Did you know there are Mexicans in Arkansas? Tons of them. Guatemalans, too. Even a few people from El Salvador and Honduras here and there. Did you know that? I didn't in 2009, when I opened a manila envelope that sent me there for two years to be a missionary. I don't know why, but I had always thought Hispanic immigrants stayed in the Southwest, or the areas around. I didn't expect to find apartment complexes almost completely rented out to immigrants in the Dirty South. I also didn't expect to have my mind changed about so many things.
I had never felt good about the immigration situation. I won't pretend I was ever in favor of mass deportations or aggressive crackdowns. But Arkansas (and by extension, Tennessee) was where my mind was really changed. A mission is an interesting thing, because for the first time in, at least, my life, I walked a mile in someone else's shoes. I can't speak to numbers, or statistics. I can't say much by way of hard, fast facts about the issue. All I have is my own experience among undocumented immigrants. I would say I became acquainted in two years with 1000-2000 Hispanic immigrants over the course of two years. As such, I feel like I had a fairly diverse sample size.
I was involved in 25 baptisms as a missionary. Five of those were teenagers born in the United States, the rest were immigrants from Mexico, Guatemala, Nicaragua, and Honduras. None of them were documented. All but two of them were gainfully employed. In my whole mission, I don't believe I ever seriously taught anyone with papeles. If you are a believer in the divinity of missionary callings, you must at least admit that I was sent specifically to teach "illegal" immigrants.
First, understand: it is extremely difficult to get a green card. We place quotas on how many Mexicans, Hondurans, Guatemalans etc. we let in. For many there doesn't seem to be any other way than either a. coming with a temporary visa and overstaying it or b. crossing the border on foot. It isn't the easy way out of Mexico. For many its the ONLY way out of Mexico
To me, there seems to be a problem whenever you limit the potential on a group of people. Different limits are placed on these immigrants than are placed on citizens. In reality, an undocumented high school student has little if any hope of going to college. In fact, because of employment difficulties, many of them end up doing the same thing their parents did: construction, housecleaning and other manual labor. Even though they speak English, and maybe even have a diploma, they are relegated as second class citizens.
I ask you, what effort would you have put forth in high school if you already knew where you were headed? We may complain that such immigration creates poverty, and yet it us that put them there and keep them there.
I wouldn't say I'm proud to be an American. I'm not ASHAMED. I love this country, and I appreciate all that has been given to me. But all I did to become an American was be born; so what is there to proud of? We should be proud of what we do as Americans; what we build. And why shouldn't we include anyone that wants to be a part of it. In my opinion, if someone wants to come to America and work hard, why should we discourage them?
I understand that border security is important. I agree we need to keep track of who comes in. But do you think if it was conceivable to come legally so many would brave the border? To my knowledge, many pay coyotes as much as $8,000 to get across. We would put a big dent in the drug cartels income if we made it unnecessary for would-be immigrants to pay them.
We should screen for criminals.We should deport those that come and cause trouble. Keep the country safe. But America wasn't built to be exclusive. It should be exactly the opposite.
Well-said.
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