Introduction
Author’s Background and Policies Impacting Latinx and Immigrant Populations
Author’s Background
The author of “The Undocumented Americans,” Karla Cornejo Villavicencio, presents a distinct viewpoint influenced by her encounters as an illegal immigrant. As a young child, Villavicencio immigrated to the United States from Ecuador. Her experience navigating the American educational system and eventually enrolling at Harvard University is characterized by the difficulties and complications of living without legal status. Her work is greatly influenced by her personal experiences, which offer an honest and compassionate perspective on the tales of other undocumented immigrants. Her experience as an illegal immigrant has a significant impact on how she represents the Latinx community, giving her story more depth and legitimacy.
New York Policies in the 1980s and 1990s
Several measures implemented in New York in the 1980s and 1990s significantly affected the city’s Latinx and immigrant communities. These restrictions limiting undocumented immigrants’ access to public services and education, as well as local law enforcement’s cooperation with federal immigration officials, generally reflected the broader national attitude toward immigration (Krieger et al., 2020). In his book, Villavicencio discusses these regulations and shows how they affected Latinx immigrants’ experiences and lives in New York, frequently erecting obstacles to integration and raising their risk of deportation.
Arizona SB 1070
The “Support Our Law Enforcement and Safe Neighborhoods Act,” or Arizona SB 1070, was a contentious immigration bill approved in Arizona in 2010. Since it allowed police to ascertain an individual’s immigration status when there was a “reasonable suspicion” that they were not lawful in the United States, it was heavily criticized for having the potential to result in racial profiling (Walsdorf et al., 2019). Villavicencio talks about the law’s significant effects on the Latinx community, illustrating the anxiety and uncertainty that immigrants—both those with documentation and those without—were left with as a result of it.
Interview Subjects from Chapter 1
Readers are introduced to several people whose lives have been directly impacted by these policies in Chapter 1 by Villavicencio. She draws attention to political and legal actions’ effects on people via their tales. The impact of regulations such as Arizona SB 1070 and numerous state policies in New York is further illustrated by these accounts, which offer a window into the everyday hardships, concerns, and resiliency of the Latinx immigrant population (Abreu et al., 2021).
The 9/11 Health & Compensation Act, ICE & DHS, and Policies Impacting Latinx Laborers
The 9/11 Health & Compensation Act and Latinx Laborers
A crucial piece of legislation, the 9/11 Health and Compensation Act, often known as the James Zadroga Act, was created to provide health benefits and compensation to those impacted by the September 11 attacks (Cheney et al., 2022). But as “The Undocumented Americans” by Karla Cornejo Villavicencio notes, this measure has complicated ramifications for Latinx workers, especially those who are not legally recognized. Numerous workers were instrumental in the incident’s aftermath, taking part in dangerous and taxing cleanup efforts at Ground Zero. Despite their accomplishments, individuals were frequently denied access to the healthcare and compensation benefits made possible by the legislation because of their unauthorized status. This exclusion emphasizes a larger story of the marginalization and invisibility that undocumented workers experience, especially in circumstances when their work is crucial.
The Role of ICE and DHS According to the Author
The book explores the increased responsibilities that the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) have after the 9/11 attacks. In discussing the stepped-up enforcement operations taken by these agencies, Villavicencio highlights the significant effects these activities had on the Latinx and immigrant populations (Waldorf et al., 2019). Because ICE and DHS activities frequently resulted in a rise in deportations and family separations, the author depicts a society living in heightened dread and distrust. Villavicencio contends that this increased the vulnerability of many Latinx people by fostering a climate of continual worry and uncertainty.
Gov. George Pataki’s Policy and the September 11th Victim Compensation Fund
Regarding page 41, Villavicencio discusses Governor George Pataki’s policy and the particular legislative actions that further disenfranchised illegal people (Abreu et al., 2021). This policy, like others, is a reflection of the structural obstacles that many people faced while trying to get essential supplies. The September 11th Victim Compensation Fund, which aims to offer monetary support to the 9/11 victims and their relatives, also examined its accessibility to the Latinx community (Walsdorf et al., 2019). The author highlights the difficulties undocumented Latinx people have obtaining these benefits, frequently because of their immigration status, highlighting the glaring inequality in how this population is treated.
