http://www.npr.org/2014/07/07/329504057/in-california-town-protests-shed-light-on-national-immigration-debate
What do you think the United States should do about these busses and busses of immigrant/refugee children? Should we bring them in and take care of them or should we send them back to their home locations? Listen to the arguments and organize your thoughts the best you can.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
60 comments:
I don't have quite a lot of information about this topic but if kids are coming here by themselfs , i think they should go back because they know more places and people were they are originally from because it's were they have lived there whole life . I just don't think it's appropiate at all for children to come with no adults ,they run high risk of been abducted, they could put them in sex or organ trafficking and they can even be killed.
-Regina Andres
I think the children should be sent back and the parents should be given a ticket for sending their kids alone. It is way to risky and very unsafe for the children to travel like this. The children are coming for a better life in America, but it should be with their parents and legally. In my opinion we should take care of them for the few days that they are here because they are in our country, but we should really send them back as soon as possible. This children could be kidnapped, used for trafficking, raped,or even killed. The government should enforce and be more strict when busses are coming in through the border.
This is a very difficult question. As Regina and Teresita mentioned, there are many risks that children face when sneaking up here by themselves. But the question is coming from the assumption that they made it the US. This is very much a "damned if you do, damned if you don't" situation. If we take the kids in and care for them, we are only encouraging future risk takers, but if we send them back we are sending them to a place that they ran from, knowing the risks that they would have to take to escape. If we care for them, it possibly increases the amount of kids that are taken advantage of/killed during the immigration process. If we send them back, we send them back to a place that they felt was worth risking their lives to escape.
In my opinion, the busses of refugee children should be sent back because how will the government take care of these children. It’s going to be a risk if the U.S decides to take care of them because as Ed stated, it will encourage other parents to send in their own children to America. Although, they probably don’t have a good life back at home, living in the States will be no different because as Teresita mentioned, they can be kidnapped and be put in dangerous situations. The only way the government can take care of these poor children is ensure that parents don’t send their children alone
-Bronsin Benyamin
Now I will say right off the bat that I'm pretty biased twards keeping the children, and I guess I am because the children were problably talking about are hispanic, and since I'm hispanic as well I kinda feel for them. These children are running from what would most likely be a terrible situation, and we've all problably seen a poor unsheltered mexican kid on the streets. If not in person, then on the news, if not in california, then in another state. I know it would be extremely difficult to take care of these children, and it would take alot of resources but is it right to send them back into an enviroment that was so bad that they ran away from in the first place. It would only hurt and hinder these children. I Know tha t as a society we say that it's not our problem but I believe it would be irresponsible of us a human beings to let these children back into enviroments that will only destroy them. We have a responsibilty to other human beings not our own. (Just Food For Thought)
I agree with everyone that it is very dangerous for a child to cross over the border to country they know nothing about. Going to a country is like traveling to a different world you never know what to expect. The rules are different, people are different,even the language. Even the little boy in Under the Same Moon went through some things that no just anyone his age could of. I can understand that those children traveled here to earn a better life, because my parents were both immigrants and my mother was younger than me when she traveled here, but luckily she was not alone. But in the end we're talking about children who come by themselves, and i do agree that the best decision would be to send them back with their families where they would be safe, given the fact that they would most likely not be emotionally prepared.
-Sabrina Vargas
I completely understand that people don't want these children to drain our resources but is that what we're going to see this children as? Something bothersome, I know parents that constantly take their children to the E.R for unnecessary reason and there are people that sit there and wait whom really need the care. Isn't that a drain in a sense as well? I have to say that I definitely agree with Jonathan on this topic. I'm not sure what to call it maybe I'm being biased as well but is sending them back home really what is best for the children? A few fellow classmates have stated that parents should be fined or to assure that parents don't send them alone. Well, about two summers ago I watched "Which Way Home", it is a documentary that follows unaccompanied child migrants as they try to reach the United States. Both main boys in this film weren't sent by their parents as a matter of fact they themselves decided to leave, just leaving a note behind. I just think we should remember that some of these parents would never think of sending their young children on this trip alone, they know the risks. Imagine if you heard all these amazing stories of a place where dreams come true, where a family member made it, a place where there is still hope, Wouldn't you want to do anything to get there considering the fact that home isn't safe or sufficient. This decision is a very emotional one for these young children. Some do wish to go back then in such a case allow them to. I'm sure plenty have family here so why not send them with family? Maybe in such a sensitive area or topic we should consider what we would want someone to do for us.
