By: Philip Alghazawi, Caitlin Flora, Emily Gilmer
History and Attitude toward Immigration
Immigration is a long, rich, and historically and currently divisive aspect of the history of the United States of America. Thousands of years before the Pilgrims crossed the ocean to settle in America from England, the country’s first ever settlers crossed the strip of land that connected what we now know as Asia to North America during the last Ice Age, and laid down roots in the land that we now know as the United States of America. These first settlers were Native American ancestors of those who were eventually born in America to people who had always been there.
Discourse surrounding acceptance or non-acceptance of people who immigrate to America began long before current ideals surrounding immigration. America’s first anti-immigration group, the Know-Nothing Party, formed in 1849 as a backlash to more and more immigrants from Ireland and Germany coming and settling in the United States. This first immigration boom led to the post-Civil War decision of the Supreme Court that separate states cannot make and enforce their own immigration laws as they had been trying to do after the Civil War ended.
The first act that specifically prevents immigrants from certain countries from coming into the United States came in 1882. It was called the Chinese Exclusion Act, and banned Chinese immigrants from continuing to enter the United States. After this act was passed, a slew of other restrictions followed over time, each one targeting a different demographic of immigrants from different countries of origin, depending on the time period. Yet, despite this, by 1910, an estimated three quarters of the population in New York was made up of immigrants and first-generation Americans.
Over time, different immigration limitations were passed or agreed upon, limiting immigrants from certain countries from coming in to the United States. A more recent example of this was President Trump’s two executive orders issued in 2017 that aimed to curtail travel and immigration into the United States from six countries with a Muslim majority, as well as North Korea and Venezuela. This was challenged in court, but in 2018, the Supreme Court upheld a version of a ban that affected seven of the eight mentioned countries. Prejudice and fear has always caused immigration to be a subject wrought with discourse, and that unfortunately has not seemed to change in the centuries that it has existed.
Despite the negative feelings and laws aimed at immigrants by people who let fear guide their beliefs, America is still a so-called “melting pot” of traditions and people from different backgrounds who connect and still keep traditions from their countries of origin alive. In this podcast, an interview with a child of an immigrant who is also the child of immigrants sheds light on how the current political rhetoric surrounding immigration makes her feel, and which traditions are kept alive from her family’s countries of origin. Up next, interviews with people who have been affected by immigration from multiple angles go in depth to describe the culture behind the process.
Chery Muzia: To Embody Diversity
In this podcast, Cheryl Muzia shares some emotional stories regarding immigration, the differences in culture, and how ethnic diversity is important in her job.
Karey Alghazawi: Building the Foundation For a Brighter Future
Karey stands with his daughter in his home which is under renovation Tuesday, October 15th, 2019. The second picture shows Karey as he makes his lunch.
In this podcast, Karey Alghazawi shares memories of fleeing a war torn country in search of a new beginning in the United States.
Evan Elias: A "Simbol" for Others
Evan poses on the streets of Detroit Sunday, November 24th, 2019. Photo courtesy of Evan's Instagram.
In this podcast, Evan shares his experiences as a young boy bouncing between countries as he flees with his brothers and sisters to the United States.
Allan Bush: Raised from Both Sides
Allan Bush sits at a table in Kresge Library at Oakland University Thursday, November 14, 2019. Allan is currently a senior who will be graduating with a degree in journalism.
In this podcast, Allan talks about what it is like being raised by both an immigrant and non-immigrant parent . He also discusses some of the negative connotations surrounding his mother’s culture and how it has affected his family.