I began to see how people on both sides of the immigration issue were being impacted and how much more we had in common than I originally thought. I started to feel hope and understanding for the first time.
fact, I realized that I too had subconsciously dehumanized and criminalington, D. C., think tank, said during
for Immigration Studies, a Washized those who opposed my views, our interview,“ NAFTA only got a and, as a result, was quite terrified to sufficient number of Republican votes get to know them. However, I wanted in Congress because it was explicitly to give myself and this issue the opportunity for growth. sure. Supposedly, it would create jobs
sold as an immigration control mea-
It took me a while to adapt, for people in Mexico so they wouldn’ t however, story by story, it started to come to the U. S. It’ s the only reason NAFTA passed, so NAFTA is an happen. I began to see how people on both sides of the immigration issue immigration law, for all intents and were being impacted and how much purposes. The problem is that any more we had in common than I originally thought. I started to feel hope to create more migration pressure in
measure like that is inevitably going
and understanding for the first time. the short and medium term.” I would hear stories about how
At the same time, an“ opposing” think tank, Immigration Policy employers would decrease the hours of citizens to part-time and hire
Center, re-enforced the statement. undocumented workers for the same“ When we are looking at trade, when positions at full-time hours, paying them half of what their citizen we need to be thinking about what
we are looking at our foreign relations
counterparts had previously earned. is the migration impact of this? What In addition, the employers would not effect is this going to have on people? provide overtime, health benefits, Is it going to force people to leave that or pensions to the undocumented country? And if so, maybe we need to workers, while at the same time they rethink that policy.” negated those benefits to citizens
Due to NAFTA, the top 100 multinational corporations increased their because they were now part-time. The working class, regardless of race assets by 697 percent. At the same or legal status, was being exploited by time employment in these corporations went down, partly because the employer. As I continued to hear more diverse stories and participate in other tion. Multinational corporations em-
workers were replaced by automa-
immigration events, I realized how ploy only. 78 percent of the world’ s limited my view had been, and more workforce. Small family businesses, importantly, I saw how I had been not able to compete with huge corporations’ mass production of goods and focused on the symptoms of immigration, not the root problem where all low prices were forced to shut down. the arguing was taking place.
People experiencing job loss Mark Krikorian with the Center chose to migrate to developed countries where they believed more opportunities existed, according to authors Gary Hytrek and Kristine M. Zentgraf in their book, America Transformed: Globalization, Inequality, and Power.
After connecting the stories from my very direct experience, I began to feel and get a keen sense of our interconnection as human beings and the impact immigration is having on all of our lives. I found my love, justice, and compassion naturally extending to all those who were being hurt, impacted, and wrongly treated, regardless of their race or legal status. I believe we’ re all trying to achieve our maximum potential, and if there is something I can do to help another fellow human do that, I will.
As for the immigration paradox we face, I believe if we can begin to transform the way we see and communicate with one another, it is possible to stop assuming, generalizing, and letting third parties influence us with their fear, anger and hate. Seeing the bigger picture of our shared humanity will allow us to focus on the root problems and use our time, resources, and energy more wisely. We owe it to ourselves to work together to create the world we would like to live in.
Lourdes Lee Vasquez was born in Mexico City to two doctors and raised in the United States by a single mother as a low income immigrant. This experience has enabled her to deeply analyze collective and individualistic cultures as well as different socioeconomic classes. It also allows her to navigate freely through different world views giving her a broader picture of reality and our interconnectedness. For private viewing of her documentary, The Immigration Paradox, go to www. tipmovie. com. For public or educational viewings and never before seen footage, fill out an inquiry online, and you will be contacted shortly when public licenses become available.
14 IMAGINE l SPRING 2016