September brought great sadness, frustration and anger when the president of the United States, Donald Trump, called on Congress to phase out DACA,
or the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals, a program that assured
the future of around 800,000 children from all over the world who are
living in the United States, protecting them from deportation. Making up
nearly 80 percent of that figure, Mexicans will be disproportionately
affected by an end to the program.
Latinos,
particularly Mexicans, have been the main targets of President Trump’s
constant racial attacks. According to Mr. Trump, we are guilty of all
sorts of criminal acts. We have been called rapists, drug traffickers
and thieves who steal American jobs. He has demanded that we pay for a
wall to be built between our two nations that would prevent us from
entering the United States.
Many of these DACA recipients
arrived as babies or toddlers and know no other home, yet they still
acknowledge their birthplace and cherish their mother nation, adopting
proud hybrid identities.
Every
country has its own Dreamers, as these young immigrants are known. As
they grow up, study, build businesses and exchange ideas, they help
fortify a globalized world where cultures mix.
Continue reading the main story
The
residents of this modern world order endorse a new kind of citizenship
and democracy. They don’t settle for voting, but are eager to protest
when they believe they are being treated unjustly. They strive for
self-sustaining economic growth. They are concerned with the major
shifts in climate around the planet.
These
citizens of the world know their value. Regardless of skin color,
upbringing or nationality, they are able to thrive in different types of
environments. We see examples every day of these evolved people, who
are fighting to end racism and bring equality, inclusion and
representation to their governments.
Immigration
is nuanced and complicated, and there is no simple answer for how a
government should deal with the issues of national security. Anyone who
has ever led a nation, myself included, understands the priority of
keeping citizens safe. The answer, though, is not to punish the men and
women whose admiration and dedication to a country has served as the
catalyst for their hard work and success.
We
have heard many stories of young people arriving in America with their
parents, whose dreams of providing the best life possible for their
children emboldened them to risk a hazardous border crossing into
unknown territory. Those young people have gone on to acquire
educations, careers and communities; helped their parents to fill out
job applications and medical forms in English; and sent aid and guidance
back to their birthplaces. They aren’t trying to hurt their adopted
country — just the opposite. They’re just looking to be recognized.
America
is so admired because of what it seems to represent: equality and
opportunity and heterogeneity. Rescinding DACA would be a huge step
backward for a nation that has always prided itself on its forbearance.
The potential damage to hundreds of thousands of lives is
unquantifiable, and the upside is nonexistent. This change would punish
the people who wanted so badly to live in a country that they risked
everything they had to get there.
If
the future is bringing the notion of a global identity, and countries
without borders, it remains imperative that we prioritize the
preservation and celebration of our cultural traditions. Our customs
provide us with an exciting mix of ideas, experiences and stories to
contribute.
As
we honor what each individual brings to the table by way of their
background, the term “minority” will become an anachronism. Each person
has a unique story and skill set, effectively making all of us equal in
our potential contributions to society.
Conservative
movements have risen in opposition to this cultural blending, not only
in America, but all over the world, from the Brexit efforts in Britain
to the far right party Alternative for Germany’s presence in this year’s
election. Rapid change and disruption have brought instability and
concern, and in response conservative leaders are promising tranquillity
and security through protectionism and excessive nationalism.
We
cannot resort to this old answer to a new struggle. It is no longer
feasible to shut our doors in a world that is commingled politically,
economically, socially and culturally. Banning men and women from
entering a country based on their religion is bigoted and hateful.
Denying
refugees and those seeking asylum the opportunities many of our
countries are equipped to provide them is needlessly cruel and, as in
the case of DACA, only serves to hurt our most vulnerable fellow humans.
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