From my family, my parents, my sister and a few uncles are undocumented. The majority of my uncles got lucky when they came to the U.S. because when they came around the late or early 1980s they were granted residency. On the other hand, if my dad would have come earlier maybe he would have become a citizen as well. My dad came to the U.S. earlier than my mother and sister. When he got help and collected the money to crossed the border, all my uncles lived in the same apartment at South Gate. My dad worked in a bakery in South Gate for a few years and two years later my mom and my sister came to the U.S. The fact that I come from an immigrant family, I am aware of the struggles that many immigrants face. Someone who is undocumented faces different …show more content…
My first interviewee was my sister Alejandra and my second interviewee was a friend name Fernando. Alejandra is currently a senior at California State University, Los Angeles (CSULA) studying social work and child development and Fernando is a junior studying Latin American Studies at University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA). They both are undocumented students who are trying to pursue a higher education. The difference between Fernando and Alejandra is that they both came to the U.S. at a different age. Fernando was aware of the dangers, he remembers what he went through and he knows what he was sacrificing. But Alejandra came at a young age and had no know ledged of the dangers and how risky it was for her and her mother to crossed the border. Alejandra does not remember how her life in Mexico was; she doesn’t know what she was leaving behind. Although they both have different backgrounds, they both shared one thing in common: the “American dream” the right to have equal opportunities to achieve success regardless of immigration status. Although they both have not achieved the “American dream” they acknowledge how grateful and privileged they are. They appreciate the hard work their parents have done for them and for their family and for this county. They both understand how they are victimized by the system and from those with authority. They understand the educational pipeline makes it impossible for many to earn a higher degree, especially those who are first generation college
Two Sisters, Two Americas is a brilliant article by Brooke Ross that illustrates the life of a family with a mixed-status and what should be done about it. Many people agree that an illegal immigration reform is necessary however people can’t seem to agree on what needs to be done about it. The issue about the immigration reform has created many fights between democrats and Republicans and although both sides think something needs to be done they can’t agree on what to do. Although most people don’t seem to realize is that illegal immigrants are people like us who are trying to find safety and better opportunities. It is clear that illegal immigrants need some pathway to becoming a citizen.
The constant threat of deportation can lead to anxiety, depression, and other mental health issues, which can affect both the individual and their family. Furthermore, undocumented immigrants are often excluded from social safety nets, such as healthcare and education, which can exacerbate their vulnerability. Another theme that runs through the book is the impact of racism and discrimination on the lives of Latino/a/e immigrants. Padilla's experience of growing up undocumented in the United States exposed him to the pervasive stereotypes and prejudices that exist towards immigrants of color. He recounts numerous incidents of discrimination, both explicit and subtle, that he faced as a child and young adult.
Their happiness started to flow in the room until they found out that not all the family member would be allowed to go. Tears rolled down the mother and father’s eyes, and the children as they all had to leave their lovely grandparent behind. That was the happiest day for them as well as the worst day. The parent didn’t want to leave the grandparent behind, but had no choice as they wanted to take a step forward for their kids hoping for a better future and education. For this reason, they believe America will make their kid’s life a better one than they have
I grew up in California, born to Chinese immigrants who began their American dream by working as dish washers at a shifty restaurant in Oregon. From there, my father worked his way up by fixing machines ranging from dumpling assemblers to oil rigs on the ocean that took him away from home for months while my mother became confined to bed rest due to chronic illness. Thinking back, I distinctly remember the vague acknowledgement of poverty in our family. Whenever I asked for jejune luxuries such as toys, mother appeased me by promising that we could maybe buy it once my brother joined us in America. Unable to obtain a green card for my older brother, they had to leave him behind in China under the care of our grandparents.
But either way undocumented immigrants risk it all just so their family can move forward in life. They live in fear but they never give up . Many people have a bad image of undocumented immigrants , but they are actually really hard workers . They work hard for what they want , and they get the things they have by their own sweat . Just imagine leaving everything behind to go to a better place to start a new life.
Being a child of immigrant parents is not easy. You are constantly living in the fear that one day you’ll wake up and you parents won’t be there with you anymore. Specially now that we have a new president, things are getting more challenging. But don’t get me wrong, I live a happy life. I am proud to call myself a Latina.
As generations follow the children of the first immigrants have lost their heritage due to following the American ways. We have to remember that our heritage makes us who we are and we can never forget about it. Our heritage can help ourselves and help those around us. In “Achieving the American Dream” Andrea Cuomo and Immaculata Giordano both come to America to live a better life for them and their family to come.
I became interested in this topic because both my parents came from Mexico to Los Angeles in 1975. They both wanted to have better economic opportunities in the US and wanted to achieve the “American Dream.” As my father and mother both settled in Los Angeles, both acquired jobs working
On one hand, she is proud of her Mexican roots and is frustrated by the way her family and community are treated in America. She is constantly reminded of the prejudice and discrimination that Mexican-Americans face, and this fuels her desire to challenge the stereotypes and expectations that are placed on her. On the other hand, she is also excited by the opportunities that America offers and is eager to explore the world beyond her family and
This novel follows the struggles of a poor migrant family from their lost land-share in Oklahoma to California. The family is excluded from the American Dream, and even basic liberties, due to their status as poor. However, hope is given that the migrants will rise up and take what they deserve. The primary similarity between the two is their understanding of what the American dream is. Both imply that, though it may be less satisfying, that which makes us American is not having the dream, but rather, the process of attempting to realize the dream.
The differences between "Dreamers" and "Enrique's Journey" when discussing family shows that relationships between family members aren't perfect and not always beneficial. Pretending that they are discredits the experiences and struggles that some immigrants face because of their family. Despite their differences, both books emphasize how family plays a huge role in immigrants'
Immigration, a foundation and guiding force in a premature United States, helped establish the identity of today’s modern world. The US is the progressive, prosperous nation it is today for the baseline unity and coming together of peoples from different places, different countries - different cultural and ethnic identities. Acceptance diversity, and humanity are necessary for new beginnings, all of which can be found in the new beginnings that come with immigrant status. An immigrant herself Ántonia Shimerda, from My Ántonia by Willa Cather, knows the hardships that come with new beginnings. The prosperity of a Ántonia, directly correlates to the the United States success.
My grandfather was the first person in my entire family to come to America in about 1988, so it’s been almost 30 years. When my grandfather decided to come to America, he had no green card, or a citizenship to come here. Therefore, he was driven to do various tasks to acquire his green card, so that he could travel to America. Keep in mind that he left his 4 kids, and his wife behind in India. As soon as he arrived in America, he commenced to look for a woman who was an American citizen, on the behalf that he wanted to bring his family to America as well.
3.4.1 Interviews An interview is defined by Kahn and Cannell, as a purposeful discussion between two or more people (1957). Interviews can help researchers to gather valid and reliable data that are relevant to their research questions and objectives. In fact, the research interview is a general term for several types of interview. This fact is significant since the nature of any interview should be consistent with the research questions and objectives, the purpose of the research and the research strategy that researcher has adopted (Saunders, Lewis, Thornhill, 2009, p.318).
Since you said to write about a topic I could relate to the most, I am going to write about how my siblings and I struggle with undocumented parents to this day. Immigration is probably the most overlooked and ignored issue in the past years. Bernie Sanders in a speech onced said “We cannot and should not sweep up millions of men, women, and children – many of whom lived here for many years, contribute to our society, and are integrated into the fabric of American life – and throw them out of the country unjustly”. “Equality for all” is probably the most famous quote in American history yet equality is not distributed equally. I truly believe that everybody deserves to have a share in the “American Dream”.