Immigration Struggles

Caught in the

Current

STORY AND DESIGN BY REPORTERS PAIGE DUSSOLD AND KATE NOBLE AND EDITOR-IN-CHIEF SOPHIE NEDELCO

in the

SSix hundred thousand migrants have risked their lives to cross European Union borders within the last year, according to the International Organization for Migration. Forced to flee the rough waters of civil war and religious persecution, they take any possible route: by boat, by foot, by plane. Belongings are left behind, and the hope for their family’s future is taken with them.

But migrants’ struggles don’t stop when they reach the border. They and thousands of other migrants still on the way are all vying for the same thing: a new home. But, multiple countries’ actions and failure to follow EU-wide policies has left the migrants’ drowning in their search for a better life.

Similarly, the U.S. has been caught in the immigration current as waves of people have made the journey to the U.S. over the last decade. The debate over policy and the status of undocumented immigrants continues to progress with the upcoming election.

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COVER STORY

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Europe becoming to European unity. Hesitation surrounding the acceptance of word for the raw flurries: la nieve. This weather was foreign to 19-year-old Camila Fonseca*. The refugees may be the result of the tension built city was foreign, the language was foreign, the

Hundreds of thousands of the migrants around the economic climate. According to loneliness was foreign. are refugees seeking asylum to escape countries The Economist, the unemployment rate for EU “It was a new life without a familiar struck by ongoing violence, human rights abuse countries hovers around 10 percent, with some environment,” Fonseca said. and poverty such as countries such as Greece But, the new life was already worth it. After

Syria, Afghanistan, “My parents came to America because closer to 20 percent. six months of staying in Kansas City with a tourist

Eritrea and Kosovo, as reported by the British Broadcasting they wanted their children to have a better life than they did, they didn’t want them to struggle. Ethiopia’s government is very corrupt.” -senior The United States has also created a plan to accept the migrants. According to visa, Fonseca’s three jobs had paid off her parents’ rising debt back in Mexico. “I lived in a very critical economic situation.

Corporation. Syria Mena Biralign the New York Times, the The Mexican peso was devalued, and the dollar has contributed the amount of refugees that was valued six times more. My parents had a debt majority of migrants and according to The New the United States takes in annually, 70,000, will of $30,000 Mexican pesos, and it rose to $90,000,”

York Times, almost 12 million Syrians have fled increase to 100,000 by the year 2017. Fonseca said. “My dad wanted to commit suicide from the country within the past four and a half According to theology teacher Jessica Hull, so that my mom could collect his life insurance.” years. the increased quota will be beneficial, but there is Although she had relieved her family’s

The number of migrants within Europe has room for the United States to do more. debt, other issues still remained at home in Mexico, increased so dramatically that the European Union “Unfortunately, including the funding has passed a plan for distributing them equally among European countries. Migration hotspots in Europe include Italy and Greece, and according to since [Sept. 11, 2001], people have this fear that if you let people in from “My mom chose to move to America because she wanted to give us the best life possible and the best education we could get. Italy is a lovely of her sister’s education. So, similar to 40 percent of all undocumented

The New York Times, the plan includes relocating 120,000 migrants from those two countries to others throughout the continent. Alongside the the Middle East, they’re going to be Al Qaeda or they’re going to be ISIS, country, but she knew we could get more opportunities in America.” -junior Jessica Nicolosi immigrants in the United States, according to a 2013 Wall Street Journal

European Union’s plan, according to The Telegraph, but these are other human beings who have lost article, she overstayed her visa.

Germany intends to let in 1.5 million immigrants everything and had to leave their homes,” Hull said. “I wanted to see my parents happy without into the country this year, double the projected “Pope Francis said that every parish, every religious worries and with an economic solution that would amount. community, every Catholic give them a better life,” Fonseca said. “To give them

Many countries in Europe are introducing border “They came from Guatemala. My dad came when he was about 16. He was really young when he came here institution in Europe should take in a refugee family. So if we did that in the United a little of what they had given me.” According to Spanish teacher Leah Lafaver, many Latin Americans like Fonseca are seeking patrol in attempt to regulate the flow of migrants coming in. because America offers jobs and a better life. My mom came when she was 17.” -senior Lisbeth Juarez-Lopez States too, think of all the thousands of families that we can help.” the “American dream,” and the proximity as well as loose immigration policies make the United States a prime destination for illegal immigration.

