Joy working at Bethany House of Hospitality
In our world today, most people know it’s no secret that the United States is currently facing an immigration crisis. Merriam Webster defines a crisis as “an unstable or crucial time or state of affairs in which a decisive change is pending, especially one with the distinct possibility of a highly unfavorable outcome”. The crisis that U.S. immigration faces can be understood in one of two ways.
First, one may understand the crisis in terms of the fact that there are millions of undocumented individuals in our country. For those who view the crisis in this way, the root of the issue lies in the fact that these individual’s sheer presence is “dangerous, unlawful, and/or wrong”. From personal experience, often-times these are the individuals who say that “people should immigrate legally”. On the other hand, there are those who view the crisis through a more systematic lens, citing that the problem is not the influx of undocumented individuals into our country, but rather it is the manner in which these people are, detained, denigrated, and deported. Regardless of the way one might choose to view the crisis that is the U.S. immigration system, there persists a crisis nonetheless.
Growing up, I was always taught that Americans were “the good guys”. While I have also been taught to reevaluate this belief, it is my firm belief that Americans have the potential to truly be the “good guys” and that in some ways, we are. No one can deny the fact that we are one of the freest states on Earth, given the rights to unalienable rights concerning life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. And yet, no one can deny the fact that as a state, we have become more accustomed to building walls instead of bridges. Our society has become polarized by party lines and just about everything in between. Personally, I have felt this polarization, and have found that the United States is fond of catergorizing individuals: Black orWhite, Republican or Democrat, straight or gay, Christian or Agnostic, legal or illegal. These categories can be used to describe members of our society… but should they? This may or may not have crossed your mind, but when was the last time you considered your legal status? If you’re reading this, more likely than not, you are a legal resident or citizen of the United States. But what if you’re not?
“☑ You are an arriving alien.
- You are not a citizen of the United States.
- You are a national and a citizen of [COUNTRY OF ORIGIN]
- You are an immigrant not in possession of a valid unexpired immigrant visa, reentry permit, border crossing card, or other valid form entry document required and are not exempt from this requirement.
On the basis of the foregoing, it is charged that you are subject to removal from the United States pursuant to the provision of law.”
This is what can be seen on most immigration paperwork. If you’re lucky enough to be released from detention (known as “an order of release on recognizance”), this is the message that follows:
“You have been arrested and placed into removal proceedings. In accordance with section 236 of the Immigration and Nationality Act and the applicable provisions, you are being released on your own recognizance provided you comply with the following conditions:
☑ You must report for any hearing or interview as directed by Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
☑ You must surrender for removal from the United States if so ordered.
☑ You must report to Duty Officer at ___________ on __________ as directed.”
For the few that are lucky enough to cross the border into the United States going unnoticed by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (aka “ICE”), if you are caught without documentation, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security is able to to issue a warrant for your arrest as demonstrated by the following:
“It is determined that there is probable cause to believe that _______ is removable from the United States. This determination is based upon:
☑ biometric confirmation of the subject’s identity and a records check of federal databases that affirmatively indicate, by themselves or in addition to other reliable information, that the subject either lacks immigration status or notwithstanding such status is removable under U.S. immigration law; and/or
☑ statements made voluntarily by the subject to an immigration officer and/or other reliable evidence that affirmatively indicates that the subject is removable under U.S. immigration law.
YOU ARE COMMANDED to arrest and take into custody for removal proceedings under the Immigration and Nationality Act, the above-named alien.
___________________________________________
(Signature of Authorized Immigration Officer)”
Most people aren’t aware of the harsh vocabulary that is used by U.S. immigration officials, at least I know I wasn’t, prior to starting at Bethany House of Hospitality in Hyde Park (Chicago). It has been deeply concerning to see the way fellow human beings are treated in the hands of officials claiming to “keep us safe”. Apparently, in order to keep us (citizens or nationals of the U.S.) safe, it is necessary to trample, beat down, and destroy the human spirit of those who are others or illegal.
Protestor Flavia Franco put it best when she said, “No human being is illegal on stolen land. This is a nation made of immigrants, and unless you’re a native to this continent, this is not our land”. The reality of the way in which not only immigrants, but refugees, individuals who are fleeing their home country, are treated in the U.S., “the land of the free”, is appalling. My supervisor, Jessica Alaniz (the Associate Director of BHH who has been an incredible resource thus far) told me on the first day of my internship that in the three years that their organization has been around, only two out of about 40 women have had asylum claims granted. That’s 5% of all BHH clients, all of whom have all filed for asylum.
I think it can be tempting for some people to desensitize and devalue the experiences and trauma of those who come here from other places. There’s this misconception that if these individuals would have “just stayed back” there would be no problems. But this logic is problematic in and of itself because a majority of immigrants and refugees do face serious trauma, trafficking, and danger not only on their journey here, but also at home. A group of four sisters here at BHH fled their home country in South Asia because their father, a gambler and politician, would publicly beat them and their mother and was ready to sell the eldest daughter off in order to cover his debts. So they fled. Yet trouble followed them, and on their journey here, and after flying to Brazil, they walked all the way from Colombia, through the Darien Gap to Paraguay, through Costa Rica, Nicaragua, Honduras, Guatemala, Mexico, eventually entering through Texas, the sisters were sexually assaulted by coyotes and smugglers who wanted payment for their help. And these sisters aren’t the exception. Another woman from Central America was kidnapped by her brother’s killers and taken to Mexico, forced into labor there for 3 years, and managed to escape to the U.S. Two other women from Eastern Africa in BHH’s care, were tortured for simply going to a peaceful protest and upon making it to the U.S., were considered stateless for two years because our government could not locate any documentation proving who they were. So, essentially, you have individuals who not only end up categorized as illegal aliens, but stateless. It’s almost as if they never existed.
My experience thus far at Bethany House has been extremely eye opening, and I have learned more about social justice, welfare, and the U.S. government and immigration system in three weeks than I have learned in my two years at Valpo. Thus far, I have filed immigration paperwork, contacted pro-bono attorneys for our clients, researched welfare benefits for immigrants, spent time in community with BHH residents, and done about a million other things in between. I know that I still have a lot to learn here, and more relationships that I hope to foster and develop, but being here so far has taught me that it’s worth doing the work that others can’t or simply won’t and that its not only worthwhile, but incredibly necessary to constantly learn about new things and reflect upon your own privilege and experiences.
Some days, the information I learn at work can be a lot. Hearing people’s stories and the sad reality that is our immigration system gets to me. However, I truly believe that I, with the help of the caring and socially-aware individuals and colleagues that surround me, can make a difference. I can’t change the whole world, even if I had several lifetimes, but I can change my and others small corner’s of it, and I intend to keep doing so even after my time here with BHH.