The recent government shutdown led to a rise in political and racial tensions. DACA recipients  and the hispanic community faced pressure as the 69-hour shut down period began and ended.

This backlash isn’t new, but anti-immigration groups have become more vocal with the rise of the Trump administration.

“Build the Wall” chants and distinctively red “Make America Great Again” hats have become symbols for the social pressure and fear that the hispanic community, as well as other minority groups, are facing.

A red hat symbolizes trouble for most hispanics, myself included. Uncomfortable stares, harsh tones and rejection have become common in the society of Trump’s administration. But, it isn’t anything new,

Instead, it has become more socially acceptable for hate to be more open.

“Why don’t they just become citizens?” Has become a systematic response to those who lobby for pro-immigration policies. The lack of awareness of the difficulties of the immigration process leads to more frustration.

Immigration policies are never consistent, with a new administration comes new laws. This current administration has set the bar to a near-impossible high standard.

Leaving the United States and re-entering with a Visa is not easy, for most it activates a 10-year forgiveness period before you can receive the Visa. Most immigrants have already planted roots in the United States, abandoning their family and businesses is an impossible request to ask for them.

The most commonly known form of gaining citizenship is American-born children sponsoring their parents. Yet, even this has become more difficult as well. When the child is 21, they can sponsor their parent and start the immigration process. But, this process has become over-crowded and the wait time brings difficulty, this leads to immigrants marrying citizen in hopes of a faster process.

The biggest limitation of applying for citizenship is cost. The extended wait period and monthly lawyer meetings add up as the years progress. Working is an option, but the lack of social security card makes it difficult to find a living-wage.  

As my mother is going through the process, I’ve experienced the difficulties that comes with the process.. Our four year struggle for her Green Card, along with the initial petition that lasted 23 years, is still not over and the costs continue to pile up. The limited money that was set aside for my college fund has been used up for legal expenses.

Our expenses will continue to rise, promises of “When I get my green card I will be able to pay it off” are made every time we look at our pending debts. But the fight will continue on, the privilege to be able to go through the process must not be taken advantage of.

So when Jeff Sessions said, “What good does it do to bring in somebody who’s illiterate in their own country, has no skills, and is going to struggle in our country and not be successful?” It makes sense for one to get angry at the lack of awareness he has.

When Donald Trump asks for a wall and looks for “a nuclear family,” it confuses and angers everyone who struggles in the United States.

The American Dream started on a group of immigrants wanting a better future. The immigrant dream is the exact same thing.

“Build the Wall” brings nothing but tensions and is a waste of money. Our current government forgets that immigrants, are in fact human beings. A different skin tone and a second tongue does not make us aliens, instead it goes against the ideas that founded our country.

The cruelty that we fight against in other nations, is not as impactful if we are fostering our own.  

We are all human beings, a wall should not divide us.