Essay: Treatment of immigrants in the United States

Counter-narratives in literature function as a form of peaceful journalism. Literature influences readers and brings words into action. It challenges oppressive social structures and calls out violations of human rights that would otherwise be overlooked and construed to be normal events. It can evoke anger in the readers and lead to activism and exposure of immoral behaviour in society, for example, neo-slavery and violation of human rights. Without counter-narratives, debates would seldom arise about the evils in society. It provides incentives for advocacy. Uncritical acceptance of literature is an abuse of the human mind because literature reflects what happens in society (Andone, 2018). The article by Dakin Andone of CNN is one such literature that raises concerns to do with child abuse and violation of human rights.
In this article, the author reports that separation of families was justified by a policy recently enacted. In addition, he reports that officials dismissed this as something that happens in the United States every day. The author claims that at the shelters the children are taken care of but once they leave, they are no longer under any law. There is no provision for the protection of their rights as children. If some children ran away, it means they were not comfortable with the places they were allocated. The criterion for defining eligibility on the part of the sponsors is also wanting. These non-relative, non-close persons who were given responsibility for the children are questionable. Overall, the article shows immense oppression and injustice that government officials have towards immigrants.
The article speaks a society where the strong dominate the weak. Immigrants are rendered no citizenship and so the United States policy on child protection rights does not cover the children. They assume the roles of the judge, jury and executioner by separating children from their own parents and allocating them guardians (Dreby, 2015). . These immigrant children are exposed to child labour in factories, providing cheap labour to interested parties. In addition, the sex trade is the ultimate way that these children end up, in the black market with influential individuals benefiting. This lawlessness also is seen when the Office of Refugee Resettlement does not bother to consistently follow up on the wellbeing of the children, claiming lack of resources (Grigorenko, 2013). It raises the question of how human they are if this does not seem important to them.
The treatment of the immigrants also speaks to a form of neo-slavery. It is a subtle type of slavery that is camouflaged in globalization and economic progress. These immigrants provide cheap labour to the United States regardless of how educated they were in their mother country. Slavery is construed as a restriction of a person’s freedom of movement, control of their personal belongings and lack of existence of informed consent. This is extremely evident with immigrant cases and benefits their ‘masters’ to whom they sell their services. Having been stripped of their nationality and identity, they are expendable and disposable.
The fact that the immigrants are given a criminal record immediately even before their processing speaks to the human rights violation. It is the highest form of discrimination. (Wardle & Nolan, 2011). As a refugee, these individuals are fleeing their country for fear of death. How then are they criminals? They flee with their children because they have no option. They are desperate. Only to be slapped with a criminal record and separated from their children. This is the highest form of social injustice. It is a violation of human rights to life in its totality. Officials and people in positions of influence play a blame game when confronted. This reveals that the people of influence have questionable character. United States policymakers are no longer people of integrity with leadership capability. They are consistently failing in their duty to humankind. The justice system has been compromised and no longer caters to the well-being of all mankind, only some of a superior nature.
It is so sad to think that the United States continues to allow such maltreatment of immigrants just because of their superiority complex. The fact that Dakin reported such a horrifying article brings to light how the values that enable human coexistence are slowly being eroded. It is okay to abuse poor helpless immigrant children because they are not covered by any law anyway. It is okay to discriminate against non-American citizens because they do not belong. Gradually, the world is accepting mediocrity and ignorance and few are calling out indiscriminate behaviour. We should redefine what humanity means and go back to the basics of love and care for each other.