-Yadira Frutos
This is a very interesting topic. In my opinion, I believe that the immigrant and refugee children shouldn’t be turned away. American citizens need to understand that they are human beings to and to think about it from their shoes. America is the land of opportunity and those children should deserve a chance to succeed in life as well. I have recognized that there are health concerns when it comes to immigrants and where they come from, but that is what hospitals are for. I also do realize that these children are crossing the border illegally, but from where they come from is way worse from where we live. It sounds crazy that sitting somewhere and waiting for someone to pick you up to do difficult labor for a small amount of money is better than whatever they have back home and that has to be taken into consideration when deciding on whether to take care of them or send them back home. I understand everyones opinion on them coming over to a new country with different rules, people, and language, but the areas that they are moving into are populated highly with immigrants and Mexican Americans. I also am irritated by the fact that the protesters were chanting “USA” at the busses that were attempting to gain access to America. America is known to be an extremely diverse country, and since the beginning of America there has always been a group of different nations immigrating to America for the same reason that these immigrants are as well.
-Daniel Negron
This is a hard topic. These children are obviously being sent to the U.S for better opportunities and a better life, but most likely that will not be the case for most of these kids. Sadly most of them will not be accepted for the simple fact that they are immigrants. I agree that these children most likely will not be offered anything better back home, but it is very dangerous for them to cross alone to a completely new place that they know nothing about and where they have no one they can truly rely on. I also agree with Ed and Bronsin that if the U.S were to take care of the kids more parents would send them and eventually we won´t have enough resources for them or ourselves as many protesters were arguing. I completely understand that these parents only want what is best for their family but if they want to come to the U.S they should do it legally without risking the lives of their children.
- Sara Gonzalez
I completely agree with Daniel. Unfortunately we are in the minority. Like Daniel, I believe that the immigrant and refugee children shouldn't be turned away from the United States, if they decide to come, in attempt to become successful. America likes to pride themselves as always being the land of opportunity. Why turn away these kids that left their troubled past and help them achieve greatness? The argument of some students are that it is unsafe for the children to be by themselves, and that they will be lost and confused on what is going on. I see it as the complete opposite. I believe that if these immigrants and refugees decided that they wanted to get out of their home, and wanted to be successful, then they are already brave and intelligent. That is the most difficult part in this journey of theirs. They have already gone through adversity. Of course there will be language barriers, but I see it as something that won't take long for these kids to overcome. Also, an argument that was made was if the US "accepts" these immigrant and refugee children, we would "encourage more risk takers". I don't see a problem with that. Life is about taking risks. What is wrong with promoting more diversity and opportunities? Work will be more efficient, products will become better, and sales would skyrocket. This formula will only create more job opportunities for immigrants and refugees, as well as born Americans. Competition is needed and necessary.
-Michael Gelagay
There are many risks for those children to be coming here alone. They don't know any locations, everything is new to them and no shelter. I think those children should go back home because they will be a lot safer where they come from and will not have to deal with these complications. These kids run the danger of being killed because they can get into stuff they think is right when it s actually wrong. Being here as a child alone has to many risks therefore I think they should go home and have safer life.
-Louis Bellido
Unfortunately I have to agree with the people who say it is best to send the kids back. Even though my parents, like these kids, came to the US to seek a better life, they were already matured and able to work. These are kids who are in need of shelter, food, and education, things that are hard enough to obtain even as citizens. In my opinion, the right thing to do is send these kids back and focus on our current situations. That way future immigrants would have a better chance and the government would actually be able to provide. Like the article said, most towns/cities have to worry about themselves and their own resources, having more people to satisfy only creates more problems.
-Christian Trujano
I don't think the children should be here without their parents, and because they are here illegally it's not like we can just put them in an orphanage. The children would be left out in the streets. Putting them out on the streets would be extremely risky, and wrong. No one knows what would happen to them out on the streets. Their parents put them on the bus most likely because they wanted their children to have a better life. Their home life would have to be pretty bad for the parents to send them away. It would be different if the parents came with them, but having the children here by themselves is a lot harder to handle.
If the government were to put the children into an orphanage we would have over flowing orphanages. There are to many American children that have to live in them as it is. How are we supposed to take care of other children if we can't take care of our own?