Countries including “There’s a lot of turmoil in the politics, in the

Hungary and Croatia have even gone as far as threatening to close their borders to migrants The United States society. There’s a lot of poverty, violence, and drug trafficking that some of these [Latin American] altogether. According to The Guardian, the closure countries are ruled by,” LaFaver said. “Especially of Hungary’s southern Serbian border caused a The crystal flakes drifted down and landed with political upheaval, when you’re talking about domino effect of chaos among Hungary and West gently, stinging her hands. Her previously drooping overthrowing governments and revolutions, it can

Balkan countries, forcing the European Union eyelids stiffened against the frosty 1998 March be a very unstable environment.” to remind the countries of the threat they are air. Her breath clouded as she spoke the Spanish But relief from their situation is difficult, if not impossible, to obtain legally. Immigrants from Latin America face a long process of obtaining legal papers, often lasting years. 2016 Presidential Candidates’ Views On Immigration According to the Washington Post, the wait to become a citizen can Ben Carson Jim Webb be up to 25 years. Many facets of a

Thinks we should secure all borders using smart technology and adress issues firmly and consistently. Supports a path to citizenship for illegal immigrants already in the United States after the border is secure. person’s life can dictate the amount of time they wait for legal entry such as their country of emigration and family connections. “Nobody should have to wait Marco Rubio Hillary Clinton 18 years to come from Mexico,

Supports a path to citizenship for illegal immigrants already in the United States, and the United States should recquire background checks to become a citzen. Wants to offer a path to citizenship for the illegal immigrants already in the United States. and if we put that kind of a burden on people, they’re going to come anyway. They’re just not going to come legally,” theology teacher Bonnie Haghirian said. “And none Donald Trump Bernie Sanders of us would be willing to wait 18 Supports the construction of a wall Thinks that illegal immigrants in United years for anything.” across southern border with strict enforcement. States shouldn’t be thrown out and is against a border fence. According to US Customs and Border Control, undocumented immigrants face a perilous journey through the desert filled with gang violence, sexual assault, abduction

What’s the difference?

VISA vs.[temporary pass] GREEN CARD [permit] Immigrant Visa able to work mostly petition-based carriers have all the rights of citizens longer wait time than except the right to non-immigrant visas vote, serve on juries

Non-immigrant Visa and receive funding for college issued for a specific amount of time types include student, tourist, work and exchange

and a lack of basic needs when crossing the border of deportation causes of a feeling of fear and immigration bills have failed to find their way into the US. If discovered, they risk detention and instability that haunts her constantly. through the joint houses. According to Sara deportation. “It is as if one is in a jail of gold,” Fonseca said. McElmurry, the Assistant Director of Immigration

“Crossing Mexico, “You apparently have it all, at the Chicago Council on Global Affairs, the lack not knowing the place, not knowing the cities, “My parents wanted to better their lives. They wanted more opportunities and new experiences. They have but the moment arrives, and we have to return and of initiative surrounding immigration can be due to the decline in Democrats’ level of concern for it is difficult because taught me that immigration is okay we won’t be able to have the issues and the divisions grown within the you come in a strange country, and you don’t because you always have to strive for something better in life.”-sophomore Angela Sandoval anything. Not only does [deportation] involve Republican party itself. “It’s become a cultural issue as much as a know what they have splitting a family, but also policy issue,” U.S. History teacher Kristin Pennock there,” Ricky Juarez, father of senior Lisbeth destroying the innocence of children who don’t said. “Going back to the idea that embracing the Juarez-Lopez, said. “You are going to risk running understand because their parents have to leave other versus rejecting the other, seeing immigrants into the authorities and thieves, whatever you find even if they have not done wrong to anyone.” as a welcome addition to the ongoing story of in the way.” Fifty-nine percent of America versus seeing Sion parent and immigration lawyer Teodoro Garcia recently visited a detention center for Americans believe passing legislation that addresses “[My dad is a dual citizen [of France]. So am I and my sister and my brother.” - junior Zoé Trouvé immigrants as a threat to America. I think women and children in Dilley, Texas. According unauthorized immigration is democrats are on one to Garcia, the only group benefiting from these important, according to a July side of that and some centers is the Correction Corporation of America 2014 poll conducted by CBS independents and that deals privately with jails and prisons. News. republicans are on the other side.”

“These women and children pose no threat “There are about 12 million people that are in But, until the U.S. and the world catch up to the national security of the U.S., and it costs the United States now that are undocumented so with the trend and recognize the underlying American taxpayers they’ve come here without problems driving immigration and the obstacles $400 per day for each “My dad is a doctor and grew up in permission or they’ve that immigrants face, the current will continue to woman and child to be Germany. He did his residency at the Mayo Clinic, and he met my mom overstayed their visas. And sweep us away. incarcerated,” Garcia there. They stayed here so he became for many of those people, “People can go two ways,” LaFaver said. “They said. “I was disgusted a citizen. He has dual citizenship.” they didn’t follow a legal path can reach out and understand or they can be afraid and embarrassed that we -freshman Cecilia Mohácsi because there’s not one open and reject. allow this to happen in to them,” Hull said. our country. We should be more welcoming to Although undocumented immigration is at *Camila Fonseca is a pseudonym of a local high school women and children fleeing persecution from the the forefront of American minds, it has failed to parent. atrocities in their countries.” find it’s way to the top of congress’. Since President According to Fonseca, the threat Obama entered office in 2009, all bipartisan