By Itzel Hernandez
Crossing the border is no nature walk, nor is it an “adventure,” but rather an experience no one wants to experience and many are pushed to commit to this journey in hope of a better future.
Not everyone is born within a safe and loving community. Some must face the hardships around them and make the best of it. Nor does everyone receive the same opportunities as us. One might has the opportunity to pursue an education and career, but others don’t. Most of us even have a decent household in which we live in, not to mention we live within the walls of a privileged country but some people aren’t as lucky.
Anonymous A, “Honduras, the country is very dangerous and there’s a lot of violence..there’s a lot of opportunities here compared to our country, in our country we face poverty but not here”
This is the case for most undocumented immigrants and they can’t do much about it other than imagine a better future for themselves and their families.
Undocumented Immigrants didn't just suddenly appear within the walls of these country by magic. These people fought for their place in this country and have worked long and hard to stay within this country.
Crossing the border is no nature walk, nor is it an “adventure,” but rather an experience no one wants to experience and many are pushed to commit to this journey in hope of a better future.
Not everyone is born within a safe and loving community. Some must face the hardships around them and make the best of it. Nor does everyone receive the same opportunities as us. One might has the opportunity to pursue an education and career, but others don’t. Most of us even have a decent household in which we live in, not to mention we live within the walls of a privileged country but some people aren’t as lucky.
Anonymous A, “Honduras, the country is very dangerous and there’s a lot of violence..there’s a lot of opportunities here compared to our country, in our country we face poverty but not here”
This is the case for most undocumented immigrants and they can’t do much about it other than imagine a better future for themselves and their families.
Undocumented Immigrants didn't just suddenly appear within the walls of these country by magic. These people fought for their place in this country and have worked long and hard to stay within this country.
Donald Trump, our current president, is known for his disparaging comments against undocumented immigrants. He has referred to them as rapist, thieves and drug dealers but to what degree is that even true?
According to the American Immigration Council, immigrants are less likely to be engaged in criminal behavior and be behind bars than native born citizens. The incarceration rates of the native-born have been two to five times higher than that of immigrants.
Due to these comments some people have come to accept the idea that undocumented immigrants are the monster they are described to be. Undocumented immigrants are often seen as a menace to society because they came here illegally thus they do not deserve to be here. But what these people often overlook is that undocumented immigrants have put many things on the line including their own life in hope of a better life. Although this can be seen as a cliché it is true for many of these people.
The journey here is not an easy one nor is it cheap not just money wise but also in sacrificial ways. Many are forced to leave behind their loved ones and commit to a dangerous path. Some of these people not being able to turn back, accepting the fate that they won't ever see their loved ones again.
Some faced traumatizing events throughout their journey which only haunts them. The come face to face with death in their journeys but still persevere with their journeys.
“We were assaulted, robbed, my husband was held at gunpoint..we were forced to drink dirty water because we didn’t have anything and I came here with 4 of my children..we had to beg for food to feed my kids...I lost one my child along the way too..”
It is not just adults either some of these people come together as a family, including kids. As if it wasn’t hard enough already for an adult, can you only imagine what it is like for a child walking through such a dangerous path?
Most of those making up the low-skilled workforce are undocumented immigrants, many of whom are unauthorized to work. Leading many people to believe they push away US citizens from their jobs. Thus many people think it is unfair for them to be here because they take away opportunities from US citizens.
Anonymous A, “Those of us who come from over there do the jobs that many won’t do, we come here to work not to kill or rob anything.”
Anonymous B, ”They take jobs most people wouldn't want to take..such as farm labor..to feed their families.”
According to Maria E. Enchautegui, from the Urban Institute, due to their lack of technical skills and limited English language, undocumented immigrants have insufficient exposure to the US workforce. So even if they were to be authorized to work, that alone won’t create any tension between US citizens and undocumented immigrants in the competition for workforce.
Within their arrival the first thing these people do is work enjoying no leisure time at all. But being an undocumented immigrant does not grant them many opportunities, which they are aware of and accept, thus leading them to low and harsh paying jobs.
But like many of those who live here in the United States they still pay taxes regardless of their status as undocumented residents, even though there aren’t even supposed to. They are contributing back to the country regardless.
According to Roy Germano, from Vice News, undocumented immigrants have taxes automatically taken out of their checks, like any other employee. The SSA estimates that unauthorized workers have paid a whopping $100 billion into the fund over the past decade. But since these people are here illegally it is unlikely that they will be able to benefit from their contributions later in life.
