilson All of the GOP-sponsored immigration bills this year have sought to cut legal immigration, some like the RAISE Act (supported by DT) by 50%. Don't just look at the rhetoric, look at the bills.
6
Congratulations. I hope you can VOTE.
Best Wishes.
3
Only US citizens can vote. Thank you for illustrating the #1 reason why we are in this mess now --- the average American doesn't understand how their own government works.
Often times immigrants know more about American civics than US born citizens.
Every other country in the world makes sure civic and political history is a core part of its education system. Especially so in countries where people realize the direct impact on them by election outcomes.
Has American arrogance led to American ignorance of not only the world but itself....which then feeds the arrogance? An educated populace is one of the pillars of democracy, a fact stemming back the birth of democracy in Greece. In the US we seem to praise ignorance and being uninformed about the most basic functioning of the democracy that protects the freedoms we love to rave about.
We have a president that says he loves the poorly educated.... if ever there was a backhanded "compliment" that would be it!
Rather than arguing about prayer and evolution being taught in schools, why are we not insisting that our children be taught the basic essentials of citizenship.
@Phyliss Dalmatian How can you not know that he cannot vote until and unless he becomes a US citizen?
6
After 9/11 and the Patriot Act, as a person of color, my green card was almost worthless and I got my citizenship. It wasn’t until Obama was elected that I felt like an American. And now, despite being in the 5% and having been involved in the community as a citizen, there are many parts of the country that I am afraid to go to. What kind of country makes its own citizens afraid to visit other parts of that country?
34
@Sipa111:"What kind of country makes its own citizens afraid to visit other parts of that country?"
I was born in Detroit and there were parts of the city that I was afraid to go to which eventually included my own neighborhood. Your experiences are nothing unique to you. I am not a person of color.
17
I feel unwelcome in my own house; anyone out there want to buy it so I can get out of here? You're not really welcome in this town anymore unless you are young, breeding, rich, and moved here from Brooklyn. This whole country is unwelcoming to almost everyone who is not all of the above, in one way or another.
1
@Stephanie Wood
I went to college in Montclair and found it to be a diverse and welcoming town. However, if you would prefer moving to Canada, i think you should work on a way to do just that. I am sure that you can easily sell a house in Montclair.
3
I’m pretty conservative and I can say honestly and warmly WELCOME to the US best wishes, you respected our laws and did it legally. It isn’t an anti-immigrant issue it’s a legal one.
Don’t let anyone say you can’t or won’t prosper here. Work hard obey the laws, respect your neighbors, and it will come. Education helps too! Again welcome!
8
Yes, you are most welcome. Glad you got the green card.
20
Welcome! In five years you can become a citizen and vote. There are many obvious differences amongst people in America, and politicians will always seek to exploit them. Ordinary people are different. Some are clannish, some not. Bigger towns are more melting-poty smaller towns sometimes not. But you know all this by now.
Just remember that your case - legal immigration, is different from trespassing - where people play a perpetual cat and mouse game with the US government because they have broken the law.
No one can deport you. You (indeed even without the permanent residency) have the same legal rights as citizens, barring some specific ones related to public office.
Donald Trump will come and go. You will remain. Don't become like him. Even when you oppose him.
Oh, don't forget to visit the national parks. They are an over looked treasure.
18
i find this essay, overall, quite sad.
Punctuated by saying that " the closest thing to defining American is a false sense of safety."
That is not the country that I think I grew up in, or perhaps I was blind and had an illusion, false and marketed to those in this country and others around the world.
10
@Jon_NY I think the fact that this man took the trouble to come into this country via the tortuous process of legal immigration, you can assume it's a country worth living in for those who don't hate it as much as many American native-born leftists do.
13
Well, think of African-Americans who've been here for centuries, and have no false sense of safety, because they can't even pretend to feel safe at all, ever, in their own country.
If you want to be welcome in the USA, your new home, or wherever, make yourself useful to the community in which you live. Try it. It works.
To quote a former president, John F. Kennedy, "Ask not what your country can do for you, ask what you can do for your country." Or, if he doesn't appeal to you, consider the advice of Booker T. Washington who advised essentially the same thing, in different words.
15
@Aristotle Gluteus Maximus This essay very clearly states the author's awareness over years of needing to be a "good immigrant." I think he's contributed. How many of us who are naturally born citizens have contributed at all to where we live, or have we just lived there?
23
@eml16--ALL immigrants need to be "good immigrants" if they're going to stay here. Even with a green card, the author is expected NOT to commit "crimes of moral turpitude"--not too much to ask of someone who is still essentially a guest until he naturalizes.
15
@eml16
Read "My Larger Education" by Booker T Washington, published in 1911.
Most people just live there without contributing much. Washington, a former black slave in white society, discovered that if one is useful to people in a community, like a unique profession or service that people need, they sooner, or later, forget the differences. It's good advice for anyone.
5
Well, welcome to the United States. The peace and security and prosperity you see here did not happen by accident and I hope that you are able to make a lasting and positive contribution to make sure that it continues.