It is interesting to see the comments of others only talking about the risks of those who, are in fact, coming here illegally. What about the risks of the American Citizen. People like you and me are going to have to pay for these kids if they stay. Things like health care and food will go up in price. Schools will be spending all their time trying to teach the immigrants English instead of teaching our own kids. The are US born citizens here who are homeless and are government should be taking care of them before we concern ourselves with other countries problems.In my opinion we should document the children then send them back to their parents. That is who should be responsible for them.
~Katherine Neal
I don't like saying this, but I think the kids should be sent back to where they came from. I agree that it is too risky to be sending children to this country by themselves. There are too many criminals and bad things happening in this country and all over the world that make it too dangerous for kids to be on their own. They could be abducted and dragged into a horrible experience. I understand that they are coming to America in hopes for a better life, but that hope could get them mixed up in something horrible. Sadly, either way you look at it, the kids are stuck between a rock and a hard place. It is just like what Ed said, tht they are doomed either way, so if they want to have a better life, they should do so legally and come as a family as to not risk their children's life. -Jonathan Greene
I'll admit to being ignorant about the much of the modern-day situations in Mexico, as I neither have family from that particular country and have never visited myself. I do, however, have immigrant family from other places and coming to America in search of a better life is the same reason my family came as these children. But I have to agree with the majority of comments here: It is extremely dangerous for these children to travel to a new country where everything from language to culture and customs are so different from what they're used to at home. Honestly, it's hard enough adjusting to these things with family by your side, but coming alone to a country where you have a very small support circle (if you have one at all) makes things ten times more difficult. Although they may be escaping lives of poverty and violence back home, these children are young, and just as vulnerable here to the same types of dangers if not more.
I remember Mr. Castro pointing out during a lecture last year that a lot of the kids in local Bay Area gangs, for example, are Hispanic immigrants from places like Mexico, due to the fact that they all share a similar language culture, and life experience. In other words, these children are alienated from American-born social circles, and have to turn to others in order to feel safer and more accepted in a group of people. Gangs do offer protection to each of their members, which would definitely be appealing to someone who hasn't been able to adjust to a different way of life. I'm not saying that this is always the case, but it does happen quite commonly. Besides, it's human nature to want to be included in some kind of social circle, and it's much easier to get involved with the wrong kinds of people if you don't know who to stay away from or they offer something as appealing as friendship and security in a place you're not yet accustomed to.
Now let's say these kids don't get involved with gangs or countless other possible dangerous activities. It's still going to be difficult for most people, first to learn the English and then become more comfortably integrated into American society especially without family nearby.
Unfortunately, there is a social stigma regarding many Mexican immigrants simply because of the fact that numbers of them are illegal, just as these children are. In addition to that, someone needs to take care of them and educate them if they stay here in the US, and taking care of them should really be their parents'/family's responsibility.
Although it may be more difficult and time-consuming, there are ways in which you can come to this country legally. Being an undocumented child immigrant, again, is dangerous and these kids need to be taken care of by their own parents and families.
I believe we should take care of them. I completely understand why others disagree with me, but they are children. Many of them don't have parents or we're not in situations that allowed them them to follow proper protocol for immigrating to the United States. They're children and when children are in need it doesn't matter who they are, where they're from, or how they got here. It matters that they need help and as we are in a positions to help them we should do so.
Gabbie, I do not believe we are in a position to help these people. I say people because not all the immigrants are young innocent kids. There are teenage boys who come over illegally and may pose a threat to the public. Besides that we are almost 18 trillion dollars in debt, it went up over 7 trillion since Obama took office. We cant take care of our own veterans, elderly, homeless, and american orphans. How can we help others if we can't even take care of ourselves. These are tens of thousands of illegal immigrants we are talking about. Do you suggest we risk the well being of our country and quality of life to help illegal immigrants?
I think the government should send these children back. In reality living as an undocumented citizen in America isn't easy. They'll have a hard life ahead of them, and they shouldn't have to grow up in those conditions even though where they are coming from is bad as well. Human trafficking is a real thing in the U.S. and most of the organizations look for vulnerable children such as the ones in question. In addition, they would grow up without parents and also use up the government's resources. They might not grow up to live the life that their parents envisioned for them and end up mixed in with the wrong crowd without their parents' guidance. If they want to come to America then they should do it legally and safely.
I think that the busses should be sent back to where they came from. By taking care of these immigrants will costs us even more money to support them. Since they are coming over to a new place it will be very difficult for them adapt. If we allow them to stay, it will lead more and more immigrants/refugee to come over because it is all right for them to. This will also cause many problems towards the citizens where they feel unease. By sneaking here is already wrong and should be made clear for them to not come and to find a way to handle their situation.
