Fig 1. Struggling Mexican immigrants continue their trek across the U.S border trying to enter the U.S.
My grandpa was always a figure of wisdom to me. His towering presence at 6 foot 3 as he lurked around the house was something that I always took notice to. He had this small but noticeable mole on the left side of his chin that seemed to define his appearance. Then there was the office, this was where he would always tell me his many stories. The main attraction of his office was his lava lamp next to his computer. He would always point it out every time I sat in his office and it used to put me under a trance as a small kid. I couldn't help but stare at it even when he was telling me stories. My grandpa loved to talk about his roots and childhood growing up in Mexico. He would go into detail about the hardships that him and his family faced being raised with not much money. All of these stories seemed to consistently be prefaced or ended with the words, "You are blessed mijo." His mom would usually be a main focus of his as she was the one that was most responsible in my Grandpa's eyes for keeping the family going financially and emotionally. The "fight for a better life" he would say, was what his mom taught him and what he wanted to teach his grandkids. It was what got him to move to America in the first place. The U.S was what my grandpa believed to be a better place to raise his family up in a more desirable situation. He stopped at nothing to immigrate to the U.S and settled here with my grandma sometime in the 1960s. My grandparents have lived in the same house ever since they first stepped foot on American soil -- In my grandpa's view he was finally home.
Why do the borders and our current system of immigration need more attention? The time that it takes for someone or some people to enter the U.S. legally is too long. If a person in another country who is struggling wishes to move to the U.S, the legal process to do this can take 1 to 3 full years (Minier). Fixing this along with the renovation of the weak parts of our borders will help ensure the simple yet safe transfer of immigrants from country to country. If we can make help for people in need more accessible in the U.S. then that is the action that I believe we should take. The common argument against wanting to help is what possible burden to the country would take on with all of these new immigrants. My research has shown me the hidden benefits that these people do in fact bring to the U.S. About 1 in 10 counties in America experienced substantial economic growth primarily as a result of immigration (Adamy). It’s been said by some that our country would be harmed by these immigrants, but studies like these say otherwise.
Immigrants only want what's best for them and their family in most cases. They are only stopped by the current laws and regulations that face them. With a fix to these rules we can make the U.S a more accessible and safer place for all people. For now we need to go to our policy makers and demand for change. The only people with the power to do this is us, the U.S. citizens with our natural born rights. When election times come around, voting for politicians who support immigration reform would go a long way to creating the change that we want and that others desperately need.
Fig. 2 . Senator Robert F. Kennedy speaking at a political rally in 1968 (Manchester)
Robert F. Kennedy was a very well known politician who served as the attorney general and as a U.S. senator representing the state of New York. He was mostly known for being the younger brother of the extremely popular former president John F. Kennedy. Robert, or “Bobby” as some referred to him, was campaigning for the democratic nomination for president of the U.S. in 1968. His main appeal was towards poor people as well as minorities in the U.S. He promised to help relieve the economic hardships of those who were less fortunate than others. This made him the favorite to win the nomination until his untimely death in the same year of 1968. His attitude towards immigration remains one of his most lasting memories that came from his brief campaign. This was embodied most in this quote he made on the campaign trail, "Our attitude towards immigration reflects our faith in the American ideal. We have always believed it possible for men and women who start at the bottom to rise as far as the talent and energy allow. Neither race nor place of birth should affect their chances." Kennedy is saying that immigrants should be allowed the equal chance of success in America that natural born U.S No matter where someone comes from or how they arrived in the U.S., they should receive the same opportunities as everyone else.
RFK was a man who believed in these people just as they believed in America. His quote means to me that he truly sees all Americans as equals no matter their background or where they came from. I met with my grandparents at their home in El Centro. My grandpa was waiting for me to arrive in his office where he does most of his work from home. We enjoyed my Grandma's homemade chilaquiles and began to chat. The time was around 1:30 p.m when we started talking as I laid down on his couch. His mole on the side of his neck resembled a similar one on my own neck which seemed to travel generations. Of course anytime I go to my grandpa's he needs to either tell me a story or give me some life advice. Before I even asked anything he began to discuss how his mariachi band is doing and he's been managing them. I noticed my Grandpa's lava lamp on his desk as I always used to as a kid. I ask him about his reason for having it and he explains to me that it brings a calming presence that he uses to keep focus on his work. "Plus, all my grandkids love to stare at it," he says with a somewhat crooked smile.
