Immigration Reform in America: a Right Thing to Do

Immigration debate is in its' peak these days. I am thrilled to hear about the discussion. I am myself an immigrant. I know the pain of being an immigrant. I have seen many friends who do not have legal documents which make them vulnerable to many situations including but not limited to exploitation of their labor. They are underpaid and are constantly living under fear of deportation.

Many people who are in the United States do not want to return to their country because of fear, instability, and uncertainty for themselves and for their children's future. Many people are in the United States illegally because the economic opportunities in their home country are very difficult to survive and live a quality of life. Their home country does not have stable government. Politicians are not concerned about development and security of its people. Schools do not have proper teachers. Hospitals do not have medicines and Doctors. In many places, people are treated from a person who attends medical schools for six months of basic medical orientation. They are called 'Doctors'. Nobody wants their beloved son and daughter to be treated by those persons. Schools do not have qualified and enough teachers. Not only these, because of instability and lack of rule of law, kidnapping is very common in developing countries. I cannot imagine my children being kidnapped for ransom. One has to live in constant fear of kidnapping, and such other fears. Finally, water and utilities are not adequate. They won’t be able to get good drinking water.

It is believed that there are more than 11 million people living in the United States illegally. United States is a country of immigrants. Everybody living here or their ancestors were immigrants once. Every new generation of immigrants have faced obstacles in settling in the country. When Irish and Germans came to united states, they faced problem of mitigation. When Catholics came to the United States, they faced fear of atrocity from Protestants. Now it is mainly Hispanic and Asian people who are facing the difficulty of acceptance. Presidential Election 2012 was a turning point in immigration debate. More than 70 percent of Hispanic voted for President Barack Obama fpr reelection. Republicans have started to rethink about their immigration stand. They are normally not in favor of amnesty to illegal immigrants. Now there has been bipartisan effort in senate to initiate the immigration bill. White House has prepared its own draft of immigration bill just as a back-up if congress fails to act on the issue. 

I am excited with this new development in regards to immigration because many people living in fear will have a relief. They will take a long breathe. They will hug their families because they do not have to anymore live with fear of uncertainty. When dad goes to work, his children do not have to worry about if he will make home tonight or get deported. Children can go to school without a fear knowing that when they come home from school their parents will be there to hug them and ask them "How was your day, my dear?"

Living under fear is almost like torture. I accept the fact, the immigrants, choose to live the way they are living, with fear. But it is for some hope of bright future. They are living in fear thinking that there will be a better and brighter day ahead after these hard times, just like a beautiful morning comes after every dark night. But it is painful to live like that for whole life. I know one of my friend’s dad who is in his fifties and have been here for more than 15 years. He has his children back home. He is living with other friends for last fifteen years and sending money to support his children back home. He will be happy to go and meet his children, hug them and share his love. He will be able to come back to the United States, if he wants, work and take care of his children. What he has done for last 15 years is entirely for his children. He does not have any girlfriend here in the United States for last fifteen years. He goes to work, comes home, goes to work, comes home, sleeps and wakes up next day and again repeats the same routine. This must be very difficult to live like a non-human life without feelings and attachments.

In my opinion, the immigration reform is necessary from different point of views including but not limited to humanitarian, common sense and right things to do. It will provide an opportunity for those hard working people to live a free life. This will unite families; strengthen their ties and support to create a society of solidarity. At the same time this will mainstream a big number of people in the society and regulate their income, minimize if not completely stop their exploitation. At last but not the least, it is fulfilling American philosophy of protecting human rights.