Perspectives Towards Immigration from the Middle East by Eric Xu

               Immigration both legal and illegal has been a controversial topic and continues to be as seen in the recent presidential election in which both of the major parties had strong stands on immigration policies.  Although traditionally, U.S. politics have focused on immigration from Mexico and other South American countries, due to increasing tensions and conflict within the Middle East there has been an influx of refugees from places such as Syria that immigration policies have now become much more centered around this region of the world.

            I believe that immigration is an opportunity for people to through hard work and dedication have a chance at becoming successful or at the very least give their children these opportunities in a way that could not be possible in developing nations.  For these exact reasons, my grandparents along with my parents hoped and dreamed of one day being able to emigrate from China and begin a new life in America.  However, during George H.W. Bush’s presidency, the Immigration Act of 1990 was signed increasing the amount of family-based immigration visas allowed.  However, it was still quite difficult to obtain one because of the lottery system and also visas were only granted to direct family members.  In many cases, people wishing to obtain visas would have to be sponsored by a relative.  As a result, my mother ended up waiting much longer for her visa because the first time my great grandfather chose not to sponsor his children (my grandparents) and grandchildren (my mother) and instead decided to sponsor someone else.  The second time, my mother had to wait again because she was now over the age of eighteen (legally an adult) and therefore, did not qualify as an immediate family member and so only her parents and her two younger sisters were able to obtain visas.  By the time my mother was finally able to obtain her visa, she did not have the same chances for education and instead had to work to support her younger sisters’ education.  While my mom is always grateful for being able to live in America, there is always a small feeling of resentment towards both her great grandfather and the Bush administration because by being so delayed in obtaining her visa, the amount of opportunities available to her tremendously diminished.  That is why my mom cannot speak English fluently. 

            Although my family’s experiences do not directly reflect the situation of those in the Middle East, there are similarities which lead me to better understand both sides of the argument. For one, these immigrants are all seeking a new life with a hope of attaining something better.  Often if it is not for themselves, it is for their family and there is always the argument that the United States is a land built upon immigration; a land that belonged to the Native Americans and not Europeans so why should these people not have the same rights.  However on the other side, people argue that there are many people who have underwent the long process of obtaining a visa and waited (in many instances, years) that believe it is unfair for illegal immigrants especially to not have undergo the same process.  While many people have a strong stance on this particular issue, it is far from black and white due to so many of the different concerns, but it is my hope that this issue will someday be resolved.