The current immigration policy in
the United States flattens immigrants. It does not make a distinction between
different types of immigrants, lumping them all together “flattening” the
complex ways people come to this country and the nuanced policies we had in
place to deal with different types of people. It also flattens them in the
sense of it squishes them, destroying
their lives.
I think of
the Indonesian folk I’m connected to. It used to be their names were on a
list of people whose presence in the US was, I’m going to use that word again,
nuanced. As ethnically Chinese Christians they were in danger of persecution
back home, so we invited them in to this country, gave them travel visas, then
winked and nodded, asking them to come back every year to check in, but
promised they’d be okay. For two decades they were on a list of people who
overstayed their travel visa, but there was a footnote next to their name
indicating that if they returned to their home country they would be in danger,
so when ICE interacted with them they would not arrest them. Then the President’s
executive
order changed policy at the Department of Homeland Security, and soon all
the footnotes on ICE’s list were gone—and so were these Indonesian fathers who
left behind American kids here between the ages of 1 and 16. The list had been
flattened, everyone was the same, flattened too were three families who now are
without breadwinners and a church without some of their leaders.
I think
of these children
being held in cages. They are forced
to represent themselves in court. Yes, three
and four year-olds representing themselves in court. Again, American
immigration policy is flattening immigrants, squishing 3-year-olds and
thirty-year-olds into the same category. Flattening, as well, these poor kids
who are playing with elevator buttons and sitting on tables chewing on their
toes, instead of answering questions that might protect them.
I think
of those soldiers
serving in the US military in order to earn their citizenship, being
deported. To be clear, there are US soldiers who have served
two tours in Afghanistan who are being deported. Again, a flattening in
which folk who served in uniform are seen as no different than civilians who
have not; previous policies and promises are squished out and leak out as people
who fought for our country are flattened by that same country.
Current
immigration policy in the US is ignoring the particular stories and situations
of folk who come to this country.
It doesn’t matter if we promised you citizenship if you were
a citizen soldier,
it doesn’t matter if you are three, you still need to be
treated like an adult,
it doesn’t matter that you will be discriminated against and
in grave danger if you return home you are out of here.
We’re ruining people’s lives. I can’t help but wonder, is it
because the current administration is not capable of handling the complexity of
actually governing and are simply
governing on slogans or if they don’t understand American values and prefer
blunt authoritarianism, or if they are simply cruel.
