Summary of Family Separation and Zero Tolerance at the Border
Richard Gonzales and Camila Domonoske explain that Trump administration’s new immigration strategy has caused the separation of children from their parents. They, however, mention that the high numbers of separated children prompted President Trump to replace the policy with that of detaining all the family members though it does not outline the time limit for minor detention. The authors also provide the history of the separating families’ program stating that it started with the US Attorney General Jeff Sessions instructing border prosecutors to address illegal border crossing with a zero-tolerance policy. Furthermore, they inform that separated children are taken to Customs, and Border Protection facilities, immigrant shelters and later placed with family members or sponsors. Generally, Trump’s administration disregards laws concerning the treatment of migrant children that requires the children to be kept in free environments.
Summary of ICE Raids Reopen Old Wounds for Families in this Small Town
The article narrates the experiences of Maria Mendoza, an undocumented immigrant from Mexico who had worked for 12 years in the Marshalltown meatpacking plant. Mendoza recalls how officers from Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) invaded the factory to deport immigrants. She explains that the agents had been ordered to conduct the deportation by the Homeland Security department which claimed that some of the workers had secured employment by using names and Social Security numbers of legal citizens and residents. She also reveals that the raid saw the deportation of almost 100 employees. Overall, tensions still exist between meatpacking plants and workers because the factories knew about the raids but failed to alert their employees.
Summary of Then Came the War
Yuri Kochiyama provides her childhood experiences in San Pedro, a city that was dominated by whites. She explains that she first encountered racism in her job searching shortly after completing junior college and luckily landed employment at a department store. Yuri also describes the December 7 Pearl Harbor bombing, which interfered with their peaceful life beginning with the abduction of their father who had just came from the hospital after undergoing surgery. She narrates how his father was tortured by the American Merchant Marines who had devoted their efforts in evacuating Japanese from the coast. Generally, Yuri reveals the hostility of Americans towards Japanese since the latter were thought to be responsible for the bombing.
Summary of Internment of Japanese and Japanese Americans
The chapter discusses the arrival of Japanese immigrants who worked in the agricultural sector in Hawaii and California. It explains that most of the Japanese ended up becoming landowners causing competition between them and their former employers and the latter demanding for passage of laws that would prevent foreigners from acquiring land. Eradicating competition became easier following the attack on Pearl Harbor by the Japanese navy leading to President Roosevelt ordering Japanese families to be detained. The families were placed in internment camps with the US government using its being with war with Japan as justification for the act.
Summary of It’s Bigger than the Ban
The audio involves two hosts of Code Switch, Shereen Meraji and Gene Demby discussing the Muslim ban case which will determine whether America is constitutionally right to prohibit people from entering the country. Meraji explains that the case has increased discrimination against Muslims in the US, especially after an article by Fox News, portrayed Islam to be responsible for the stoning of a young couple in Afghanistan. The audio informs that Muslim children are bullied in schools and labelled as terrorists. Generally, Muslims are perceived as a threat to America.
Summary of Unwanted
Brown shows the risks that refugees face in an attempt to save their lives which include exhaustion and starvation. He explains that circumstances force them to face the unknown, hoping that host countries will offer them solace. He, however, shows that most countries are not welcoming and chaos emerges in the neighbouring countries due to the vast numbers of war victims. Generally, Brown shows how host countries almost overlook refugees due to rising cost of aid.
The connection across the Materials
The materials address racism and discrimination of minority groups in society. They show how discrimination affects people’s lives, for instance, through being denied employment and causing family separation. They also reveal how the government ignores the injustices committed to the minority. Generally, the materials reveal that racism has deep roots in American history, and it is almost impossible to eradicate the vice.
- What is the role of the government in addressing racial discrimination?
- What is the role of citizens in ensuring equality and justice in society?