- Richard Ting
As Ed said this is a "Damned if you do damned if you don't" situation for these children. They are taking such huge risks in order to escape a life they sought to depart from. But if we keep allowing these kids to come through like Bronsin and Ed stated, "it will encourage a future generation of risk takers". This is a very difficult topic, children who try to escape could be endangered in the immigration process, and those who get sent back are returned to the lives they dreaded. In my opinion I don't see the need to get papers to come across so you can be considered "legal" we are all human, the immigration laws are strictly enforced and the government should have some type of leeway for these children. We should bring in these kids and take care of them. - Markos Kassahun
From a purely objective standpoint, these children should be sent back to their respective countries. Why should it be America's responsibility to take care of and provide for literally tens of thousands of immigrant children? Lending a hand to those in need isn't an issue, but it becomes one when any given night there's already approximately 1.3 million homeless American youth living unsupervised on the streets. There are enough children in dangerous living situations as it is. For every foreign child given citizenship and opportunity, there's already a kid out there spending another night alone in a shady alley-way accompanied by scraps of cardboard and an empty stomach. Now speaking subjectively, I wish there was a way to take care of every single child out there, but realistically speaking there is not. At least, not all at once. Progress would be achieved at a quicker rate if concentration was focused on the children here at home rather than spread among the children of multiple other countries. Until we figure out a way to provide for the homeless youth of America, we shouldn't be unnecessarily adding on to our already packed plate.
I don't think the US should necessarily send the immigrant/ refugee children back, but I definitely don't believe that the US should have to take care of them, using peoples tax dollars to take care them when there's already children here that need to be cared for. Maybe what could happen is that all the people, who want to, and are willing to help these unaccompanied immigrant children, like the teacher from the article, come together and contribute to financing and help raising funds, take care of the children. There could be a sort of lottery system and the amount of children that are picked depends on the funds there are. It will limit how many come at any given time, and since the lottery system will be in place those who still try to come illegally will be sent back immediately. And perhaps set up a way where the parents of the children could send money to help them every month. The immigrants would have a certain amount of time to " get on track", such as getting a job, education, a place to live etc., and if they don't meet the requirements by the certain amount of time they were given and they are not model citizen, then they should be sent back. Instead of having one person in charge of this there dpshould be a committee and it's all voluntary, with unpaid positions. It's just an idea.
- Keilah Nijmeh
The United States should send back the busses full of immigrant children back to where they came from. I know that the parents or family of the immigrant children sent them to the United States for a hope of a better future, but that cause a lot of problems for the United States. By bringing in these children, the government will have to spend a lot more resources and money to make sure theses children are doing well in the United States while other children who were born in the United States are already having problems and receiving no help. The United States already have problems with its youth and bringing in immigrant children will only cause more problems.
- Anthony Hoang
Although they are only kids, the United States should honestly send the busses of immigrant/refugee children back to their homes. Even if they enter the U.S, somebody has to find shelter for them and it would a bigger hassle to care for them. No matter what hardships they go through, living in the states would be a bigger challenge to those kids. Despite their parent's hopes for a better future, the United States would have to carry the burden of a political, economical, and social issue on top of other problems in society. To keep the balance in society, the United States should be mainly focusing on problems within the states.
This is a very difficult question. The kids who are taking the risk must have a very good reason as to why the want to escape from the lives they were living, however, the U.S can't afford to keep taking care of them. If the children successfully make it here, it will encourage others to do the same and more and more will come. By denying them care, it might put an end to bringing them here and the risks involving the move.
Not very informed on this interesting topic. Children don't choose to whom they're born to, where they're from, or what lifestyle they should live. In my opinions they shouldn't be punished by sending them back to a place there trying to run away from. We should be giving them opportunities for a better future. The only reason why we are here living a better life is because of immigrants that put everything on the line. Just imagine yourself living in a corrupted country for the rest of your life, fearing the chances of you getting raped murdered, or assaulted were very high. You would do anything to get out. Like I said before we should honestly keep the children here where it's probably safer than where they came from.
-Jose Morales
The situation at hand has become very controversial within the United States. The children coming to the U.S are in a sort of limbo at the moment seeing as half of the U.S wants to help them while the other half is trying to get rid of them. In my opinion I think we shouldn’t house them within the U.S. All this does is put another agenda on the plate. There are more important task at hand within the U.S that need to be dealt with immediately, but seeing as how the U.S loves to stick their head into international affairs, this probably won’t happen. I understand that these children need homes,but I don’t believe these homes should be in the U.S. If anything the U.S should succeed in creating some sort of refugee camp outside of the border.
