“We don’t expect the United States to applaud those who arrive illegally and give us a prize for crossing the border. On the contrary, I think it is time for the laws to change making immigration to this country more orderly. But yes, it is time for those of us who have worked here to receive help in coming out of the shadows, or at least be recognized for the economic contribution that we give to the community. Our politicians know that an amnesty would bring positive economic impact, as what happened with the 1986 amnesty under President Ronald Reagan. We do not want Congress to pass economic packages for us, nor are we asking them for a single dollar to be given to each immigrant. We want them to charge a fine for illegal entry, to forgive us and to allow us to stay. We simply ask them to allow us to work with dignity and for them to value our work. We’re requesting them to put an end to laws that keep separating us and to help our countries find a real solution to prevent migration. And of course, to punish criminals with the power of the law, but exclude those of us who do not count as one of them—those of us who have come to work and seek the American dream.”
“Each day, migrants feel betrayed by politicians, co-workers, schoolmates, even by their own countrymen who have forgotten about their origin. More distressing is the attitude of those undocumented immigrants who do not join the protests; they only watch with arms crossed. Some make excuses: they have to work, they are too tired, or just don’t want to join, letting someone else fight for them. What we do to ourselves and our own people is the greatest betrayal of them all! It is shameful that nearly half of those who attended the marches are legal residents and U.S. citizens. It is also sad that they can’t put laziness aside, so immigrants keep on living under such harsh treatment.”
“If next week, our country’s soccer team, whether Mexico, El Salvador, Argentina, Colombia or Guatemala, comes to have a match at each stadium of the country, everyone would leave work, family, or children to attend. We would not mind losing our jobs or getting into an argument with our wives. It wouldn’t really matter how expensive the tickets are, we would still fill every stadium. It’s a real embarrassment not to have time or eagerness to join a cause that would demand our rights.”
“It’s neither a question of violence nor a fight for something that is not rightfully ours. It is only a question of continuing our search for what we have come here for, and the reason we left our families behind. It is a question of seeking decent treatment towards immigrants. Because just like many other issues in the country, like the economy, national security or public safety, the issue of migration should be a concern to us all. It is everyone’s problem. We cannot just do charity work or overthrow leaders who mistreat or oppress their people, while leaving our own communities here helpless. They too are human beings whose only crime is to work without a legal document. It is true that we must secure our borders, but why did they only intensify the surveillance on the Mexican side of the border after the 9/11 attacks? Are Mexicans terrorists? Would it not be just as easy for a terrorist to enter through Canada? It is not about giving our presence here in the country a standing ovation. It is about justice, equality, fair treatment and dignity.”
“There is more love in the heart of a special-needs child than in the heart a commentator who harms with his racist comments, wishing his neighbor ill. There is no love in the heart of any anti-immigrant group member, even some Congressman or Senator, or even a Governor who proposes laws to divide families. What legacy will they leave their children or our future generations? How could they talk about love in their homes, after signing a law which will divide the family of their child’s classmate? Also, signing an economic package of several billion dollars to be used in senseless wars? Our community only needs a law that enables us to feel as part of this great nation, or be, at least, authorized to work and be provided with the opportunity to travel and see our families.”
“The task is not nor will it be easy. First of all, those of us who are here illegally, need to adapt ourselves to the laws of the land, become good citizens, and learn English. Leave laziness behind, and get to work with dignity and courage. Unfortunately, after being here for a few years, we begin to live in conformism. We don’t save money, and we even forget about our loved ones.”
“To begin, this is a call for all immigrants to keep working as we did on the first day we first got here. Let us leave our bad habits behind and adapt to the American culture. This does not mean that we also have to leave behind the beautiful customs that we have in our countries. We just have to adapt to the ones here and comply with laws.”
“This is also a call for a peaceful union in our community, to seek leaders among us, and to support us as a unified and single group. It’s sad being the largest minority in the country yet being the most divided. It’s time to show solidarity and become the largest minority group that works for both the country and our families.”
“This is a call for the politicians of our countries to open their eyes and work for the welfare of the people and prevent new generations from continuing to migrate and seek elsewhere what should have been offered in their homelands in the first place.”
“This is a serious call for all religious representatives to preach the word of God, whatever our beliefs. Let us preach about the needs of the community and preach it through example. In every religion and in every church there exist immigrants who live day by day in uncertainty. You don’t need to go far, you don’t need to travel to big cities like Los Angeles, Las Vegas, San Antonio or New York; ask your brother in Christ, who you share the Sunday sermon with; or the one you go out to preach with . . . . there you will find the need. In the United States there are about three hundred million habitants, and of those, more than seventy five percent are believers of a certain religion. If they promoted unity amongst their members, every church could help this cause. A phone call to a local congressman or to senators is all it takes. There would be more of an impact from a group of no more than five million citizens than from a group of two hundred million believers who preach and teach about loving thy neighbor and yet have not put in their grain of sand towards legalization.”
