My Life As An Undocumented Immigrant Analysis
“I grew more aware of anti-immigrant sentiments and stereotypes: they don't want to assimilate, they are a drain on society,” says immigration rights activist Jose Vargas in his personal essay “My Life as an Undocumented Immigrant” [1080]. Immigration in the United States has been a wedge issue for American citizens and legislatures for decades. Jose Vargas, an illegal immigrant and prominent writer, producer, and activist speaks on his personal experience as an undocumented immigrant. He bravely admits the illegality of his presence in the United States and speaks out against discrimination as his life is a controversial subject in his own country. He speaks on this topic in a dignified manner in order to bring to light the hardships that …show more content…
Vargas conveys a feeling of seclusion that he endures as an alien to the States through the use of figurative language. He mentions, “yet even though I think of myself as an American and consider America my country, my country doesn't think of me as one of its own” (1080). Because of Vargas’ immigration status, he feels misplaced in his own house, in his own community, and most of all in his own country. By describing the exclusion he feels due to how America treats immigrants like himself, he attempts to put into perspective the discrimination that occurs in the …show more content…
He admits that “the more [he] achieved, the more scared and depressed [he] became. [He] was proud of [his] work, but there was always a cloud hanging over it, over [him]” (1084). Vargas utilizes this metaphor in order to express how his status overshadowed his accomplishments and prevented him from ever feeling like he achieved something in a fair and righteous way. He uses words like “scared” and “depressed” in order to communicate the feeling of dejection that comes with everything he achieves. Vargas understands that because he is living in the States illegally, his country does not give him the right to succeed and live a fulfilling life. Vargas overall recounts his life story with sentiment and imagery that create a sense of empathy that would have not been otherwise created without the use of powerful words and
The Latino Threat Summary
541 Words | 3 PagesChavez examines the assumptions made by the media and the public by drawing in sources like magazine articles and illustrations to provide the audience with exactly how these accusations are made and shared with the public. Chavez questions what it means and what it takes to be considered an American citizen and how Latinos, particularly Mexicans, have many things stacked up against. There are no doubts that the number of undocumented immigrants has steadily increased each year. Leo R. Chavez argues that because of the rise in the numbers, it makes it easier for the media to assume that undocumented immigrants, particularly Mexicans, are a threat to our nation through an invasion. Chavez’s idea of a Mexican reconquest is developed through something he calls the Quebec model.
Summary Of Labor And Inequality By Ruth Gomberg-Munoz
1279 Words | 6 PagesRuth Gomberg-Munoz's Labor and Legaility: An Ethnography of a Mexican Immigrant Network, describes the lives of undocumented immigrants from Mexico who work as busboys In a Chicago restaurant. Gomberg-Munoz gives insight into the new lives of the boys, through her compilation of their experiences both before crossing the border and after moving away from home into an unknown world. As an ethnography, the book gives information and details of the workers without arguing or taking a stance on immigration itself; it is instead presented in a manner that attempts to give readers a full understanding of the undocumented life through the revelation of the ones living it. She provides readers with a perspective on the daily struggles faced when living
The Theme Of The Book Of Unknown Americans By Christina Henriquez
285 Words | 2 PagesIn, “The Book of Unknown Americans” by Christina Henriquez, the central theme projected by the author is the harmful impacts of stereotypes on the experiences of immigrants. The Toro and Rivera families are similar in that they are first-generation Americans. With this, they are constantly subject to violent stereotypes. Mayor toro, the youngest son of the Toro family, regularly found himself at the forefront of racial aggression, “I turned around and saw Garret Miller grinning at me...’[I’m] going home,’ I said. ‘Back to Mexico?’
Hunger Of Memory And Footprints On The Flag, By Richard Rodriguez
1009 Words | 5 PagesThe United States has long been a place that promises equality and opportunity, bringing people of different ethnic and cultural backgrounds to immigrate and seek a better future in america. Immigrants living in the United States face different challenges such as discrimination due to their skin color, cultural background or their English speaking skills. Particularly, excerpts from Richard Rodriguez’s hunger of memory and Footprints on the flag by Anchee Min will be the writings that will be analyzed. Although both authors are immigrants who share their unique experiences as immigrants living in America, each artist respectively focuses on separate problems that they face due to being from a foreign culture. The purpose of this essay is to
Undocumented Sparknotes
435 Words | 2 PagesThe constant threat of deportation can lead to anxiety, depression, and other mental health issues, which can affect both the individual and their family. Furthermore, undocumented immigrants are often excluded from social safety nets, such as healthcare and education, which can exacerbate their vulnerability. Another theme that runs through the book is the impact of racism and discrimination on the lives of Latino/a/e immigrants. Padilla's experience of growing up undocumented in the United States exposed him to the pervasive stereotypes and prejudices that exist towards immigrants of color. He recounts numerous incidents of discrimination, both explicit and subtle, that he faced as a child and young adult.
What Are The Barriers In The Devil's Highway Urrea
742 Words | 3 PagesHumans rarely change their ways; they stay in their own worlds and always interact with the same types of people. Unfortunately, this habit often creates unseen barriers that divide and alienate human beings from one another. In Luis Alberto Urrea’s book The Devil’s Highway, Urrea provides a personal perspective to immigration by telling the story of 26 illegal immigrants, known as the Wellton 26, who are abandoned as they cross the Mexico-U.S. border. Through their story, Urrea proves there are invisible borders among people that create prejudice, such as language, ethnicity, and economic status. By reading The Devil’s Highway, it is clear that these barriers must be broken down to ensure harmony within society.
