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Sofia Silva

Professor Huerta

English 1T

19 March 2018

The Myth of Immigration

Immigration is not a crime. Seeking survival is not a crime. What is a crime, is

dehumanizing migrants to the extent that they are dismissed as a problem. They are human

beings who, for varying circumstances, decide that the best thing they can do is leave everything

they know and migrate. There are children who are willing to cross countries on their own,

knowing very well they may be raped, robbed, or killed on the way. Such a decision is not made

lightly, yet upon their arrival they are treated like animals. Valeria Luiselli, award winning

Mexican author, worked as a volunteer interpreter where she would interview undocumented

children based on an intake questionnaire and translate it for a lawyer. Based on the stories those

children were able to recall, she writes ​Tell Me How It Ends: An Essay In Forty Questions​. In her

essay she expresses the importance of changing the way we view migrant children. She also

argues that undocumented children should be granted refugee status due to the personal

involvement of the United States in the current state of their countries today. Although I agree

with Luiselli’s claim that unaccompanied minors should be offered refugee status, I do not

believe her presented arguments are compelling enough to convince a stakeholder to change their

stance on the topic. As the daughter of two immigrant parents it is important to me that any

argument presented address multiple perspectives so that it won't be faulted and serve as

evidence of ignorance.
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Luiselli effectively presents testimony about the environments from which

unaccompanied minors flee. Luiselli claims that the stories of these children will push for equal

accountability in a country that has normalized violence (30). She tries to make the audience

understand that everyone has a piece of the blame and that through doing so we will humanize

the children that have been publicly slandered as a problem. She views those who claim to be

neutral as part of the problem, because they are bystanders to the lives being ruined by the

current immigration system. She wishes to change the perspective of a stakeholder who would

dismiss the testimony of these children as simply emotionally unstable minors. It is

understandable that some may think this way, however it can also be argued that because these

minors have been through so much it is foolish to think they would not succumb to their

emotions when recalling such traumatizing experiences. Due to the trauma they endured, they

have a personal stake in the issue and wish to represent their stories accurately so others may

learn from them. I agree that the voices of these children will be a key component in moving

towards a reform for immigration, but not all of Luiselli’s claims are as solid.

Luiselli primarily focuses on violence to explain why unaccompanied minors flee, but

fails to talk about the poverty, natural disasters, and unemployment which push them out of their

own countries. Failing to acknowledge these other contributors weakens her argument because it

makes her seem ignorant to other perspectives. Luiselli dives into the history of gangs like the

Mara Salvatrucha 13 (MS-13) and Barrio 18, as well as their lasting effects on counties in the

Northern Triangle. She explains the fault of the United States which contributed to the formation

of MS-13. She states that the U.S. aided in the Salvadoran civil war and therefore is, to a degree,

responsible for the current situation there (45-46). While all this information is true, there is
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more to migration than just violence. Violence may be one of the greatest contributors but failing

to mention other reasons undermines the complexity of the situation. Sociology professor

Maristella Tapia gave a presentation relative to understanding migration. She explained many

theories that attempt to answer why people migrate. One of the most compelling theories she

presented was the Push-Pull (Neoclassical) theory. This theory states that “people migrate

because factors “push” them out of their homelands and pull them towards the host country”

(Tapia). The push factors for these people may be environmental, social, economic, or political

and all may influence and pressure families to relocate. The United States is reputable for The

American Dream, this is perhaps the greatest pull factor for people seeking refuge. The

American Dream promises equal opportunity for all so that everyone may better their economic

status and live a happier life. However, the American Dream is a social construct that relies on

the idea that it is achievable for all, but what most migrants from Central America face upon

their arrival goes against that very idea. The American people are quite hostile towards

undocumented people and sometimes even violent. The factors that pushed them away from

home often pull them to a country that can be just as violent and provide little for them.

Luiselli claims that due to the trauma the children endured and the lives that await the

children if they return home, they should be considered refugees and granted asylum in the

United States. According to the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, “Refugee status or

asylum may be granted to people who have been persecuted or fear they will be persecuted on

account of race, religion, nationality, and/or membership in a particular social group or political

opinion.” The definition is very clear about the type of people the United States considers worthy

of being granted asylum, unless you are considered a threat. Although these events happened
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after the publication of her book, it is the mentioning of other countries in similar situations that

would have strengthened her argument. For example, as of March 15, Syria has officially been at

war for seven years. There are approximately 5.3 million children in need of humanitarian aid

according to the 2017 Syria Crisis Report by UNICEF. Regardless, a 120 day halt of the U.S.

