Perception #2: Single story of Mexican Illegal Immigrants

Single story: Illegal Immigrants

      Immigration has played a large role in the making of American history—in fact, it made this nation. Known as a 'melting pot', the United States is known for having one of the most diverse populations in the world—so why do we attack immigration today? The group I would like to focus on is not those who leave their country and become citizens of the US, but rather those who enter the country illegally. I think back to a conversation I had with a friend from high school who was not accepted into his university's biology program. He claimed, “I did not get in the program because illegal immigrants are taking my spot in the classroom.” Never mind that he received terrible grades and missed class frequently. We have heard from recent GOP debates that illegal immigrants, with a focus on Mexicans, are criminals, rapists, and run drug cartels. Not only does their crime hurt our country and our citizens, but they take our jobs and hurt our economy by living off of the government. This is the single story of a Mexican illegal immigrant.

          While I do not support any illegal acts and believe that all undocumented immigrants should have the correct paperwork, it is difficult for me to believe that all Mexicans who cross the border are here to ruin American lives and push drugs. One of the limitations of this stereotype is that it assumes Mexican illegals are here to bring down the US. It assumes that the good Mexicans stay in Mexico and never come. It also assumes that illegals will never receive citizenship and therefore cannot contribute positively to society. A portion of the artifacts below describe a population of tatted criminals who believe in crime and gangs. One meme even calls for the arrest of President Obama who has shown support for easier citizenship laws and for programs that aid illegals from the deportation process.

         One of the other artifacts I chose also assumes that illegals are living off of the government welfare and stealing our jobs. Illegal Mexican immigrants are scape goat for all of our problems. Politicians such as Donald Trump and Ron Paul blame them for our economic woes, forgetting that big bankers, investors on Wall Street, and unrealistic credit debt tipped the nation into recession years ago—not the Mexicans. While part of the government's role is to find illegal immigrants, associating all Mexicans as undocumented, and all illegals as criminals is a limiting and narrow view.