Commentary: Thirty-eight years ago I applied for permanent residency at the Canadian border. At that time I was told that I could either become a nurse or get married. I laughed it off replying I already have a job (not in the medical field) and plans were in place for marriage. I did get my green card. Prior to that when I traveled through the United States by air my passport would be held until I boarded the plane to take me out of the country.
In Britain, years later I experienced the same procedure by the U.S. Immigration officials. I get checked and searched more often than my U.S. Citizen husband even when traveling within the U.S.
In my naivety I always accepted the inconvenience with a shrug because I felt “safe” in my knowledge I had nothing to hide. On several occasions I have been told that I have no place in voicing my opinion on political issues since I am not a citizen. Again, in my naivety, I laugh that off and felt secure in the First Amendment, freedom of speech. Within the last two years I have experienced being pointed at and told straight to my face that I am a criminal – this, by the way, by people my age, retired and Caucasian.
I am acutely aware that my experiences are nothing compared to what people are facing daily and I have stood up for and protected people that experienced the ugly truth of racism in America. I always believed that my permanent resident card and upholding the law of the land was what allowed me to live peacefully in the U.S. but how naïve I have been.
Guess, what? I am embarrassed to say – it’s the color of my skin. With the power that ICE has been given I am now also realizing that I could also experience having a knock on my door or pulled over and handcuffed for no other reason than not being a citizen. What has happened to America and how can so many American citizens buy into this horrible witch hunt and not realizing that we are all in this together.
Many friends that were born in the U.S. and have experienced racial slurs and discrimination because of the color of their skin and fought for equal rights in their youth are speechless to see what is going on in America today and are saddened by the knowledge very little has changed.
Come on Americans, you are better than this. I urge you not to buy into the fear of the unknown. Fear only divides and isolates. Stand up united to show the world that immigrant rights are human rights.