Fig. 3. My grandfather playing guitar in 2015.
My grandpa grew up in a dirt poor family struggling to get by as his parents did everything he could do to help their children (Rosales). He hoped his family wouldn't go through the same struggles he did. My grandpa likes to remind me of this by saying, "You are blessed mi hijo." This is why he went on to immigrate to the U.S. illegally to start his family. My grandpa would become a U.S citizen a couple of years after his arrival in the U.S. He remembers the people he loved that he left behind in order to go to the U.S. Although reunited with many of them today, my grandpa claims it caused him loneliness he had never experienced before as a young man. As per usual I get put in a trance by the awe inspiring energy exuded by the lava lamp. My grandpa catches me staring at it and just shakes his head at me. After that he begins to recall his first days in the U.S being "full of the unknown" as the reliable person he knew in the U.S was his late cousin Carlos. "I was on my own mijo, I was able to get by through God's grace as he is our protector."
My grandpa was a deeply religious man and never missed an opportunity to remind me of God's love. Even today, nearly 40 years since he first stepped foot on U.S. soil, My grandpa still uses his past experiences to drive himself through life. "Not everyone is as fortunate as we are today mijo, and we should do what God would want us to do by helping them. When he was in a desperate situation, My grandpa recalls all the people who showed him kindness and believes he should do the same for others. Nowadays if my grandpa encounters a homeless person in need he will usually bring it upon himself to help them in any way he can. After all he's been through, this experience of his should be viewed in a positive light and used to help others in similar situations. Roberto Rosales, a man who made a difficult choice to move to the U.S. from his longtime home country of Mexico seeking more financial opportunities. My grandfather did what he knew was best for himself as well as his family back at home even though it would mean moving to and living on unfamiliar land.
Ever since, he has settled down to raise a family with the most difficult times of his life behind him. Now, the politics involving the border and immigration is something my grandpa pays much attention to. He sees the arguments for both sides and relates especially with people that are in situations like he was. These are the men, women, and children that hold a special place in my grandfather's heart. He wants to make a difference for them. The immigrants who just want to come across the border to seek financial opportunities or for other reasons aren't the problem. However, they are often and unfairly pointed out as people who bring nothing to the U.S. as simple burdens.
This I Believe: Spreading this information and making changes through our political system is the ultimate goal. For now, all we can do is to keep pushing and pushing for the change that we want. The continuous attention and overall awareness is what this issue needs. A simple lava lamp in my grandpa's office, something that has always fascinated me since I was just a kid. It's bright lighting and intricate movements made it something that I couldn't take my eyes off of. That's what represents the movement to help people less fortunate than us who seek refuge in the U.S. It's something we shouldn't take our eyes off of, and it should garner all of our attention.
Works Cited
Adamy, Janet, and Paul Overberg. “Immigrants Propel Population Growth in 10% of U.S. aaaaaCounties.” The Wall Street Journal, Dow Jones & Company, 18 Apr. 2019, aaaaawww.wsj.com/articles/immigrants-propel-population-growth-in-10-of-u-s-counties-aaaaa11555560061.
Coclanis, Peter A. “Immigrant Scientists Enrich the U.S.” The Wall Street Journal, Dow aaaaaJones & Company, 28 July 2013, aaaaawww.wsj.com/articles/SB10001424127887323309404578613703855242698.
Jawetz, Tom. “Building a More Dynamic Economy: The Benefits of Immigration.” aaaaaCenter for American Progress, 26 June 2019, aaaaawww.americanprogress.org/issues/immigration/reports/2019/06/26/471497/buildingaaaaa-dynamic-economy-benefits-immigration/.
Minier, Jenny. “Center for Equality AndSocial Justice.” Immigrants Benefit the aaaaaCommunity and Economy | Center for Equality and Social Justice, Sept. 2017, aaaaacesj.as.uky.edu/immigrants-benefit-community-and-economy.
Peri, Giovanni. “IMMIGRATION: The Economic Benefits of Immigration.” Center for aaaaaLatin American Studies (CLAS), 24 Sept. 2015, aaaaaclas.berkeley.edu/research/immigration-economic-benefits-immigration.