Interview Subjects from Chapter 2
The accounts of the interview respondents in Chapter 2 highlight the practical consequences of these policies. Their stories demonstrate the systematic neglect and marginalization they experienced in addition to the psychological and physical toll of their engagement in the aftermath of 9/11 (Abreu et al., 2021). Through their ability to transcend abstract policy analysis and highlight the individual hardships and tenacity of the Latinx community in the face of adversity, these narratives help to personalize the larger conversation.
Affordable Care Act, Alternative Medicine, TPS, and the Cuban Adjustment Act: Impacts on Latinx Residents
Effects of Repealing the Affordable Care Act on Latinx Residents of Miami
In “The Undocumented Americans,” Karla Cornejo Villavicencio addresses the possible effects of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) repeal on Miami’s Latinx community on page 61 (Aguilar, 2019). Obamacare, also known as the Affordable Care Act (ACA), significantly increased access to healthcare for all Americans, including many members of the Latinx population (Cadenas & Kiehne, 2021). Villavicencio notes that this group would be disproportionately impacted by its repeal, which would eliminate essential healthcare coverage and exacerbate already-existing health inequities. The author focuses on how many Latinx residents—especially those without legal status—would be left in a dangerous situation if the ACA benefits were to disappear, having to deal with the problems of both prohibitively high healthcare prices and restricted access to medical treatment.
Alternative Medicines Used by Interview Subjects
Besides, Villavicencio explores the usage of complementary and alternative medicine in the Latinx community, focusing on the individuals she interviewed. These people typically resort to traditional treatments and practices because they cannot access mainstream healthcare because of financial constraints, legal issues, or cultural norms. The book emphasizes customary practices such as consulting with traditional healers (curanderos), herbal medications, and home cures (Abreu et al., 2021). Not only are these alternative healthcare philosophies a question of personal choice, but they are sometimes made necessary by the fact that illegal immigrants cannot obtain mainstream medical treatment.
Temporary Protected Status (TPS)
Villavicencio also discusses Temporary Protected Status (TPS), another important subject. TPS provides citizens of specific countries with issues like continuous armed conflict or natural catastrophes with a reprieve from deportation and the right to work in the United States. The author talks about how TPS could be more precise and last for a short while, leaving recipients unclear about their future in the country and unable to make long-term plans or settle down ultimately (Aguilar, 2019).
Cuban Adjustment Act (1966) and Its Analysis
Villavicencio presents a critical analysis of the Cuban Adjustment Act of 1966. This Act granted permanent resident rights to newly arrived Cuban immigrants in the United States after a year, a luxury not given to other immigrants from Latin America. She draws attention to the differences and apparent injustices in U.S. immigration policy by contrasting this approach with the more severe treatment of other Latinx immigrants (Cadenas & Kiehne, 2021). This research draws attention to the various political factors and historical settings that have influenced American immigration policy and frequently resulted in the unequal treatment of immigrant groups from other nations.
Flint Water Crisis, Michigan’s State ID Law, and DACA: The Author’s Perspective
The Water Crisis in Flint, Michigan
In “The Undocumented Americans,” Karla Cornejo Villavicencio depicts the Flint, Michigan, water crisis in Chapter 4. Lead pollution started in 2014 when the city switched to the Flint River as its water supply without the necessary treatment (Walsdorf et al., 2019). Villavicencio emphasizes how underprivileged people, such as inhabitants of Latinx neighbourhoods and undocumented immigrants, were disproportionately affected by this public health catastrophe. Due to their fear of deportation, these groups faced particular difficulties, including language issues and limited access to the government’s supply of safe bottled water. The author draws attention to the profound mistrust this crisis, especially among immigrant groups, sowed in government institutions.
Michigan’s State ID Law
Villavicencio addresses Michigan’s state I.D. law, which posed serious challenges for unauthorized immigrants, on page 107. The law effectively excluded unauthorized individuals by requiring proof of legal status to get a state identity card. Many could not do fundamental chores because of this condition, such as signing a lease, opening a bank account, or gaining access to services requiring formal identification. This law, according to the author, further marginalizes the undocumented group, increases their susceptibility to exploitation, and hinders their capacity to assimilate into society.
