America is made of immigrants, first were the English who were then followed by many other Western European Countries in the late 1800's and early 1900's. America was called the “melting pot” due to its diversity of culture and its acceptance of immigrants. In 2009 23.8% of children had at least one immigrant parent. Illegal immigration has been an issue in the United States of lately, but a newer problem with the children of these illegal immigrants has arose. Have you ever thought what happens to the children of these immigrants and what kind of lives they live? Mostly these children have been attending public schools in hopes to blend in and have a normal life.
However these kid’s lifestyle and America’s immigration policy is threatened by a new immigration law in Alabama and other places which requires background checks of students and their parents to confirm U.S. citizenship. This has taken a noticeable toll on Hispanic students that show up to class in these region where the law is active.
The new law does nothing to slow or prevent illegal immigration it only prevents children from getting a decent education and making a contribution to society. Also these immigrants are not affecting the government funding of schools. Most just want a chance of an education in hopes that someday they can use such an education. It seems as if these school districts want to punish the immigrants for coming to the U.S. illegally even though the only people being punished is their children, who for the most part had no choice but to come with their parents. Many disagree with Alabama and these other places.
Susannah Griffee from the Learning Network calls this new law is “unconstitutional.” In the Plyer v. Doe case in 1982 the Supreme Court decided that all children living in the United States have a right to attend public schools, no matter what their immigration status. In other words all children living in the United States should have an equal chance of education no even if one if here legally and the other is not. This ruling gives immigrants a chance to get out of their social class and move up. By denying such children this chance of education the state government is just supporting the vicious cycle of low class families raising children who end up with close to minimum wage jobs due to lack of skill and education.
These oppressed immigrants aren't taking this lightly. The new law has produced protest around the nation. According to ThinkProgress, however these schools have an obligation to enroll these students based on a previous ruling in the Plyler v. Doe case in 1982 and cannot discriminate on race, national origin, or immigration status.
These schools are doing something outright wrong and they have not yet been stopped. Something has to be said and done to help these children have their constitutional rights.
