Essay Example on Immigrants: Struggling to Survive in a Foreign Land

Introduction

Immigrants are people who move from their country to a foreign nation to live there permanently. The immigrants may fall into any of the four statuses, namely residents, undocumented citizens, and non-immigrants. They are faced with various woes in different regions across the globe. For instance, they have been blamed for making economies of the nations they settle in hard. There has been a rise in anti-immigration views, especially in countries with a vast number of immigrants, like the case of the United States. Public opinion survey shows that there is a distinction between the undocumented and legal immigrants (American Civil Liberties Union). The former has been given inhumane treatment for a long time due to well-entrenched mythical beliefs. One of the views is that the immigrants take jobs meant for the residents leading to their unemployment. A field opinion poll conducted in California in 1993 shows that 39 % of the participants agreed that undocumented immigrants "took away jobs for the natives" (American Civil Liberties Union). These, however, are myths that need to be repudiated to create a friendly environment for the immigrants through humane treatment.

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Contrary to this belief, immigrants do not take American jobs. Instead, they form new businesses creating more jobs for the natives. They also pay taxes in the nations they have shifted to, as well as spending their earnings on the nation's goods and services. Immigrants are, therefore, good at enhancing economic development as opposed to causing its downfall. The Administration of Bush also researched the US Labor department and found put that many Americans believe that immigrants take away their jobs. The study discovered that this was the most obstinate fallacy about the immigrants (American Civil Liberties Union). Most of the people with this presumption believe there is a fixed number of jobs. It is, therefore, essential to acknowledge jobs created by immigrants through capital development and productivity.

History of Inhumane Treatment of The Immigrants

Since 1996 after the 9/11 tragedy, some policies have been implemented, resulting in the weakening of immigrants' rights. For instance, most immigrants, including those who have legally resided in the United States for a long time, are separated from families under harsh conditions(CivilRights.org). Some of them face compulsory detentions alongside deportation polices. Others are forced into expedited proceedings, which leads to several mistakes and has notable abuse of human rights. Also, there is a rising trend in privatized profit-making detention corporations, which is one of the avenues for immigrants' exploitation.

President Trump seems to support the assault and outrage against the immigrants since he has not condemned it regardless of its rise in the last two years (CivilRights.org). The separation policy has been rampant, provoking over 35,000 people into the Washington DC streets (CivilRights.org). The protest was entitled "Families Belong Together "and was held on 30th June 2018 (CivilRights.org). The protestors complained about the awful family separation policies enforced by Trump's administration. The demonstration corresponded with seven hundred and eighty-eight similar events throughout the fifty states. It is, therefore, an indication of dissatisfaction with immigrants due to inhumane treatment.

Importance of Humane Treatment Among Immigrants

Humane treatment of immigrants enhances equality in a nation. The movements that advocate for justice should, therefore, be at the frontline in advocating for equality of immigrants as the movement fights for a wide range of groups that are inclusive of immigrants. Also, immigrants' lives and families are as valuable as for the citizens; hence it is essential to defend their rights. One of the undocumented immigrants named Ana Canengez, who worked in a motel as a housekeeper, shared her experience. She said that just like other immigrants, she had come to look for greener pastures to help her raise her family besides contributing to the economic development of the nation. Unfortunately, the fate that befalls many immigrants befell her as she faces deportation charges besides forceful separation from her family (Ford Foundation Center). The immigrants should, therefore, be considered of value and their rights respected.

Lastly, the immigrants are not a burden to the economy; instead, they are an asset. For instance, Clemens, a migration expert, said that an immigrant invented WhatsApp. The company is worth approximately nineteen billion dollars. Another immigrant also contributed to the success of Ghostbusters, an Easy Rider through cinematography skills. He also acknowledged the immigrant who co-founded Intel Company. The organization employs over a hundred thousand people in America. It also creates chips that power nearly all computer electronic devices. These are a few examples of immigrants who positively impacted the economy (Ford Foundation Center). It is, therefore, essential to protect the rights of the immigrants as they contribute to economic growth

Organization Spearheading Humane Immigrants' Rights

Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights (CHIRLA)

There has therefore been so much mistreatment ongoing among immigrants across the globe. The good news, however, is that Southern California has stood to defend the rights of the immigrants. Various organizations advocate for the humane treatments of the immigrants. One of these organizations is the Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights (CHIRLA). It was formed in 1986 and is the leading coalition in California that has nationally impacted the various immigrants at a personal as well as family levels.

