I am a novice on US immigration reform, the last family in my
line to immigrate was in the 1890’s, from Germany. My recent experience in the Philippines as a applicant for a visa has raised my desire to become better informed about the immigrant experience in the US.
This past Saturday I attended Multnomah
University ~New Wine New Wineskin’s Immigration Reformation Conference. It was
an immersion experience.
Well done to the students, faculty and volunteers who
planned the various events which allowed me to connect to the issue
intellectually and experientially along with some time to process. The event planners made the right call when
they started with an immersion experience.
After checking in and receiving my standard issue conference packet I
found myself in the next building standing in line. I hadn't really paid attention to the
instructions at check in and I asked the college women in front of me, "what are
we in line for?" “Immigration,” they replied. I realized I
better read my folder.
There I learned
that my new name was Saraphina, a native Haitian woman who illegally entered
the US after the big earthquake so that my unborn child might have a chance at
a better life. For the next 45 minutes I
experienced mild humiliation, confusion and the royal run-around. As an experienced international traveler, I played my part for a while, but as time ticked on and I was headed back to the original
immigration "office" for the third time, I stepped out of character. I just could not stop my well educated, travel experienced, white, self from pulling the privilege card. I wasn't just an Haitian “illegal immigrant”;
I was an educated and experienced nurse midwife, multilingual in French, Creole
and English. “That may be” the
Employment Agent said, “but your papers are not correct and you need to return
to the immigration office.” Now I was
mad, I just wanted to get to the conference that was starting, enough of the "experience." So, I left and joined the others who were
listening to the opening comments.
Well
done planning team, point well made!
After a moving first hand story of an immigrant from El
Salvador she asked that we honor her treasured story of how her family found
amnesty in the US. They suffered terror and risked loss of life as the rebel
and government forces fought for control in her home country. “Wow,” I thought to myself. “I don’t know any of my immigrant ancestors
immigration stories, why is that?"
What followed was another of the well planned events of the
day, a facilitated table discussion that allowed me to explore with others, my personal
experience on the topic of immigration.
The questions we discussed primed my mind to engage both emotionally and
critically with the presenters for the rest of the day.
Two things I would have enjoyed even more,
shorter workshops or time at each to have one or two more facilitated questions
to discuss. And second, more diversity
of views on the panel discussion. But those are just suggestions to take it to
the next level of engagement.
Here were the “take-aways” for me:
- Ask to hear the stories of immigrants I meet, I’m going to have to meet them first.
- Undocumented or Unauthorized immigrants are preferred terms. There are no illegal people…
- Get the real facts and figures regarding economic contributions, tax paying, non-criminal activity of immigrants, go to www.G92.org for more information.
PRAY using the “I
was a stranger…” scripture card found at www.evangelicalimmigrationtable.com
BE PRESENT as a
US citizen, in court at immigration hearings.
Find out what really goes on and how detainees are treated.
VISIT DETAINEES IN
PRISON, for my area that would be the detention center in Tacoma.
LISTEN to and
treasure the stories of immigrants you meet.
Thanks New Wine, New Wineskins for taking a risk and
featuring immigration. You are making
Multnomah University and my affiliation with it relevant to my community
development work in Rockwood.
