When doing research on the life of immigrants and the struggles that they go through in the United States, I came across this article based on a trip that a group of immigrants made to try and get their message across of wanting to create a better future for themselves and their family.
By Andrea Slivka
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After traveling together by train for five days, a group of immigrants and their supporters representing more than 40 countries arrived in Washington June 19 to join an interfaith march to the White House.
The Dreams Across America Tour included more than 100 immigrants and citizens who traveled across the country to bring a human face to the immigration issue. A group of Catholic parishioners and clergy from the Los Angeles Archdiocese participated in the journey.
"I want to share our dreams and to be able to change the minds of the people who see us as criminals, and for them to know that we are hardworking people, and with our work we have contributed to the greatness of this country," said Doris Castaneda through an interpreter. She is originally from Guatemala and currently attends Our Lady Queen of the Angels Church in Los Angeles.
The group arrived in Washington just as the Senate was going to reconsider a bill that had been shelved about two weeks earlier.
During the trip, the Dreams Across America participants shared both their frustrations with the current immigration system and their dreams of building better lives in the United States.
Cathy Gurney, a commercial landscape owner from the Los Angeles Archdiocese, was struck by the story of a mother and daughter who emigrated from China. The mother's immigration papers came through easily, but the 16-year-old daughter's background check was not processed for five years. The daughter is now 21 and must start the process over again, facing the possibility of being deported.
"And these are the stories people don't realize," Gurney said in an interview with Catholic News Service.
I haven't actually heard my family tell me stories about them exeriencing immigration. But my friends have told me stories of the struggles they faced and obstacles they had to overcome just to recieve a better life in America.
ReplyDeleteThis article about the protest reminded me of when some friends and I went out to Trenton to support the Dream Act. It feels good to support a call to action.
Personally, I believe that immigrants are extremely integral to the maintaining of society. They have the neccesary jobs that nobody wants to do. The jokes and negative pre-concieved notions that they have to endure are completely uncalled for. They simply want the same rights that most Americans are born with and must acquire them by organizing and mobilizing in the form of marches and such. Their actions are a step in the right direction towards an equal living.
ReplyDeleteIn my opionion we don't respect immigrants enough. Without them some of the jobs that we have would never be done. Immigrants should be treated with more respect.
ReplyDeletewe are all immigrants some way or another. this country was developed by immigrants.
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