Chapter 13 of the textbook focuses on immigration. When asked to tell my immigration story I was dumbfounded for I realized I know little to nothing about my immigrant ancestors and history! This is when I grabbed my phone to gather any known information from my grandma on my mother's side of the family. After talking with my grandma on the phone the other day, she revealed all that she could remember about our family’s immigration story. Although her thoughts were somewhat scrambled and faded, this is what I obtained from our conversation:


My great great grandpa and other relatives of that time on my mother’s side of the family were from France, England, and Ireland. The majority of them lived in Ireland. Eventually, they traveled to Minnesota where they did not live for long. From Minnesota they moved South to St. Louis, Missouri where then owned much land and were in the boating business. This is where my family resided for years, hence, my mom was born in St. Louis. 

Immigration years ago was much different than immigration in the US today however immigrants were after the same thing: The opportunities our country offers. As mentioned in the textbook, most immigration in the 1900's occurred by boat. I can only imagine the troubles and hardships families must have faced when traveling by boat across oceans for long periods of time. However, they remained persistent, for our country remains a melting pot made up of nearly all immigrants. 

If my ancestors were immigrating today, the process would be costly, lengthly, and difficult to achieve. Although means of transportation have improved and would lessen the travel time, there are many obstacles one must overcome. To enter the US, one must be eligible for an immigration visa. Upon receiving a visa, the waiting process can be as "little" as 3.5 years to up to 9 years. To be eligible for permanent residency in the US, one needs not only their legal visa, but also a green card. To acquire a green card, The US Citizenship and Immigration Services must approve an immigration petition. Following this is normally a wait to receive an immigrant visa number. It is obvious that this process is nothing short of a headache.

Immigration has become somewhat of a sensitive and controversial topic in the US today mainly because of illegal immigration. According to the International Organization for Migration (IOM), it is estimated that 25.5 to 32.1 million people (10%–15%) of the world's total 214 million international immigrants are illegal immigrants. This is an outstanding number of illegal immigrants. This number remains so high for people of developing countries desire nothing more to become a part of a developed country. It is easy to see why such a topic may be controversial. One side of the controversy is from the US citizen point of view where one may be unemployed while there are illegal immigrants taking positions in the work force of the country in which they do not legally reside. There is no doubt about the fact that this is an obtrusive issue when it comes to illegal immigration. On the other hand, it is nothing short of heartbreaking knowing that simple boundaries of God given land separate lives of those who may be impoverished, illiterate, and starving from those who luckily were born onto the US territory and therefore are born with a greater magnitude of opportunities. The issue of illegal immigration is difficult for me to take a firm stance on, for without being in the shoes of the immigrant wishing for a better life, I am not able to fully grasp the hardships in which they face. 

Immigration in general is to be encouraged. For the incorporation of those from surrounding countries will do nothing more than enrich our American culture and aid in further growth and diversification of our melting pot.