The United states should accept the children. This nation was built off immigration. Why should we NOW suddenly shun immigrates away from here? Granted they would also be using our resources, but we should not send the child back just because we are selfish over OUR resources. Just because of the possibility of them having a disease only supports the fact that we should take them in. It is like finding a baby on your step that is coughing up blood and sending it to an adoption center. Plus I bet if this child came from other nations besides Mexico the U.S. would be more lenient. In 1975 President Gerald Ford allowed over one hundred thousand Vietnamese citizens to migrate to the US. From the birth of the nation to 1875 immigration was welcomed in the US. For almost one-hundred years the United State welcomed all kinds of people. Even then all the Page act said was that people from Asia who were convicts or prostitutes we not welcome here. That act did not say, "All kids that make it to the United States will be sent back". Also just sending the child back to where they came won't prevent them from attempting to cross over again.
In Sociology, we watched a couple of documentaries in which we were shown many immigrant children as young as the age of seven being sent by their parents , or just running away from their homes to find the "ideal life" in the United States. I agree with Michael when he says that the immigrant and refugee children shouldn't be turned away from the United States, if they decide to come, in attempt to become successful. Immigrants see the US as the land of riches and jobs, and they themselves take that risk of death or failure by trying to come here. Which should show the US that these people are facing tough situations and issues. Which I think the US should help them! There is the argument of language barriers, but they will overcome this problem, my Parents did, and many of my other family members did. After a year or two, speaking english becomes a bit easier.
-Sham Abrha
They should be turned around and sent back to their home countries. As others have already stated it isn't safe for these kids to be here without their parents. They could easily be taken advantage of not knowing English and the culture of the country. Not to mention the dangers the kids are put in just to enter the country(something not mentioned in the article) . Their parents pay thousands of dollars to smugglers and black market dealers to get their children into the U.S., but that doesn't mean that's what happens. Many of the kids are taken and sold in the slave market or taken as sex slaves. The U.S. government needs to send these kids back otherwise they send out a message that is only going to cause more people to come illegally. And if that happens will we even be able to provide for all of them to live, not to mention how many of these kids would actually make it into the U.S. without being taken advantage of. This is a problem that needs to be taken care of and cracked down on.
I think the United States government should send these children back home. It’s too risky for them to be here without their parents. No one can take care of and educate a child as well as his/her parent does. If we bring them in and take care of them, more children will try to enter the US illegally. Eventually, we will run out of resources for them and for ourselves. I really sympathize with their situation and the hardship they faced when they came here or if they are sent back because my uncles were refugees during the Vietnam War too. However, we cannot help them when our problems and debts are still unsolved. I think the only way we can help these children is allowing them to stay here if they have any relatives that are willing to take care of them.
-Minh Truong
The United States send the buses of immigrants/refugee children back where they came from. Their reasons for coming to the United States might have good intentions, but it doesn’t always mean that it can go well. Even though they might work hard to be able to live in this country, it might be even worse than what they went through at home. On top of that, the government would have to spend their time and money to make sure these kids are doing alright. Since the United States is already dealing with its own problems, adding more problems would just cause more of a mess.
-Melvin Chu
I agree with Teresita that the children should be sent back. Although there are many people willing to help give them a better life, they're not their parents. Parents are essential in a child's life to help them grow and learn things that are taught outside of school. Even though there are facilities, they don't get the personal one on one lessons and alone time that children often need. Sending the busses back discourages parents to send their children putting them in high risks of rape and human trafficking. Although they take these risks knowingly and found it worth it, they should come illegally with their parents because it's overall safer for them.
I believe these children should be sent back. I do not believe their parents have the right to just drop them off and say they are your problem. Now there are two main arguments that I believe. One, there are many health concerns with these children living here. We do not know what vaccines they have or if they carry any infectious diseases. Now we could check all of that. This brings me to my second point, it will drain OUR resources. Yes it may not be local resources but it is still American money being spent on these foreign children. For these reason I believe the US should send these kids home.