“This is a call for the media to stop being sensationalists in regard to the few crimes that are being committed by the undocumented. You cannot judge our community based on such a small number. Better yet, see the real suffering that we deal with and see what it does to us. See what we give to our community. I ask those reporters who live with hate in their hearts to find another topic that helps increase their audience ratings. Stop showing your hate to the American people. They are people who have shown us throughout the years, how to have a noble and loving heart.”
“This is a call to all ethnic groups to join the cause. Why do we just leave it solely in the hands of Hispanic groups? Won’t legalization be the same for everyone? We still have a long way to go, but it is time for all immigrants to work together to find solutions.”
“This is a call to business owners who at some point have hired immigrants. Please support us by calling your senators asking them to be advocates for change. You more than anyone know of the hard work and dedication we put into our jobs. You also know our needs, and you know that the vast majority of immigrants are honest and hardworking people. This is also a call for celebrities and influential people in the community: many of you are immigrants, it’s time to join this cause.”
“Lastly, this is a call from all immigrants to the citizens of the United States. This is a call for peace to our politicians, a call for peace to anti-immigrant groups and to officials who try to pass laws that keep affecting our community, the same community that is being terrorized. It is local terrorism that harms our families. We live under the fear of being unjustly arrested. We live amidst unwarranted attacks. Above all, we live with the uncertainty of what tomorrow will bring: when we drive through a checkpoint, when the police confiscate our vehicles, when we lose our jobs and are not able to find a new one beca
use of stricter laws. We live under the fear of having to explain to our children why a relative has been deported, or in worse cases, their mother or father or both. We live in terror, knowing that we ourselves betrayed our families, leaving them behind in our country and perhaps one day come back empty handed because we were thrown out, not having been given time for anything. We live under the fear that one day we will lose everything: our house, our belongings that cost us many years of hard work. But above all, we live under the fear that on the day we least expect it, our parents will die far away from us and we will have to live with that sadness in our hearts forever.”
“This is a call for peace, a plea, a call of love, a simple call for justice for our people, a solution for everything. Latin America, Africa, Asia, Middle East, they all have lived under terrorism at one point in time and have needed humanitarian aid and received it. Today our community needs humanitarian aid and wants to be saved from terrorism. This desperate cry is to ask for that help. American people, we are waiting for humanitarian aid.”
After that speech, a new movement started and it grew at national level. That general call finally came to fruition and a whole country came together to bring forth justice and freedom. A few months later, it was time for the country to elect a new President of The United States. The very first African American president in the country’s history came to power. The struggle came to an end. Within the first three months of his term, the new President, along with the House of Representatives and the Senate reached an agreement. They would finally sign the long-awaited Immigration Reform Bill. The tragedy of Luis and Zina had left a legacy in the hearts of Americans.
That morning, the President of the United States of America finally emerged. He was received with a standing ovation. The world was about to witness a change.
After his customary greetings, the president read the letter that Luis wrote before taking his own life. He then gave a short speech:
“My fellow Americans, today, the world will again witness that justice is above hatred and inequality. Today, the United States will write a new chapter in its history, because apart from legalizing all immigrants, we will also put an end to racial discrimination, establishing stronger and more stringent laws against any racial hate crime. With this new law, our borders will be safer than ever before.”
The President continued. “Throughout our history, we have been making strides to reach this moment: the abolition of slavery in 1865 by President Abraham Lincoln, the end of segregation in the Armed Forces in 1948 by President Harry Truman, and most importantly, achieved by President John F. Kennedy in 1964, the abolition of all types of racial segregation. Now is the time for change. A new era begins in this great nation. God bless us all and God bless the United States of America!”
Note From The Author
This story is not based on actual events. But perhaps the reader will make the correlation with many instances or events that occur in real life. In our journey, we immigrants come across a series of events that mark our lives in a very special way, and although most of the time, we reach our dreams, we lose what we value the most along the way.
The Catholic Church, along with other religious groups has been a pioneer s in the struggle for immigration reform in conjunction with many pro-immigrant groups. And although the movement has grown in recent years, there is still much to do.
As an immigrant myself, I have realized the great need to project the true values, sentiments and courage of the people who decide to leave in search of better opportunities, and to demonstrate that the effort we make is often times stronger than that of an American citizen, by the enormous challenges that we encounter every day, and the obstacles we must overcome.
While writing this book, I was witness to the tragic loss of parents and siblings of some of my closest friends and relatives. And because they are undocumented, were unable to return to their country of origin to bid their loved ones a final farewell.
Later, during the translation phase of this book (from Spanish to English), I sadly had the tragic misfortune of losing one of my own—my loving brother. And as if destiny had written a book on my life, I too was unable to be with him in his final moments.
After all, faith is what will enable us to reach our wildest dream, yet to be fulfilled: a comprehensive immigration reform to end the pain and the uncertainty of a people who fight tirelessly for the welfare of their families.
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