Anonymous C, “I have seen people in need to like help their family sometimes it is really sad you know because they do not have anything so they only want to do their best”
Many work in hope of providing for their family here, or even families back home. They hope to provided their families with better opportunities they did not have growing up. In hopes of creating a future they will look forward to without going through the same things they did just for a better life.
Comments against undocumented immigrants also affect other immigrant communities such as those who are documented. Some people assume that if one group of immigrants is “bad” then all immigrants that come to this country are also bad.
Even with these conditions many undocumented immigrants do not give up on their goals and continue to persevere. Many of whom disregard other people's comments against them because they are proud of their community regardless.
Anonymous D, “No it doesn't worry me that I am undocumented..the sh*t that happens does not affect me...if things happen it happens..i'm coming back regardless.”
Whether people continue to overlook these things or not, at the end of the day these people also form part of this country, meaning this is also their home.
According to the American Immigration Council, immigrants are less likely to be engaged in criminal behavior and be behind bars than native born citizens. The incarceration rates of the native-born have been two to five times higher than that of immigrants.
Due to these comments some people have come to accept the idea that undocumented immigrants are the monster they are described to be. Undocumented immigrants are often seen as a menace to society because they came here illegally thus they do not deserve to be here. But what these people often overlook is that undocumented immigrants have put many things on the line including their own life in hope of a better life. Although this can be seen as a cliché it is true for many of these people.
The journey here is not an easy one nor is it cheap not just money wise but also in sacrificial ways. Many are forced to leave behind their loved ones and commit to a dangerous path. Some of these people not being able to turn back, accepting the fate that they won't ever see their loved ones again.
Some faced traumatizing events throughout their journey which only haunts them. The come face to face with death in their journeys but still persevere with their journeys.
“We were assaulted, robbed, my husband was held at gunpoint..we were forced to drink dirty water because we didn’t have anything and I came here with 4 of my children..we had to beg for food to feed my kids...I lost one my child along the way too..”
It is not just adults either some of these people come together as a family, including kids. As if it wasn’t hard enough already for an adult, can you only imagine what it is like for a child walking through such a dangerous path?
Most of those making up the low-skilled workforce are undocumented immigrants, many of whom are unauthorized to work. Leading many people to believe they push away US citizens from their jobs. Thus many people think it is unfair for them to be here because they take away opportunities from US citizens.
Anonymous A, “Those of us who come from over there do the jobs that many won’t do, we come here to work not to kill or rob anything.”
Anonymous B, ”They take jobs most people wouldn't want to take..such as farm labor..to feed their families.”
According to Maria E. Enchautegui, from the Urban Institute, due to their lack of technical skills and limited English language, undocumented immigrants have insufficient exposure to the US workforce. So even if they were to be authorized to work, that alone won’t create any tension between US citizens and undocumented immigrants in the competition for workforce.
Within their arrival the first thing these people do is work enjoying no leisure time at all. But being an undocumented immigrant does not grant them many opportunities, which they are aware of and accept, thus leading them to low and harsh paying jobs.
But like many of those who live here in the United States they still pay taxes regardless of their status as undocumented residents, even though there aren’t even supposed to. They are contributing back to the country regardless.
According to Roy Germano, from Vice News, undocumented immigrants have taxes automatically taken out of their checks, like any other employee. The SSA estimates that unauthorized workers have paid a whopping $100 billion into the fund over the past decade. But since these people are here illegally it is unlikely that they will be able to benefit from their contributions later in life.
Anonymous C, “I have seen people in need to like help their family sometimes it is really sad you know because they do not have anything so they only want to do their best”
Many work in hope of providing for their family here, or even families back home. They hope to provided their families with better opportunities they did not have growing up. In hopes of creating a future they will look forward to without going through the same things they did just for a better life.
Comments against undocumented immigrants also affect other immigrant communities such as those who are documented. Some people assume that if one group of immigrants is “bad” then all immigrants that come to this country are also bad.
Even with these conditions many undocumented immigrants do not give up on their goals and continue to persevere. Many of whom disregard other people's comments against them because they are proud of their community regardless.
Anonymous D, “No it doesn't worry me that I am undocumented..the sh*t that happens does not affect me...if things happen it happens..i'm coming back regardless.”
Whether people continue to overlook these things or not, at the end of the day these people also form part of this country, meaning this is also their home.