Facing The Unexpected In Underground America Narratives of Undocumented Lives, Peter Orner (the editor), tells the stories of twenty-four different undocumented immigrants. Each one had their own unique reasons for coming to America. Albeit their reasoning for coming differed, all were centered around the intention of bettering their lives. Following their arrival, the immigrants found their new lives to be filled with substantially more hardships than they ever imagined was possible. The United States is a melting pot of different ethnicities, cultural backgrounds, and religions. The culture is not derived from one group of people, but is composed from the ideas and beliefs of many. In a country that is so diverse, justice and civil rights for immigrants and people of color should be just as important as for those who are citizens. The editor emphasizes that people often do not expect the harsh reality that they will come to know, and will then struggle to cope with the situations they are facing The experiences that many immigrants go through may appear as though they are fictional due to the severity of their nature. Amongst many others this is shown in Diana’s story. She believed that the U.S. was a country that was concerned about and protected civil rights. After being detained by ICE agents, she learned that the civil rights in America are not what they are thought to be. This is a description she gave about the conditions in which she was made stay, “ The cell was so cold.
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And it smelled. We weren’t able to bathe regularly. They only let us out every two days to wash [....] Once they didn’t let us out to shower for a week” (30). No person should have to live in these conditions. It is inconceivable that an innocent person was not only treated so horribly, but not allowed to do basic activities, such as showering everyday. This depicts the severe struggles that immigrants unexpectedly face when they come to the U.S to better their lives. Another story that portrays the unexpected challenges faced by undocumented immigrants, is Roberto’s. He came to the U.S from Mexico when he was just 14 years old. “I was still so young myself when I started working in the fields-only fifteen or so-but I wasn’t with my family; I was alone. I was lonely, and scared but you have to keep going”( 64). He was afraid, and could have succumbed to these challenges, but did not. Roberto made it through those early struggles, and was faced with even harsher ones as time went on. He just kept moving forward, past the struggles, and past the heartbreak of losing his family. He did this not because he wanted to, but because he had no choice. Similarly, Mr. Lai fled from China after his family broke the one child rule. Once he was there he struggled to find long term work, and moved from place to place. After his boss maliciously attacked him with a cleaver, he lost a considerable portion of the mobility in his hand, and is now unable to work. He has to worry constantly about the money he owes to the loan sharks and about the wellbeing of his wife and children, whom are still in China (54). He planned to bring his wife and children over, but has never been able to get enough money-and now with the
And it smelled. We weren’t able to bathe regularly. They only let us out every two days to wash [....] Once they didn’t let us out to shower for a week” (30). No person should have to live in these conditions. It is inconceivable that an innocent person was not only treated so horribly, but not allowed to do basic activities, such as showering everyday. This depicts the severe struggles that immigrants unexpectedly face when they come to the U.S to better their lives. Another story that portrays the unexpected challenges faced by undocumented immigrants, is Roberto’s. He came to the U.S from Mexico when he was just 14 years old. “I was still so young myself when I started working in the fields-only fifteen or so-but I wasn’t with my family; I was alone. I was lonely, and scared but you have to keep going”( 64). He was afraid, and could have succumbed to these challenges, but did not. Roberto made it through those early struggles, and was faced with even harsher ones as time went on. He just kept moving forward, past the struggles, and past the heartbreak of losing his family. He did this not because he wanted to, but because he had no choice. Similarly, Mr. Lai fled from China after his family broke the one child rule. Once he was there he struggled to find long term work, and moved from place to place. After his boss maliciously attacked him with a cleaver, he lost a considerable portion of the mobility in his hand, and is now unable to work. He has to worry constantly about the money he owes to the loan sharks and about the wellbeing of his wife and children, whom are still in China (54). He planned to bring his wife and children over, but has never been able to get enough money-and now with the