Immigrant families at the U.S.-Mexico boundary received cruel treatment during the Trump Administration. The documentary “Separated: Children at the Border” portrays the inhumane treatment of immigrant families at the US boundary (PBS, 2019). Separating children from their families violated human rights, exposing a long history of xenophobia and racism in the United States. The disproportionate impact of this policy on families of color, especially those from Central America, demonstrates how race and ethnicity intersect with immigration policy.
Through the course, it was learned that the history of immigration to the United States is deeply intertwined with issues of race and ethnicity. Immigrants of color in the US have an account of facing discrimination and mistreatment from the government and society. The discriminatory practices range from the Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882, the internment of Japanese Americans during World War II, to the recent policy of separating immigrant families at the border, according to Zhang (2020). The country’s immigration history is complex and intersects with race and ethnicity, which presents challenges for immigrants of color. Due to this historical legacy of discrimination, many immigrants of color have encountered significant obstacles while seeking a better life in the United States. The child separation policy during the Trump Administration exemplifies how immigration policies can perpetuate racial and ethnic inequality. The trauma and long-term effects of family separation will continue to affect immigrant communities, especially those of color, for years to come.
The United States should adopt a more compassionate and humane approach to immigration policy. Moreover, as a nation that values liberty and justice for all, it has a moral obligation to offer a haven for those escaping violence and persecution. This involves enacting policies prioritizing family reunification, providing access to legal representation, and ensuring that detention facilities meet minimum standards of human decency. Additionally, it requires recognizing how current immigration policies uphold systems of racial and ethnic inequality and taking action to dismantle them at all levels. Ultimately, a more compassionate approach to immigration can create a genuinely welcoming and inclusive society for everyone.
References
PBS. (2019). Separated: Children at the border. PBS. Web.
Zhang, X. (2022). The historical significance of the 1882 Chinese exclusion act: The impacts on Chinese immigrants in the United States. In 2022 8th International Conference on Humanities and Social Science Research, 1737-1741.