Having children arrive by themselves in the U.S. is obviously dangerous; we should always consider the safety of the immigrants/ refugees. However, we cannot be responsible for every child that crosses the border. The article shows different opinions towards the immigrants, where immigrant protesters cause riots to prevent refugees from arriving and believe that they will bring diseases to their children and drain resources. It is appalling that people are only concerned about themselves rather than these children who risked everything to have a better life. We should help the children and put second thoughts towards their struggles and efforts. But this topic is clearly debatable, since we cannot accept and provide for every person who crosses the border. It seems that the only possible solution is to temporarily help refugee children and hopefully return them back to their homes.
If children are going to start sneaking over borders we're obviously not doing something right. If an adult can sneak over its understandable, but a child? Besides that, if busses are bringing immigrant children in to take care of them and it won't affect how much we pay in taxes then by all means go for it. What right do people have to stand in the way of these busses and keep the anxious little children from reaching their destination? These children can be a powerful asset to our country if raised the right way and they may even become the backbone of our country. Where random civilians got the idea that they can decide who enters our country is beyond me, but they need to put themselves in the children's and family's shoes.
To start off, these children wouldn't be coming to the U.S, tired, alone and hungry if it wasn't for the U.S themselves and there war on drugs. These kids are coming here to escape conditions worse than those experienced in Iraq at the height of the war. How could anyone deny these children a better life, especially when we are the ones causing them to leave there homes in the first place. Do people really believe it is humane to send these kids back to where they ran away from? It makes no sense to turn these children away. But wait, we are afraid of them bringing diseases and other things into our borders. SO, just because they come from a foreign country they are dirty and dangerous and should be denied humanitarian aid? That is completely unjust and unethical. They have nobody, we should be that somebody.
Well if parents are sending their children to another country far away from their originally home, there are variety of risks. But, then you really think down on this subject and that there is probably a reason why the parents are sending their kids away. I'm some what ignorant about this this subject but I feel like that it in not right sending children anywhere alone, and their parents should be slightly punished if they do.
The children that arrive on busses should get sent back to where they came from because it might encourage others to try to come to into the US. The children shouldn’t come alone in the first place, they believe that life would be easier for them but in reality it will only be harder for the children. They would be on their own trying to find jobs or looking for education, which are already limited to the US citizens. The government should focus on taking care of the citizens and make life easier for them before they start taking care of immigrants.
This is definitely a difficult decision to make because if we bring the kids in and start to take care of them not only are they away from their homes and family but their family may not know of the risks their children took. If we send them back to their homes, they are being sent to a place where they felt so bad in that they risked so much to escape. Also, there's no guarantee the children will have a better life in the US. I think the safest thing would be to send the children back to their homes and families.
-Jasmine Johal
I think that the US should help these brave kids. They are obviously running away from a problem or issue. The US should either find these kids a home or shelter to live in (if they don't have relatives or sponsors here). I think sending them home is awful, these kids risked there lives, slept on top of a bus! Just to live the American Dream. Just like Michael stated, don't we pride ourselves in being the land of opportunity? Well they should be given that chance to work, or go to school.
-Mia Medina
America has always opened its arms to people who escape injustice, violence and discrimination in their native countries. It has held the idea of human rights and equal opportunities to all who seek freedom, justice and economic opportunities here. Of course America's resources are not limitless, but still in the case of those thousands children in the border, a through check in each case has to be conducted to see whether any of those children would be subject to violence or human right abuses if they return. If this proven to be the case, they should not be deported and should be given a chance to obtain resident status and enjoy freedom and education. if on the other hand there is no danger if they return, then they should be sent back home.
-Maryam Mostafavi
Its a tough decision to make, it is obvious that these children cross the border to a country or U.S for a better life and opportunities. But illegally and risking lives of children is not right. Like most people opinion, it is dangerous for children crossing over the border without knowing any laws about that country. It is hard for them to come by themselves to a strange country without know nothing the places and language. Every parents want what is best for their kids, but risking their children lives isn't right. I think the best decision is to send them back home with their families. - Nhi N
In my opinion, it should be the decision of the local towns whether these illegal immigrants should be able to be housed by the city. I do believe we should do whatever we can in our power to help these immigrants because they should have the same opportunities as us too. That doesn't mean that we do drastic things that will hurt our local towns because that will just eventually lead to not only the town digging themselves a hole but the immigrants will be back at the same ace they started. A solution would be these immigrants only being housed by towns capable of providing not only for themselves but these people also.
