UNWELCOME HOME: THE STORIES AMERICA FORGOT
Peter Kim, High School Student (Grade 10)
Journalism

This article is the gold key winner of the Scholastic Art & Writing Award.

One wrong move. That’s all it takes for an immigrant to lose everything. In 2010, eight immigration officers banged on Howard Dean Bailey’s front door before sunrise. His children woke up to shouts and confusion as their father—a decorated U.S. Army veteran—was handcuffed in their living room. Howard had lived the American dream: he owned a trucking business, raised two kids, and had passed his citizenship test years earlier. Yet, two years later, he found himself stranded in Jamaica, a place he hadn’t seen since childhood, where he knew no one and struggled to survive. His children cried for him at night; his dream was shattered. For Howard, and for so many others, immigration isn’t just policy—it’s a matter of survival.

Illegal immigration has gained increasing prevalence over the years with the implications of governmental policies being structured around it. Even as early as the 1850s, Chileans migrated in search of economic prosperity in the gold mines across California contributing to gold rushes sprouting across America during the 19th century. In recent years, the focus has shifted to modern immigration policies addressing issues such as border security, asylum seekers, and pathways to citizenship. The Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program, for instance, highlights the connection between humanitarian concerns and legal frameworks. As immigration continues to evolve, its impacts continuously change various sectors of society such as the economic fields and political aspects. However, many native citizens are opposed to immigration due to the belief that the country is at its full capacity (Sassen, 1989). As the number of residents begins to rise in the US, the value of land increases. This can lead to housing being limited and more expensive for both immigrants and natives. On the other hand, the effects of immigrants towards infrastructure can be seen as a negative to try and put an end to immigration into the United States. This is due to the fact that the installment of borders is very expensive, taking money away from other valuable economic resources. Studies have shown that the United States federal government puts more money into border enforcement and security than any other law. The impact of Latin American immigration on the United States has many sides to its politics, affecting from law enforcement to national immigration policies. For example, Farris, E. M., & Holman, M. R. (2017) shows how county sheriff’s decisions in immigration enforcement are affected by local political climates and demographics. This highlights the complicated cooperation between immigration and politics at various levels of government.

Although it is seen that the prevention of immigrants has had a relatively negative effect on our country’s economic status, it is taken into consideration that they could be bringing along poor institutions and culture with them from their home country (Clark et al. 2015, p.2). If an immigrant has grown up in a periphery country their whole life, there may be certain cultural differences between the immigrant and their new community that may be difficult to rebuild when moving to a new area. This leads to immigrants instead taking these same qualities and implementing them into the country, causing fear that it may lead to poor economic institutions. Due to the US government’s desire to keep immigration from Latin America at an all-time low, it has implemented extensive border control. This comes in ways such as hundreds of officers monitoring the border and installing physical barriers. During the COVID pandemic, many Latin Americans, mainly from Mexico, looked to flee to the US due to widespread restrictions and economic problems (Hanson, et al, 2023, pg. 7).

People in governance have been experimenting with creating their own immigration laws. Boushey and Luedtke (2011) argue that the increasing demographic impact of immigration has transformed the U.S into a federal laboratory. This decentralization of immigration policy making has led to a lot of legislative answers across different states, potentially damaging the national immigration strategies. Farris and Holman (2017), affiliated with Texas Christian University and Tulane University, maintain a political science framework that examines how law enforcement decisions are influenced by a combination of local factors and broader state level climates. This shows how law enforcement can often affect immigration as it may show bias/discrimination towards immigrants which then affects the immigration policies. The political trend is further explained by a study on county sheriffs’ participation in immigration enforcement programs. They have also collected qualitative data from sheriffs and their staff to gain more insight into the decision-making processes for immigration policies. The study conducted indicates how law enforcement infrastructure has been changed to handle immigration enforcement, showcasing the reach of these changes down to the county level from a political point of view. The growing Latin American population has also wanted adjustments/changes in political representation structure. These infrastructural changes have demonstrated the impacts of Latin American immigration on the structure of the U.S governance and are still continually changing to this day.

Furthermore the increasing population of Latin American immigrants entering the United States is evident in the more than 24,000 cases of successful individuals who have immigrated in the last decade (Amuedo-Dorantes & Pozo, 2014). These rising numbers have caused concern over the standard of living for those residing within the US, placing the infrastructure of states predominantly bordering the Latin American world under stress (Beaumier T., 2015). The gradual introduction of measures for the purpose of regulation has been prominent following the heightening of immigration, as a result of both precursory and recent cases (Hing, B. O., 2014). The relationship between the process of immigration and infrastructure in the measures is found within the numerous shelters and centers, inhabiting immigrants and the concerns over their proceedings is attributed to moral discussion. According to Mathias Risse, a professor in immigration and international affairs at Harvard University, subsequent to these measures, the infrastructural importance of immigration has been increasingly relevant, assessing on the treatment of both immigrants and the structure of the US (M. Risse, 2008). Furthermore deportation systems such as ICE often separates families, leaving children without their parents and creating lasting emotional trauma. This is particularly troubling in cases involving long-term residents or individuals, like Howard Dean Bailey, who have contributed to society but are deported due to minor legal infractions or bureaucratic errors. Critics argue that such systems prioritize enforcement over compassion, treating people as statistics rather than human beings with dignity and rights. Additionally, the targeting of vulnerable populations, such as asylum seekers and undocumented workers, often disproportionately impacts marginalized communities, amplifying systemic inequities. The lack of transparency and accountability within ICE has further fueled allegations of abuse and unethical practices, such as inhumane detention conditions. Balancing national security with ethical responsibility requires reforming deportation systems to focus on fairness, due process, and pathways to integration rather than punishment and exclusion.

Now, Howard Dean Bailey works on his pig farm off the coast of Jamaica struggling to make a living in his day to day life. In conclusion, immigration remains a multifaceted issue with profound implications for the United States. From the personal stories of individuals like Howard Dean Bailey to the broader economic, political, and infrastructural impacts, the complexities of immigration continue to shape the nation. While concerns about cultural integration and economic strain drive calls for stringent border controls, the benefits of immigration—such as contributions to economic growth and cultural diversity—are equally significant. The interplay between local and national policies highlights the challenges of creating a cohesive immigration strategy, as varying political climates and demographic changes influence enforcement and governance at all levels. As the United States grapples with these challenges, it becomes evident that the deportation system such as ICE must be refined to balance the security while also keeping ethicality into consideration.