Since its formation, CHIRLA has been acting as a representative of social change aimed at attaining a world with full human rights, liberated movement, as well as participatory democracy for all people (Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights (CHIRLA). The mission of CHIRLA is, therefore, is to have a society that treats immigrants justly, i.e., the same way as the natives.

CHIRLA's Mission and Advocacy Efforts

In pursuit of this mission, the Coalition organize individuals, coalition, and institutions, to participate in power building, public opinion transformation, and change of policies to fully attain labor, human, and civil rights. In embracing and driving advanced social changes, CHIRLA is guided by love, power, and vision of the community. The formation of CHIRLA was very timely since it responded to the Immigration Reform and Control Act (IRCA) IN 1986. According to the Act, it was illegal to hire undocumented immigrants. The decrees, therefore, subjected several workers to immeasurable abuse and exploitations (Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights (CHIRLA). CHIRLA, thus, emerged as a voice and advocated for Humane Immigration rights, at a time when the rights were highly exploited.

CHIRLA has been advancing not only in fighting for immigrants' rights but also in recognizing their vitality. The coalition holds annual Gala for all immigrants to celebrate the immigrants. The party brings together diverse communities, as well as chosen leaders, organizations, supporters, and advocate who acknowledge the vitality of immigrants' rights. The event is also an avenue of honoring the contributions of various leaders who spearhead the fight against inhumane treatment of the immigrants. These leaders strive to ensure that the immigrants get access to financial aids, health care, in-state tuition, labor protection, driving license, among other reimbursements in California. The benefits enhance the integration of immigrants into California's culture and economy.

CHIRLA's operations have also grown from initial service prerequisites to include immigrants' guiding principle campaigns both at the industry level as well as across the vast platforms dealing with the rights of undocumented immigrants. Due to this development, CHIRLA has won multiple policy victories involving the rights of laborers. Immediately after its formation, CHIRLA assembled various membership committees to provide immigrants with local services through advocacy, education, and the creation of awareness through outreach. Since then, the committees have ensured that thousands of immigrants have successfully filled out their amnesty applications under IRCA. They are also responsible for educating immigrants concerning their rights since the commencement of employer sanctions that were provided by IRCA. The education immigrants' programs are sponsored by Special Counsel Office that operates under Immigration-related Unfair Employment Practices. All the duties that need to be done are divided among the committee members.

CHIRLA's Positive Influence and Victories

Currently, CHIRLA has an efficiently functioning state hotline and referral services that connect the new immigrants to essential services such as education health welfare and legal representations. Also, CHIRLA has ensured that there is constant public awareness on regular radio announcements. The announcements have been beneficial since even the CHIRLA CEO Salas initially heard about the organization via radio announcements when her relatives were applying for the IRCA'S amnesty.

Concurrently, CHIRLA was involved in advocacy services resulting from the provision of legal services. CHIRLA's duties revolve around legal challenges and protests, discriminations, and deportation of immigrants. In all these efforts, CHIRLA ensures that it directly engages the immigrants. It gives it the ability to marshal both the constituents and the members to participate in legal procedures even with a narrow membership base. For instance, in 2005, CHIRLA pursued campaigns aimed at extending overtime for workers in private households. During the campaigns, the workers were trained on legislative procedures as well as confidently speaking out on their job experiences and suggesting various reforms.

Apart from engaging the immigrants, CHIRLA also formed coalitions with many organizations throughout California. The alliances brought together advocates, household workers, and advocates who crafted legislative proposals encompassing several issues. Most of the problems were the recommendations that emanated from the workers' suggestions. Following these initiatives, a bill was sponsored by Cindy Montanez, an Assemblywoman. It incorporated the proposal of immigrant workers and passed the senate and the assembly, but was later barred by Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger.

Another CHIRLA'S program that cannot be overlooked is the Los Angeles Wise Up programs. It has helped in organizing high school students who address issues of immigrants' rights that affect their communities. The plan was worth implementing as it has produced substantial gains. The members have established empowered relations with public officers and community leaders. They have also acquired civic experiences and critical thinking capacity while attending workshops and participating in regular campaigns and meetings.

Los Angeles County Bar Association (LACBA)

Besides CHIRLA, Los Angeles County Bar Association (LACBA) has also played a great role in ensuring the Humane Treatment of immigrants. The organization offers legal assistance to immigrants. Their offices are open but have a limited right of entry to the public. The people in need of their services are therefore encouraged to make calls. Those who need advice related to immigration or those in need of applications are given an appointment. The appointments are, however, scheduled thrice per week. Some of the issues handled during meetings are the renewal of work permits green cards and DACAs (Martinez and McCaffrey). The organization also helps immigrants to file their family petitions as well as adjustment of their application status.