I also hope for that same peace and security and prosperity comes to your native country. But again, it will not happen by accident. It will take guts and action from the able-bodied men and women who have chosen to remain there.
26
As a Canadian digital NYT subscriber, the question should be: what peace and security. I read somewhere today that about 90 people are killed daily. They are just as dead as the 11 Jewish worshippers and the 2 yogigic practitioners...my deepest condolences to their family, friends, and associates.. I have not crossed the border in at least a decade...probably could not afford the travel medical now! Not to deny that there is not violence here but to a lesser degree. The guns here are smuggled into Canada from the good ole US of A.
1
The "good immigrant/bad immigrant" dichotomy you mention is actually "legal immigrant is good immigrant, illegal immigrant is bad immigrant." Americans, largely descended from immigrants, generally welcome legal immigrants but do not welcome illegal immigrants.
You seem unsure of your welcome in the US. Well, you were welcomed by the University of California/Berkeley, which likely gave you a scholarship for your undergraduate studies. You were welcomed by NYU for your master's degree studies, and probably received a scholarship. Same for Stanford University, which gave you $26,000/year, tuition forgiveness and medical coverage as a Wallace Stegner Fellow. Most citizens, not to mention immigrants-morphing-into-citizens, would feel very welcome indeed under these circumstances; they would also express gratitude for such benefits and opportunities.
Your closing lines are off: "It has been hard for me to accept that I have, in a way, benefited from the American dream, whatever that may mean today." I hope you recognize you have been able to live the American dream, the dream of every legal and illegal immigrant--and most citizens.
While your account suggests you may have entered the US illegally, I commend and thank you for doing the right thing and following US laws to obtain a green card and, I hope, citizenship in due course.
Welcome to the US of A.
51
@Ro Ma
So what happens to your dichotomy if a legal immigrant commits a crime and an an illegal immigrant risks his or her life to help someone? People and circumstances are complicated and don't always fit into neat little boxes. I am a legal immigrant myself, though I did not leave my country of origin because of crises and trauma. While I appreciate many things about this country, I am not sure what the phrase "American dream" actually means. It implies this is some sort of paradise of perfection that should be accepted gratefully and meekly, especially by immigrants. When there are mass shootings several times a week, people dying for want of access to healthcare and living on the street in the richest country in the world.... the "dream" requires constructive criticism and questioning, not uncritical adoration. The author's thoughtful article suggests he is using his education to do just that.
5
@Ro Ma Following along on this thread, you have been giving more help and opportunities than the average American. So count your blessings and try to remember that.
4
@maryK
Only a child would believe the American Dream represents "paradise". Mass shootings are horrifying but they are statistically insignificant to the overall population. No one is dying over access to healthcare. People are living on the street mainly because they are mentally ill/substance abusers and liberals won't allow the state to intervene and force them to get help.
1
I’m an immigrant too and the answer to your question is no, probably not. Contrary to myth, the US has always been hostile to immigrants but the important thing is that immigrants have always done well here and have contributed enormously to the country nevertheless. The Irish, Italians, Jews, Chinese, Japanese, etc. have not been welcomed with open arms but have found success and happiness in spite of it. A better question to ask is how will I become an indispensible part of this society and its economy? I’m very optimistic about your future prospects.
25
Sometimes there are no easy solutions. 6.5 million in El Salvador? What if half decide to join a caravan migrating north? What if it's only a third of that, one million? What about Honduras and Guatemala? Mexico itself? Venezuela is unraveling as well. Lord only knows what's in store for certain populations in Brazil.
Anyone have a solution?
59
@drdeanster
"Anyone have a solution?"
Instead of spending hundreds of millions of dollars sending troops to the border, separating families (both ripping infants from their mothers, and rounding up hard working parents at work, jailing and deporting them), we could have spent the past few decades blocking Republican and NRA-enabled gun running that destroys Central American communities and focus border enforcement resources on stopping the flow of drugs, not of hard-working people who dream of a better life
We could invest in helping people to build businesses in Central America (safer without the gun-running that lets gangs threaten and shake down shopkeepers), helping people to thrive and stay in their physically beautiful countries, and building a nearby market for our goods (and a paradise of inexpensive vacation spots)
Instead we attack these good people and waste our hard-earned tax dollars making the situation for them (and us) much worse.
11
Congratulations on the attainment of a permanent resident status, you worked hard for it.
Many people who grow up in the USA don't know safety, freedom, have access to higher education, or enough food, decent shelter, or access to money. You're a very special guy, you're just not that special. This isn't paradise, and never was. If you don't feel safe, it's very regrettable. There are times every week when I don't feel safe in America, and I am a citizen and "white."
14
Yes you are. I am an American, and I welcome people who come here for opportunity, people who get a green card so they can work, pay their taxes and be part of this diverse community. The hardest co-workers I have met are the first-generation immigrants who struggled to get here. I'm glad you came.
Conservatives think immigrants take advantage of public services, but the truth is that if that were what they wanted, the US is the last place they would come.
