The most common argument I hear when discussing immigration is that if immigrants—specifically Mexican immigrants—want to come to the U.S. so badly, why don’t they do it legally?
There are three key reasons as to why immigration is not that easy: the amount of time it takes to apply, the dangers of crossing the border itself and the vulnerability of immigrants to money-motivated coyotes. Add to these reasons the money it takes to apply for citizenship and the institutionalized hatred often experienced once in the U.S., and one quickly understands why immigrating isn’t as simple as asking politely to become a citizen.
In general, it usually takes Mexican-American immigrants 10 to 12 years to obtain legal citizenship. This is not to say there aren’t options to obtain work or student visas, however with increased demand comes decreased supply. Also, with current political ideals, it is becoming increasingly harder to even apply for these visas.
With President Trump generalizing Mexican immigrants as “bad hombres” and cracking down on immigration, many right-leaning citizens have taken it upon themselves to institutionalize hatred for immigrants in their rhetoric and discriminatory actions toward ethnic-minority groups.
With increasing demand for American citizenship, the amount of time it can take to be eligible for a visa, as well as the racist ideology immigrants receive, it is no wonder why for some people, illegally crossing the border can be a more efficient way to live in the U.S.
One of the most overlooked reasons why immigration is not as easy as portrayed is the physical danger of crossing.
There have been a recorded 6,000 deaths during attempted border crossings, according to federal records, not counting those who have not been found or identified.
In recent years, the deaths have soared in one of the worst places for immigrants to die: Brooks County, Texas, a vast, sun-baked expanse of cattle ranches an hour north of the border on the way to Houston, a hub where immigrants can catch a ride to anywhere in the U.S. In a riveting article by The Boston Globe, writer Maria Sacchetti pointed out that in 2012, the number of bodies found in the brush or on roadsides in Brooks County doubled to 129 and more than half were unidentified.
To add to the horror of crossing the border, immigration researchers have reported that coyotes—guides who helps immigrants cross the border—offer women contraception for the trip, because it’s expected that up to 70 percent of the female travelers will be sexually violated at some point along the journey.
The final plaguing issue of immigration is the corrupt system of coyotes and halfway housing in the U.S. Every decision to cross using a coyote is a risk that immigrants take in pursuit of a better life in America.
Coyotes have created a massive campaign built on spreading the idea that illegal immigrants will be allowed to stay in America. However, they realize that potential immigrants might not make it across the border their first time, or might get sent back, so they no longer offer one-way passages. Instead, they offer a “flat rate” where you’ll get three opportunities to be guided to the U.S.
Safe to say, not every coyote is trustworthy. According to The Chicago Tribune, four immigrants paid smugglers between $1,400 and $4,000 each for their journey to their deaths. The trips would become emotional roller-coaster rides suffered at the hands of smugglers who demanded more and more money along the way. Even the lucky ones who do make it across are sometimes kept in homes against their will until they pay the coyote even more money. During this time, many are forced to find jobs in which they risk being caught and deported every day; sometimes owners of businesses call in raids to receive incentive money for turning in “illegals.”
The inherent risks of making the decision to immigrate to the U.S., both legally and illegally, make it hard for those trying to pursue a better life for themselves and their families. It also promotes a sense of discrimination toward those who do not look like you.
With all the rhetoric from Trump about the violent nature of immigrants, he and many Americans fail to take into account the fact that the majority of the people immigrating to the U.S. are doing so to find a better life for their family, or escape a dangerous life in their old country. It will take ages to disband racist ideals in the U.S.—however, it only takes a few minutes to listen to someone’s story and be understanding of where they come from.
The real cost of immigration can be as small as a racist comment made on the street or as titanic as losing your life trying to cross the militarized political divide we call the border.
Gary is a sophomore majoring in communication sciences and disorders, as well as linguistics. What are your thoughts on the current immigration policy in the U.S.? Please send all questions, comments and concerns to opinion@dailycardinal.com.
