As students studying Latin
American history and sociology, it is important that we examine elements within
this field of study from new perspectives. Immigration is one of these issues that arguably needs more
in-depth research. Much of the
time these investigations have focused on the economic and political impacts
that immigration has on society, specifically from Latin American countries to
the United States. However, one
important element of study within the impacts of immigration that has a more
social influence is centered on family life. The family is the nucleus of any society, and as such,
should be closely examined in how immigration affects it on many levels. One aspect is particularly detrimental
to migrant family units: deportation.
·
“Aliens who pose
a danger to national security or a risk to public safety.”
·
“Recent illegal
entrants.”
·
“Aliens who are
fugitives or otherwise obstruct immigration controls.”’ **
ICE is also responsible for
setting up private detention centers to house these foreigners with a criminal
background, but unfortunately, that’s not always the case. As many as 20% in these detention
centers are merely undocumented immigrants. These undocumented immigrants are often picked up by random
chance, or because of minor traffic violations or tickets, and in most cases,
by no means dangerous. These men
and women, some mothers and fathers, have come to the United States to seek
employment and an honest living, often to provide for their families in their
native country, and their children who they’ve brought to the United
States. A mother pulled over for a
broken tail light can quickly be swept off to a detention center and eventually
deported, leaving her young, American born children to be placed in a poor foster
care system. A father trying to
provide for his wife and children is deported, tearing his family apart,
leaving his wife to struggle as a single mother. These are the realities of many deportation cases which ICE
is responsible for. When these
types of stories are addressed, ICE simply brushes them off as “collateral
damage.”
While
it is understandable that national security be of utmost importance, it seems
as though this “collateral damage”- real families who, regardless of their
country of origin, deserve basic human rights under the Universal Declaration
on Human Rights (UDHR), which includes, “the right to a standard of living adequate for the
health and wellbeing of himself and of his family, including food, clothing,
housing and medical care and necessary social services” (Golash-Boza 1215)- is
taking a serious toll on migrant families and communities. It instills fear and anxiety in a
population that is, in many regards, innocent of any activity that ICE is
claiming to be searching for and apprehending. These families and communities are a special area of
interest in the study of sociology and immigration, and should be treated with
more care and respect.
*https://www.americanprogress.org/issues/immigration/report/2012/08/20/27082/how-todays-immigration-enforcement-policies-impact-children-families-and-communities/
**http://www.immigrationpolicy.org/just-facts/misplaced-priorities-most-immigrants-deported-ice-2013-were-threat-no-one
Tanya
Golash-Boza & Cecilia Menjívar (2012): Causes and consequences of
international migration: sociological evidence for the right to mobility, The International Journal of Human Rights,
16:8, 1215
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