Rethinking Immigration -- Emma Shreve

Rethinking Immigration

In recent years immigration has become a hot topic. Americans are less concerned with the (depressing) state of our education system or the trillion dollar deficit and more concerned with the people living illegally in this country. I understand some peoples’ concern with illegal immigration, I do. Some arguments lack merit, however. The idea that immigrants are stealing jobs is somewhat ironic, considering that a large number of immigrants work jobs that Americans refuse to. It seems that at all the restaurants I’ve worked at, the Hispanic immigrants worked in the kitchen, prepping food or doing dishes. The dishwasher in particular was almost always a man who had recently moved to the United States. Most Americans, at least the ones I know, would find a dishwashing job to be below them. It seems that immigrants are simply doing the jobs that Americans think we are too good for. This idea is playing off of a stereotype of both Americans and immigrants. Obviously I don’t know that every dishwashing position in this country is filled by an immigrant, or that Americans think that this kind of job is below them, that but is the overarching opinion I perceive. This mindset is something we need to break out of. When we think of immigration, I think our minds often jump straight to illegal immigration and then to Mexican and other Hispanic groups living in the southern regions of the US. The authors of Children of Immigration, however, inform us that half of our nation’s illegal immigrants are “visa overstayers – people who typically fly into international airports with proper documentation and simply overstay their permits. This is a highly heterogeneous group of people that includes professionals, skilled and unskilled workers, tourists, and students from all parts of the world” (Suárez-Orozco 32). Even this is a new way of thinking of illegal immigration. No one snuck into the country, jumped a border, or swam across a river. They legitimately came in the country and overstayed their welcome. Where’s all the anger and resentment towards these groups of people? Is it not essentially the same thing? I think everyone could benefit from taking a step back and thinking of immigrants not as a large group, but as individuals. As mothers and fathers trying to make a better life for their families, and doing the best they can. Everyone can relate a little more to someone trying to make their way in the world…

Another host with me and Hugo, my favorite kitchen guy