-Vincent Doan
This is a very tough question because it deals with morals, the law, and fact. For one even though it seems like the right thing to do is take these kids in and raise them in a better enviroment. the real question is though is how? We already have many financial issues and when we do get some money it should be used to better ourselves in our domestic affairs rather then foreign. Secondly, the journey from the homeland to America is a tough one, especially if you are 6 years old walking by yourself through the desert. If we don't take them in we not only look like a bad country but we are making kids take the journey back home and facing the push factors that drove them from they're country in the first place. As Ed said, if we do take them in though we would be encouraging even more children to risk they're lives to come into our country.
I believe that the United States should take these children in for a few days and then send them back after they've been properly fed and bathed because the busses are probably dirty and provide very little food. Although it would be nice to be able to take these kids in and care for them, it simply would cost too much money and the amount of kids being sent here alone would skyrocket, as it would be looked at as a good alternative to putting a child up for adoption. This can't happen because then the number of children we would be putting through this system would be way too high and it would be a legal way to immigrate and can be taken advantage of.
-Varun Kaushal
Although these immigrant children are coming to the United States to live their “American Dream” and to have a better life, I don’t think that they’ll be able to find it that easily. Aside from all the dangers and risks these children will have to face in the US, it is difficult nowadays to even find a job with a High School diploma, let alone an immigrant child. If we do take these children in, this will pave a way for thousands of other immigrant children to come the United States and we are in no position to do so. I believe that the government should send these children back and maybe in the future when we are able to take care of our own first, we can lend a helping hand to other countries in need. -Vicky Le
Now, every time there is talk about children and immigration, it hits me right in the heart because I know what these kids have been through either from friends’ experiences or my own. When it comes to immigrant families or adults, I understand when they come from another country to set a life here. Chances are the country and conditions they come from are nothing compared to the United States’. And chances are they are more likely to become more successful here than they ever would have been in their home country. Obviously parents want a great future, so they made the decision of moving as a family to the US. However, there is a point where the bar is pushed too far. The idea of sending kids, most likely little kids, alone in a bus to the border to another country is still outlandish to me. And though the benefit might seem bigger in the long run, the risk at first is bigger. But let’s look outside of the boys’ perspective. How would this affect a resident of Murrieta, CA? Their argument was that they are going to take their resources, and go to school with their own children. Wow! Go to school with their own children! We don’t want that! God forbid they become educated. Even worse, heaven forbid they take our jobs AND our resources. Because, you know, they totally don’t work as hard as us. Yeah, no. Every time arguments like this come up, another question surfaces in my mind: Define American. What makes an American, American? Their culture? That they fit in? There is an article that relates to this by Pulitzer Prize winning article writer and illegal immigrant Jose Antonio Vargas, who explains his experience coming to the US alone as a child from the Philippines. But I feel I’m veering off topic. As far as sending children alone in a bus, they should be allowed into the country but, at the same time, it should be prevented at the source. As in, “You’ve made it this far, welcome to the USA”. There is a reason why children are coming and parents are sending them. It’s not because they necessarily want to piss us off by taking jobs or taking our resources, they are escaping to a better life and better future. Chances are they come from a violent place, so why not help their place of origin so they don’t even have to come here, so they can stay in their place of origin and still be successful. And they’re not targeting the US only; they’re targeting every place that is better than wherever they live now. As the article says, “…there's been a 700 percent increase in asylum applications to countries other than the United States.” These children are coming here because of need. The least we can do is help them. I mean, this is the land of the free, right?
-Francisco Alvarez
With these buses of children crossing the border, I hope that the United States would be able to shelter them. These kids are most likely running for their lives in hopes that the U.S. is the land of the free that they had dreamed of. But sheltering these large amounts of immigrants is not something the United States is capable of doing right at this moment. The U.S is still recovering from its high unemployment, currently at 6.2%, since the sudden high percentage in 2011, it peaked at 10% in October. Currently there isn’t regulated food supply system in the U.S. that can provide every person in the nation with the bare minimum amount of food a person needs. Not to mention the current drought that is hitting the west coast is severely shorting our water supplies and cutting even more jobs. On the local side where these buses of children are being dropped off the main issue is that their resources will drained and the increase of their children’s chances of getting diseases. Even with these odds against them though, I still believe that the U.S. will still try its best to help provide for those that have already made it across.