DACA and the Role of Immigrant Children
In Villavicencio’s story, the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program is another central theme. She talks about how DACA, which gives young immigrants brought to the U.S. as children temporary protection from deportation and the opportunity to work legally, is an important program. But the author also emphasizes how unstable DACA is, vulnerable to judicial challenges and political shifts (Sanchez et al., 2022). According to Villavicencio, immigrant children play essential responsibilities in their families and communities. They frequently act as cultural bridges and are responsible for their families’ financial and emotional well-being. Through these stories, the author highlights the young people’s autonomy and resiliency in the face of uncertainty and difficulties related to their immigrant status.
Political Asylum, Legal Framework, and the Lives of Mixed-Status Families
Political Asylum in ‘The Undocumented Americans’
Karla Cornejo Villavicencio addresses the problematic and sometimes terrifying process of applying for political Asylum in Chapter 5. According to her, Asylum is a legal safeguard offered to anyone who can demonstrate they were persecuted in their own countries and had to flee. According to the author, asylum seekers have several obstacles, such as navigating a complicated legal system and presenting convincing proof of persecution, which might be complex tasks (Walsdorf et al., 2019).
Role of Attorneys, Courts, Judges, and Religious Institutions
Villavicencio emphasizes how important it is for lawyers, judges, tribunals, and religious organizations to be involved in the asylum process. Attorneys are essential in helping candidates navigate complex legal procedures and present a strong case. Decisions in these situations might vary significantly since they frequently rely on the judges’ judgment and the courts’ structure (Corral, 2023). Religious organizations are portrayed as vital support networks offering practical assistance like legal counsel, shelter, and spiritual and emotional support.
ITIN Numbers and Mixed-Status Families
As mentioned on page 137, an Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN) is a tax processing number provided by the IRS to those who must possess a U.S. taxpayer identification number but do not own or are ineligible for a Social Security number. ITINs illustrate the contradiction of illegal immigrants’ economic contribution to a society that refuses to recognize them legally by enabling them to comply with tax regulations (Abreu et al., 2021). Villavicencio also explores the dynamics of families with mixed immigration statuses, in which family members hold distinct immigration statuses. She exposes the intricacies and psychological pressures these families face via interviews, as they frequently live in continuous fear of being split up because of their legal situations.
Author’s Advice to Latinx Children and Her Perspectives
The author often guides Latinx kids in overcoming obstacles while promoting resiliency and self-advocacy. She offers a nuanced perspective on the relationship between immigration, youth, and identity as she considers the value of preserving cultural identity and overcoming the social obstacles that Latinx children encounter in the United States.
Challenges Faced by Older Latinx Americans and Immigrants
Healthcare Access and Medical Needs
Access to healthcare is one of the most critical issues for older Latinx immigrants. Their medical demands often rise as they age, yet many lack health insurance owing to their unauthorized status. This circumstance frequently results in delayed or skipped medical care, increasing pre-existing health concerns. Villavicencio emphasizes this group’s reliance on overloaded free clinics or avoidance of medical care for fear of deportation (Walsdorf et al., 2019).
Economic Hardship and Job Insecurity
Economic insecurity is another primary concern for older Latinx immigrants. Many people have worked in low-wage, physically demanding occupations without retirement planning or social security. This economic insecurity frequently leads to a dependency on family or community assistance, with few prospects for financial independence in their older years.
Conclusion
“The Undocumented Americans” by Karla Cornejo Villavicencio provides a vital and sympathetic look at the lives of undocumented Latinx people in the United States. From the young to the elderly, this book explores the numerous obstacles individuals encounter due to regulations, cultural attitudes, and their illegal status. Villavicencio’s story highlights their challenges and tenacity and advocates for a better understanding and appreciation of their achievements and humanity. This term paper attempted to encapsulate the essence of these experiences while commenting on the complexities and depth of the undocumented Latinx lifestyle in the United States.
References
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