Diary Of Undocumented Immigrant Analysis
937 Words | 4 PagesIn which case Ramon Perez is very much a hero. First off, when observed from a literary stance it’s difficult to not notice Joseph Campbell’s monomyth, or hero’s journey, template present in Perez’s writing. The monomyth template is as followed: “A boy
How Immigrants Became Other By Carola Suarez-Orozco Summary
1302 Words | 6 PagesImmigration is deeply rooted in the American culture, yet it is still an issue that has the country divided. Marcelo and Carola Suarez-Orozco, in their essay, “How Immigrants Became ‘Other’” explore the topic of immigration. They argue that Americans view many immigrants as criminals entering America with the hopes of stealing jobs and taking over, but that this viewpoint is not true. They claim that immigrants give up a lot to even have a chance to come into America and will take whatever they can get when they come. The Suarez-Orozco’s support their argument using authority figures to gain credibility as well as exemplification through immigrant stories.
Being A Child Of Immigrant Parents Essay
433 Words | 2 PagesBeing a child of immigrant parents is not easy. You are constantly living in the fear that one day you’ll wake up and you parents won’t be there with you anymore. Specially now that we have a new president, things are getting more challenging. But don’t get me wrong, I live a happy life. I am proud to call myself a Latina.
Cohen's Thesis Of 'How Immigrants Become' Other?
1731 Words | 7 PagesCohen’s fourth thesis talks about the differences among groups of people in areas of race, gender, etc. and how those differences can create monsters in society. Unauthorized immigrants often get placed into a “different” or “unwanted” group and that causes them to face unfairness in society. “How Immigrants Become ‘Other’” correlates to Cohen’s thesis because unauthorized immigrants can be made into monsters due to differences in race and legal status. The group of unauthorized immigrants can become alienated in society, and the people themselves are sometimes referred to as “illegal aliens.”
Themes In Mi Familia
938 Words | 4 PagesThe immigrants entering the United States throughout its history have always had a profound effect on American culture. However, the identity of immigrant groups has been fundamentally challenged and shaped as they attempt to integrate into U.S. society. The influx of Mexicans into the United States has become a controversial political issue that necessitates a comprehensive understanding of their cultural themes and sense of identity. The film Mi Familia (or My Family) covers the journey and experiences of one Mexican-American (or “Chicano”) family from Mexico as they start a new life in the United States. Throughout the course of the film, the same essential conflicts and themes that epitomize Chicano identity in other works of literature
Latino Politics Essay
609 Words | 3 Pages“The virtual personas of Latino immigrants (represented as a threat to the nation) make the authority that has accumulated for real immigrants in their role as workers and consumers vanish” (Chavez 47). In the public eye Latinos are depicted as noncompliant and dangerous citizens and noncitizens of the United States. “The virtual lives of ‘Mexicans,’ ‘Chicanos,’ ‘illegal aliens,’ and ‘immigrants’ become abstractions and representations that stand in the place of real lives” (Chavez 47). It is depressing to understand that the majority of the United States strictly sees Latinos as these distorted images. At the end of the day each individual’s life matters, we all need to become more compassionate for one another.
My Immigrant Personal Statement
703 Words | 3 PagesMy most rewarding accomplishment consists of my ability to overcome the fear and weakness that was conceived upon my arrival to the United States from Mexico, in addition to a newly evolved character which allowed me to achieve academic, professional, and personal success. Nearly seven years ago, my mother and I immigrated from a harsh economic climate in Mexico that was plagued with unemployment. Additionally, our family faced bankruptcy. While holding onto our faith, we left our hometown with only what we could carry and bought two one-way bus tickets. With nothing more than fear, two bags, and $50 in each of our pockets, we set out for what would be the most challenging journey of our lives.
My Life As An Undocumented Immigrant Essay
1111 Words | 5 PagesThe Back of a Nonexistent Line In the film Documented and The New York Times article “My Life as an Undocumented Immigrant,” Jose Antonio Vargas describes his experience as an undocumented immigrant in the United States and provides a passionate argument for creating a pathway to citizenship for others like Vargas, who are undocumented as well. Although both the film and article give the viewers and readers an insight into Vargas’ difficult journey, a particular scene in the film sends an unspoken message about the United States as a whole. In Documented, the scene in which Jose Antonio Vargas attends a Mitt Romney campaign rally is detrimental to the immigration debate because it demonstrates the need for Americans to be educated about undocumented
Undocumented Immigration Essay
1078 Words | 5 PagesUndocumented immigrants live with fear of deportation every day of their lives. Those with control of state institutions who do not consider undocumented immigrants as worthy American residents in our society, take advantage of their power by instilling fear of deportation. The restrictive federal and state laws towards migration in the U.S. has become a way to keep undocumented immigrants and their families living in the shadows. Arrocha (2013) claims that the paradox of the U.S. migration seems be that our free democratic republicanism is viewed as the land of freedom, equality, and justice. Yet, these undocumented immigrants aren’t treated equally or given the freedom to live in our society without intimidation.
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