I began to see how people on both sides of the immigration issue were being impacted and how much more we had in common than I originally thought . I started to feel hope and understanding for the first time .
fact , I realized that I too had subconsciously dehumanized and criminalington , D . C ., think tank , said during
for Immigration Studies , a Washized those who opposed my views , our interview , “ NAFTA only got a and , as a result , was quite terrified to sufficient number of Republican votes get to know them . However , I wanted in Congress because it was explicitly to give myself and this issue the opportunity for growth . sure . Supposedly , it would create jobs
sold as an immigration control mea-
It took me a while to adapt , for people in Mexico so they wouldn ’ t however , story by story , it started to come to the U . S . It ’ s the only reason NAFTA passed , so NAFTA is an happen . I began to see how people on both sides of the immigration issue immigration law , for all intents and were being impacted and how much purposes . The problem is that any more we had in common than I originally thought . I started to feel hope to create more migration pressure in
measure like that is inevitably going
and understanding for the first time . the short and medium term .” I would hear stories about how
At the same time , an “ opposing ” think tank , Immigration Policy employers would decrease the hours of citizens to part-time and hire
Center , re-enforced the statement . undocumented workers for the same “ When we are looking at trade , when positions at full-time hours , paying them half of what their citizen we need to be thinking about what
we are looking at our foreign relations
counterparts had previously earned . is the migration impact of this ? What In addition , the employers would not effect is this going to have on people ? provide overtime , health benefits , Is it going to force people to leave that or pensions to the undocumented country ? And if so , maybe we need to workers , while at the same time they rethink that policy .” negated those benefits to citizens
Due to NAFTA , the top 100 multinational corporations increased their because they were now part-time . The working class , regardless of race assets by 697 percent . At the same or legal status , was being exploited by time employment in these corporations went down , partly because the employer . As I continued to hear more diverse stories and participate in other tion . Multinational corporations em-
workers were replaced by automa-
immigration events , I realized how ploy only . 78 percent of the world ’ s limited my view had been , and more workforce . Small family businesses , importantly , I saw how I had been not able to compete with huge corporations ’ mass production of goods and focused on the symptoms of immigration , not the root problem where all low prices were forced to shut down . the arguing was taking place .
People experiencing job loss Mark Krikorian with the Center chose to migrate to developed countries where they believed more opportunities existed , according to authors Gary Hytrek and Kristine M . Zentgraf in their book , America Transformed : Globalization , Inequality , and Power .
After connecting the stories from my very direct experience , I began to feel and get a keen sense of our interconnection as human beings and the impact immigration is having on all of our lives . I found my love , justice , and compassion naturally extending to all those who were being hurt , impacted , and wrongly treated , regardless of their race or legal status . I believe we ’ re all trying to achieve our maximum potential , and if there is something I can do to help another fellow human do that , I will .
As for the immigration paradox we face , I believe if we can begin to transform the way we see and communicate with one another , it is possible to stop assuming , generalizing , and letting third parties influence us with their fear , anger and hate . Seeing the bigger picture of our shared humanity will allow us to focus on the root problems and use our time , resources , and energy more wisely . We owe it to ourselves to work together to create the world we would like to live in .
Lourdes Lee Vasquez was born in Mexico City to two doctors and raised in the United States by a single mother as a low income immigrant . This experience has enabled her to deeply analyze collective and individualistic cultures as well as different socioeconomic classes . It also allows her to navigate freely through different world views giving her a broader picture of reality and our interconnectedness . For private viewing of her documentary , The Immigration Paradox , go to www . tipmovie . com . For public or educational viewings and never before seen footage , fill out an inquiry online , and you will be contacted shortly when public licenses become available .
14 IMAGINE l SPRING 2016