By: Crystal Munoz, GALEO Intern-Fall 2014
December 3, 2014
There are currently 11 million undocumented peoples living in the United States1. The Executive Action announced by President Obama stands to help around 5 million undocumented persons from being deported and ripped away from their families2. Five million people, less than half, are safe from deportation, able to work, and live out of the shadows. But what about the 6 million people still hoping and praying for their chance at a life free of worry and with liberty.
I know that beggars cannot be choosers, but are we really begging to be treated like human beings? When illegal immigration is being talked about people forget that these are actual humans that are forced to pretend like they do not exist. Their human rights are being trampled on and no seems to care. Some Americans see them as a burden to our “society”; yet, they contribute billions of dollars in taxes and in social security, of which they cannot benefit from3. When people decide to ignore the facts of the situation to force a minority group into the shadows, it is a violation of human rights and pure prejudice.
As far as I am concerned the executive action was a bandage over a gunshot wound. Six million people without kids who have lived in the United States for a minimum 5 years without infractions of the law are left in limbo until Congress decides to pass a comprehensive reform. But when will that happen? President Obama promised to fix the broken immigration system when he was elected in 2008, which was 6 years ago. Since then he gave us Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals and now we have Deferred Action to Parents of U.S. Citizens and Lawful Permanent Residents, all just bandages to what really needs to happen, and that is Comprehensive Reform. Congress refuses to get their act together and work towards a reform that helps those who want to a part of this society. These people are living in uncertainty and walking on egg shells until a solution is found.
The Latino community is tired of all these broken promises. So until Congress can work together, those left in shadows will continue to work and live in darkness like they have done for countless years. However, those of us who are in the light must ban to together fight for our counterparts. We cannot give up and will not give up. Comprehensive Reform is the end goal.
1. http://www.pewhispanic.org/2014/11/18/unauthorized-immigrant-totals-rise-in-7-states-fall-in-14/
2. http://www.cnn.com/2014/11/20/politics/obama-immigration-bush/index.html?hpt=hp_inthenews
3. http://money.cnn.com/2014/11/20/news/economy/immigration-myths/index.html?iid=article_sidebar
GALEO NOTE: The views expressed by Crystal Munoz are her own and not necessarily GALEO’s views. At GALEO, we encourage our interns to write about their perspectives about issues that are relevant in the community.