Refugee Admissions Program that was implemented by the Trump Administration. The

executive order “indefinitely halts admission of one of the most vulnerable groups in the world:

Syrian refugees” and Trump gave no justification to this ongoing ban other than, “I hereby

proclaim that the entry of nationals of Syria as refugees is detrimental to the interests of the

United States...” If the President of the United States views Syria as a problem rather than as

group human beings in need of help, how can it be expected that he act any different towards the

undocumented children fleeing from Latin America. Luiselli simply claims that the children

deserve asylum which is not disputable, but simply stating it is not enough. The problem is that

people today have stopped viewing each other as human, they have been so desensitized by

crime and violence that they have little regard for the well being of others.

In addition, Luiselli’s argument is weakened by the hostility and sarcastic tone with

which she presents herself. Luiselli recalls a web publication with the photograph of protesters

against the arrival of undocumented immigrants in Oracle, Arizona to which she responds with a

belligerent attitude. Luiselli thinks to herself, “Did they pencil in “protest against illegal

immigrants” on their calendars, right next to “mass” and just before “bingo”?” (14). She also

states that some media outlets, “announce[d] the arrival of undocumented children like a biblical

plague” (Luiselli 15). Also, she uses biblical allusions, which are meant to disclose the hypocrisy

with which some attack the undocumented, but to others this can be seen as hostile. She means to
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criticize those who claim religious righteousness but at the same time turn their backs on

thousands of children seeking help and protection. These people do not necessarily view

themselves as religiously righteous, but rather as people simply expressing their opinions and

right to protest. The goal should be to change the mindsets of such people who may act

hypocritical, but instead she drives them away. Although her intent may not have been to offend

those with this point of view, the presentation of her argument was mocking and belittling to the

opposition. In issues as complex as the one of immigration it is important to present yourself

objectively, or at least with respect towards those with an opposing view. By using such a

sarcastic tone Luiselli is introducing a naysayer perspective as trivial. She is mocking the actions

and opinions of those who disagree with her argument, which in turn can be seen as hostile. If

her objective was to humanize undocumented children in the eyes of those who see them as a

threat to American security then her attitude may have cost her that audience.

Ultimately, Luiselli’s claims are not compelling enough to convince a stakeholder to

change their stance on the topic. The ideas held by those opposing the admission of

unaccompanied minors and undocumented people in general stem from values that have been

passed down through generations. As strongly as some may feel in favor of granting asylum,

there will always be people who feel equally as strongly on the opposition. A controversy that

has hundreds of thousands, if not millions, of lives at stake is not one that should be taken

lightly. Therefore, while I agree with Luiselli’s claims, I believe there are components of her

argument that could be improved upon with research done outside of the volunteer work she did.

Examining an issue objectively and giving a naysayer an opportunity to defend their arguments

would strengthen your own if you can rebut them, something Luiselli fails to do. Nonetheless, I
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commend her effort in bringing awareness to the issue and exposing a side of the argument that

is not often heard- that of the children. The conversation is continuous and everyone must inform

themselves and express their concerns. The situation will not be solved overnight but speaking

up against injustice will ensure that each day we are a step closer to improving the lives of all.
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Works Cited

Huerta Tapia, Maristella. “Understanding Migration.” 1 Mar. 2018, Los Altos, Foothill College.

Luiselli, Valeria. ​Tell Me How It Ends: An Essay in 40 Questions​. Coffee House Press, 2017.

Newland, Kathleen, and T. Alexander Aleinikoff. “The U.S. Refugee Resettlement Program Is

an Unsuitable Target.” ​Migrationpolicy.org​, 8 Feb. 2017,

www.migrationpolicy.org/news/refugee-resettlement-program-unsuitable-target.

“Refugees & Asylum.” ​USCIS​, 12 Nov. 2015, www.uscis.gov/humanitarian/refugees-asylum.

“Children of Syria.” ​Save the Children​,

www.savethechildren.org/site/c.8rKLIXMGIpI4E/b.7998857/k.D075/Syria.htm.