18
@Norwester--Whether they "want" to take advantage of public services or not, the truth is, they do. At least, those who are uneducated and unskilled do, and are a NET COST to American taxpayers, according to the report by the National Academies of Sciences. Fact is, even low wage citizen workers are a net cost to us, and it hardly makes sense, as demand for such workers is reduced by technology, to imports thousands and millions more.
15
I think that billionaires who PAY NO TAXES are a MUCH HIGHER COST to taxpayers than poor people, who continue to be poor because their benefits are so small. I don't resent helping people who need it. I resent helping Bezos.
8
@Norwester Aren't you romanticizing immigrants into a binary dichotomy which is the same essentialistic problem? You are setting up a binary divide of Good 1st Generation Immigrant/Bad Established American Citizens.
Just because you are flipping the binary dichotomy in a romanticized way doesn't mean that it isn't still a binary dichotomy.
2
As a US citizen, I do not want to be lumped into a group with violent criminals, who happen to be U.S. citizens. This is a continuum of morality, but I also think it is possible to distinguish between Americans like myself, who have not committed major crimes, and Americans unlike myself, who have committed major crimes. I may not be a "good American" versus a "bad American" in a binary dichotomy, but distinctions can be made on the continuum. The justice system; the educational system; the economy system makes judgments like these all of the time. If you think immigrants should be seen as individuals, then shouldn't you yourself stop lumping all immigrants into a single category? Not all immigrants have a right to move to whatever country they want to without performing the paperwork. Isn't that just life? Buying a house requires a lot of paperwork. Getting married requires a lot of paperwork. Graduating from high school requires a lot of paperwork. If illegal immigrants want to slip into another country to avoid the hard work of citizenship, then they haven't shown the commitment and maturity to earning citizenship.
36
@Joy, PhD
I am tired of hearing the disingenuous argument that Central Americans should do their paperwork.
We are talking about people who have no legal path into the USA. Their choice is to sneak in or stay out. No amount of paperwork would ever get most of these poor people a visa.
Whether they should be let in or how they should be treated is another debate, but saying that they should do their paperwork is ridiculous.
38
@Robert Sometimes the answer is "no." when people don't respect that, what do you think is the response we should have?
10
@Robert Very true. I became a US citizen after immigrating legally, and many people have congratulated me for “doing it the right way,” because everyone should do what I did and “get in line.”
It infuriates me! For many people, often the most deserving of a safe harbor, there is no line. It does not exist. Not just because immigrating legally is expensive, takes time, requires you or someone representing you to understand (technical, legalese) English, usually requires a family or employment sponsor willing to sign and show financial documents to prove that they can afford to, and will guarantee to, support you for at least five years, and even with all that you must be of totally unimpeachable character - but because there is literally NO LINE.
I’m Australian-American. I could have joined any number of lines to trade my free, highly developed country for the USA. Not so for many people who don’t already have a free, highly developed home country.
But even so... why couldn’t my favorite uncle come to my wedding in LA? He was so happy and excited about it! Turns out my then 50-year-old awesome social worker uncle couldn’t get a tourist visa for two weeks (even after an embassy meeting with the best lawyers and character references - he really wanted to see me get married!) because... at age 18, in 1976, he got a ticket for smoking pot. No line for him. I’ve never indulged and never will, but that excludes him from *visiting* Cali? Who did we just put on the Supreme Court?
16
This is a good question well articulated. We could add a couple of additional questions, like, why subject yourself to the judgment of Americans or some government? Would you subject yourself to the Chinese government in a similar way? Why or why not? Is it every person's birthright to be considered an American? Why or why not? If being an American is a malleable term, how does that affect its meaning and its worth?
19
@rjs7777
1) because the US or is the closest or most accessible free country for you to live in without fearing for your life, and if you come from a place with no effective government, you’d probably jump at one with “some government” to protect your freedoms.
2) Yes, if China were closer or more accessible, people from less free countries would try to live there (in fact, a lot of people from other Asian countries do try to live in China, and many succeed.)
3) Can you survive in your country? No? Do you think you could survive in the US, or China? Yes? Oh that’s why!
4) No. In fact, many people would not become American even if US citizenship was open to all. When I became a citizen I asked my parents and brothers if they wanted me to list them just in case... in ten or 15 years when their number came up, they could get green cards and live with the tiny taxes some Americans find so oppressive! The opportunity!
6) Why not... Well, my parents and brothers laughed at me because they have zero desire to be considered American, and enjoy living in a society where everyone can live comfortably, because they pay a lot of tax.
5) Being American is, and should not, be a malleable term. I posit that our current president is the one suggesting that some Americans are more or less American than others. This devalues the meaning and worth of America and “American”, and the whole world is watching.
Any more condescending questions? Signed, a legal immigrant to the US.
2
@HB
1. The United States is NOT the nearest free country. The caravan members can stop in Panama, or go south to Brazil and Argentina and Chile. Many immigrants do not want to learn English anyway, so why not go to a Spanish-speaking country where they won't have to learn a new language?
3