Carolina Gutierrez

Professor Scott Morris

English Composition 101

Nov. 13, 2017

Strangers at Supper

A country built by immigrants for immigrants, free from oppression and monarchy,

America, the great. This country was founded by those colonists who were brave enough to

severe the ties to England. Many influential immigrants like Alexander Hamilton are part of this

countrys history, but today our country has become hostile towards foreigners coming for a

better life. Immigrants in this country go through much discrimination. They are treated as

second hand human beings, constantly looked down upon and ridiculed. They are criticized and

feel unwanted by this countrys citizens and government. Our government is now in the process

of discussing the termination of the DACA, which allows children immigrants to work and study

in the United States. This is a terrible mistake if the U.S. citizens make the decision to terminate

this opportunity for immigrant youth. To be capable of all these things is the result of fear in the

American society. Fear of loss of comfort, fear of change, and the fear of the unknown. Our

answer to our irrational fear is deportation. This must be resolved. Jeremy Adam Smith comes up

with a simple yet effective solution for the problem of xenophobia that is in our country today. In

Our Fear of Immigrants by Jeremy Adam Smith, it claims that the solution to the fear of the
unknown and treatment of immigrants in this country is to converse with them. Getting to know

them as human beings with a soul; the importance of this view is extremely valuable.

Getting to know people and seeing them as human beings, not as competition or a

problem within society, can change our way of life for the better. When you getting to know new

people, it allows them to become familiar with you and the ones around you whether in your

personal social circle or your community. This strengthens these social circles that allows for the

community as a whole to strengthen. Which means when one of these social circle members are

faced with deportation and pulled away, the circle weakens. Similar to Jeremy Adam Smiths

example of Rodrigos deportation and how it affected the rest of the children ag Jefferson

Elementary School. In the passage it states, The kids tried to make him feel better by making

him a video and sending him a Valentine in Februaryand their parents helped the kids to write

to their Congressman and speak out in the media. (Smith, 750) this is an obvious display of how

important Rodrigo was to the community and his peers. This is a very valuable account of many

others, that show the spilt of families and friends caused by deportation. These essential social

circles are emphasized in the Ted Talk: What Were Missing About Immigration by Duarte

Geraldino, Public Speaker, studied human migration for quite some time. He stresses the

importance of social circles. In the USA there are more than 40 million immigrants who are

immersed within our culture and have developed relationships with others. In 2008- 2016 there

were over 3 million immigrants that have been deported tearing families apart. Much like the

personal experience of a famous actress and supporter of the Latino community, Diane Guerrero,

which she talks about in her interview. In depth, she describes the idea of living every day in

fear. When coming home from school Diane realized her parents were taken away. She had to
rely on the kindness of neighbors to take her in. She ended up growing up without her family.

Her family was broken along with the social circle of community.

The destruction deportation causes to social circles people create is significantly effecting

all people of the United States like those children of Jefferson Elementary School crying out for

their friend. Deportation today is becoming more of a reality in many immigrants eyes, even for

some American citizens deportation is a fear now within this administration, President Trump is

swiftly trying to turn his promises of immigration reform, both legal and illegal, into policy.

found in an article called Immigration under policy under Trump by Neemah A. Esmaeilpour,

who studies how business and politics go hand in hand. Trumps promises of immigration

reform is closed borders, terminate DACA, and reducing the amount of visas giving out to

immigrants called the RAISE act. The RAISE act suggested by Tom Cotton, Cotton's bill, the

RAISE Act, would cut the number of legal immigrants from around 1 million a year to 500,000.

RAISE would limit the number of foreign nationals reuniting with relatives in the U.S.; cap the

total number of refugees admitted each year; and eliminate the diversity visa lottery, which now

grants 50,000 visas each year. (Immigration under policy under Trump). This will reduce the

number of immigrants considerably. Understandably, when a person from another country poses

a threat to others in a physical way then deportation is an acceptable answer, Further, if the

Secretary of State has reasonable grounds to believe an alien's entry, presence, or activities in the

United States would have potentially serious adverse foreign policy consequences found in

Immigration: Terrorist Grounds for Exclusion and Removal of Aliens by Micheal J. Garcia ,

Legislative Attorney and Ruth Ellen Wasem, Specialist in Immigration Policy of the Congress
Research Service. Our country is making these decisions because the American people are

influenced by fear.

This fear is allowing the destruction of our social circles and has developed serious

debate within our government. Xenophobia has become part of our American culture and it is a

problem. Jeremy Adam Smith in his article explains the history and primal human reactions of

Xenophobia as to protect the community and its way of life. Which he then further explains how

that fearful territorial mindset was acceptable of those times when the American community

lacked the resources that are available today. Jeremy goes on to develop a simple solution for

xenophobia and the discrimination of immigrants in the United States caused by that fear. Its

conversing. To make the effort of sitting down and having a discussion. A discussion wiped

clean of any preconceived notions to how those people are or that every immigrant is the same.

Instead, learn their name, because they do have one and listen to their stories. Many immigrants

come to the United States looking for a dream. DREAMers are children immigrants sent to this

country by their families for a better future. DREAMers is the name for DACA recipients.

DACA is the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals, the children come to the United States and

they have access to a study visa and a work visa and Trump wants to get rid of this amazing

program that is providing people with change in their lives. On top of this monstrosity, Tom

Cotton proposes the reducing of visas given out every year which is one million. The United

States turns away many of those in need and now wants to get rid of those already in the country

who are in search of opportunity. These DREAMers work hard and put to use their opportunity.

Is that not the American Dream? These minors have incredible stories that impact all. No one is

listening to their stories, but you can.

 Listen to what these incredible people have to say. Why they fled their country and came

to another seeking opportunity and refuge? What did they go through to get to where they are at

now? What relationships or social circles have they developed in the United States? Do they

consider this land their home? If so, why should we strip that from them? The simplest solution

is to listen and converse, maybe over supper, but there is more one can do. You can support

DACA and the DREAMers of this country. Get involved in our community and government.

Contact your local congressman to inform them of your opinion. There is so much more to fear

in the world than people who are different and foreign from what youre used to, like taxes. So,

support the Deferred Action of Childhood Arrivals and help your fellow dreamers. Dream of a

society bettering itself by accepting others instead of fear. You can always just converse.
 Work Cited

Esmaeilpour, Neemah A. "Immigration policy under Trump." Arkansas Business 28 Aug. 2017:
27. Business Insights: Global. Web. 7 Nov. 2017.

OITNB Actress Speaks out on Illegal Immigration. Youtube, CNN, 17 Nov. 2014,
www.youtube.com/watch?v=49fN762AQWE.

What Are We Missing about Immigration? Youtube, TED Talks, 4 Oct. 2017,
www.youtube.com/watch?v=2wu28tI9VkM.