This topic is extremely difficult to comment on as it offers positives and negatives altogether. The fact of the matter is, we can't and I believe we will not let these kids go back to their original countries. The situations in Mexico and especially Central America are absolutely and insanely dangerous right now. These kids are traveling thousands of miles to the U.S. in search for a better life and especially a brighter future. Maybe if we supply these kids with the knowledge on how to make things better, they could return to their home countries as triumphant individuals and help shape up their countries. The one thing we cannot do is shamefully and immorally turn these kids back. If we truly want the situation to cease or at least to become more stable is to travel to those countries and attempt to settle families down and help the country itself. Seeing as that is an extremely far fetched and quite possibly unpopular opinion, we must weather the stormy influx of young immigrants and wait till the passing storm calms down. However the pressing issue if we do in fact help shelter the young, what will become of our resources? Unfortunately, the flood of humans crossing the border will soon take a toll on our resources. The toll may not be soon, but eventually it will come to. Our only hope is to have the children settled in and thus be in a position to give back to the U.S. (i.e. Jobs, be college students, pay taxes, etc.) Whatever the danger may be, we should not immorally force these kids to go back to their putrid situations abroad. Let these kids stay and have a future in these beautiful States.
-Luis Godinez
I don’t know much about the laws and process of immigration, but I do know for a fact that it takes a lot for someone to leave their home and everything that they’ve had behind. Especially for a parent to send their own child away, just in hopes of him/her living a better life than the one they had to escape from. That’s saying something, because we all know how difficult it is for an immigrant to establish themselves in another country. Especially as Christy said, one that’s experiencing difficulties of its own right now. However, we shouldn’t outright reject these people that have gone through so much just to get here, and send them back to the place they were fleeing in the first place. I think we first have to evaluate the situations and laws regarding immigration and start determining how to resolve the situation in favor of both sides, or as much as we can.
As an immigrant myself, I can say that it was difficult adjusting to new cultures and languages even with my family. Even if they are running from a dangerous daily life, just as Regina, Teresita, and Ed said, there are too many risks for the unaccompanied children, who are vulnerable to predators and traffickers. Even if we take care of these children, I know several foster children as my relatives were foster parents to many generations of them, even if e wholeheartedly take care of them, not being able to see their families again causes alienation, which may lead to a life on the streets; a sad vicious cycle. I think since the kids won't be prepared to handle the strain themselves. Instead, we should send the message that immigration for asylum should be done legally for the entire family.
This is a very controversial topic, many people view in different ways. Some may think its bad to let the children stay here and its better to send them back or vise versa. I personally believe that we shouldn't send those kids back. If they came here there had to be a reason behind that. They probably were running away from poverty, violence, or just wanted a better lifestyle. As many people say that this is the country of opportunities but we just want to send them back and put no thought into it we wouldn't be putting that phrase into say. If we do sent them back we would be sending them right back where they came from and if something happened to them and we had the opportunity to help them, we would live with the guilt.
I believe children should be allowed to stay wherever they please. Most people don't consider the fact that children and their parents go somewhere to possibly make a better life for themselves. Why would you want to take away the opportunity for someone to have a better life than what they came from? They should make it easier for the children to be able to move to different countries because children are the future. If we turn them away, we may never see their potential. Also, what if the child has been separated from family? They should have the right to visit family when they please. It is important to keep a connection with your family.
-Luis Plascencia
Whenever it comes to children the topic will always be a sensitive one. The only thing to do is try and choose the lesser of two evils sending ten back to the hell in which they come from and trying to support all of them are just both not viable options. We are going to need to decide how many can be sustainably taken care of and how many cannot. That system should be based on age and needs. It wont be fair but it would be better than choosing an all in answer because its easily to tell that simply will not work.
I don't believe that these immigrated children should be sent back to their homes because of the resources we'll lose if they stay, but because they are only minors. It's extremely dangerous for children to be out on their own without their parents in need of food, shelter, & education especially if they are undocumented. They come here thinking they can better their lives and find more opportunities, but unfortunately that isn't the case because they are illegal immigrants. I once saw a documentary about a family who was struggling in the U.S. because they were illegal immigrants. One of the daughters of that family had exemplary grades all throughout high school, but could not get into the college of her choice because she was undocumented. That bothered me a lot because people like her could be bettering not only themselves, but our country as well. Unfortunately, they do not get that opportunity and that needs to be changed soon.
-Drew Valadez
I believe that the children should be sent back; as harsh as that seems. The United States and its citizens will face consequences if the children are allowed to stay. With an increasing number of people in poverty coming into the country we are only running lower on room and resources. The United States' citizens may experience a lower quality of life over time if they were to continuously let this issue slide. This country is already involved in more foreign affairs than any country should be in my opinion. I know that America likes to play the part of the world police but we have plenty of our own issues and I think that the government should always be considering the people first.
Post a Comment