As a white female, I’ve never been eyed suspiciously [in the US] or denied entry into a business. I’ve gotten away with speeding in my car far too often, and I’ve rarely been questioned in depth at airports or borders. Because I grew up in a middle-class family and in suburbia, I never had to worry about where my next meal was coming from or the presence of gang violence. I was also able to attend college without going into debt, because my family had the funds to make higher education my reality. These are all products of privilege.
In regard to the current humanitarian crisis at the US/Mexico border, I’ve been unavoidably recounting my wonderful experiences in Latin America, but at the ease of doing so as a tourist. After my short vacations spent exploring historic cathedrals, hiking, drinking cervezas, and laying on beaches, I return to my safety net in Raleigh, North Carolina, and to my stable 9-5.
So why worry about others when their plight seemingly has no impact on my day-to-day? Families are attempting immigration into the US through various means, to escape poverty, violence, and lack of opportunity in their home countries. Can you imagine scrounging your life savings, leaving everything behind- family, community, the world as you know it- and risking it all in hopes of entering a foreign land for a better life?
Others are lured on the harrowing migration journey through “promise” of the American dream and riches but are ultimately scammed, robbed, or left for dead in the desert. If even successful upon entry, these folks are likely to enter an impoverished economic situation where factors such as language barriers, limited education, and xenophobia will interfere with chances of prosperity. If sent home or deported back to their respective countries, these individuals are often shunned and by that point in time, depleted entirely of their resources.
Ripping children away from their parents at the border to “send a zero-tolerance message” is cruel and inhumane. Images have surfaced of children huddled in large cages, sleeping under space blankets, and toddlers crying for their parents while workers are unable to physically console them. Reports indicate that approximately 2,000 children have already been separated from their families since the recent tightening of the immigration policy (Department of Homeland Security).
So, the question remains: What’s the solution? At the base level, researchers, NGOs, policy makers, and local governments should collectively strategize how to tackle the problems contributing to the immigration phenomenon. Easier said than done, but if basic needs deficiencies are better addressed, educational and economic opportunities will slowly improve, and immigration rates will ultimately decrease.
If like me, you feel helpless and concerned, you can contribute to organizations such as the ACLU or RAICES (Refugee and Immigrant Center for Education and Legal Services). RAICES uses donations to ensure legal representation for every child in Texan immigration courts, and also covers bond expenses to release parents from detention so they can reunite with their children, while awaiting court proceedings.
When I’m back in Central America this coming December, I’ll be reminded of how good I have it at home. Traveling to developing countries is humbling and a mark of privilege in its own right. I vow to remain an informed, empathetic, and ethical traveler and to remain thankful for my livelihood. Always be grateful for what you have, and don’t turn a blind eye to those struggling because you aren’t affected by their situation.
“Privilege is when you think something is not a problem because it’s not a problem to you personally.”
