America’s evolution: A Thanksgiving Day cerebration
For a long time now, immigration, fanned by the continuous intrusions into the southern border by people from Latin America, has been a volatile issue in the US
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For a long time now, immigration, fanned by the continuous intrusions into the southern border by people from Latin America, has been a volatile issue in the US
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If there’s a single word that would aptly describe the feeling permeating the US immigrant community today, it would be anxiety.
Or perhaps dread would be more accurate, especially among the undocumented population.
But even among long-time immigrants, most of whom are now full-fledged Americans, a strange feeling is percolating — of being a stranger in one’s adopted land.
A feeling of being unwanted, of no longer being welcome.
For a long time now, immigration, fanned by the continuous intrusions into the southern border by people from Latin America, has been a volatile issue in the US.
It reached its combustion point a few weeks ago when ex-President Donald Trump won back the presidency — like a giant volcano suddenly erupting after a period of sham tranquility.
Overnight, America was transformed from a bastion of immigration into a bulwark of nativism.
Based on his explosive campaign rhetoric against illegal immigration and the fact that his mid-term presidential sabbatical had nudged him further to the Right, Trump’s second stint in the presidency is expected to usher in an era of strict enforcements and widespread apprehensions, culminating in mass deportations.
Yet, while curbing illegal migration is perfectly justified and is in fact necessary, fears abound that legal immigration itself will not survive the political gallows of nativistic restrictionism.
Indeed, of all the controversial agendas floating around, nothing is more horrifying than the Trump administration’s plan to conduct a widespread denaturalization campaign against naturalized Americans.
Dubbed “Operation Second Look,” the program, which had taken root during the first Trump administration, is expected to ensnare more individuals this time around due to a more expansive and “turbocharged” (according to its proponent) execution plan. Potential targets are individuals “suspected” of being untruthful on their naturalization applications or on their previous immigration submissions.
A complementary measure to said program is the planned elimination of the so-called chain migration, through which foreigners are allowed to settle permanently in the country with the privilege of bringing in their relatives through family-based sponsorships. Bringing this plan to fruition means people can no longer migrate or obtain legal status in the US based solely on family relationships.
Rounding out a trio of shock-and-awe programs is the proposed abolition of US birthright citizenship. With absolute control of the US Congress passing to the Republican Party come January, it isn’t out of the realm of possibility that a constitutional amendment will pass before the end of Trump’s term repealing the automatic grant of US citizenship to children born to non-citizens inside the country.
As far as the near-term agenda is concerned, also on the fast-track chopping block are the Biden administration’s various executive actions that benefit mostly Latino migrants and asylum applicants, as well as the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals.
On this point, questions remain as to why Trump, despite the Biden administration’s benevolent treatment of Hispanic immigrants and notwithstanding the former’s derisive attitude towards Latinos in general, had managed to boost his share of the male Hispanic votes to reclaim the presidency.
Was it a stubborn display of Latino machismo? Or simply a case of Latinos discriminating against fellow Latinos? A mixture of both, perhaps? One thing is certain though: these Latinos feel they belong in America.
Maybe they’re right.
At least until some rabid fellow with Aryan race delusions shatters their fantasy by yelling at them and chasing them off like feculent coyotes for poisoning the blood of the nation.
Whatever happens, America will survive, as it always has, and will continue to evolve — for the better.
Harvest blessings to everyone.
