Empowering Immigrant Voices: The Struggle for Inclusive Democracy in America

Abstract

Instructor’s Name Sayu Bhojwani is an outspoken immigrant who traveled to America at 17 with a dream of economic and educational prosperity. America is the largest democracy, and enjoying a cake from the great nation is rare privilege immigrants are accorded. Unfortunately, the American democracy proved tedious to accept them fully as part of the American society. Immigrants fear missing out on the table in contributing to the American system, and Americans fear the immigrants might replace them and phase them out of the table. Immigrants face the scrutiny of skin color, religion, nationality, or ethnicity. American leadership does not offer equal opportunities and adequate representation in American democracy. Sayu laments that they have come as immigrants to contribute to public service, and their voice, votes, and vantage points matter in enhancing an inclusive democracy. Including Latinos, Asian Americans, and people of color in leadership is a stepping stone for financial stability and a better democracy. It gives them a chance to fight for their people and opens opportunities they lack as Immigrants. Sayu has fought to be in America and her contribution to public service, yet America is not willing to embrace them fully. The politics of immigrants are scary, making it very unfortunate for them to live in America. Life with the police is scary, and they are never at peace for fear of encountering fierce authorities. Politics and governance are intertwined in creating a tedious environment for immigrants in the United States. Many factors hinder the democratic processes of immigrants in American society. Power and authority play a significant role in shaping the dynamics of a country. The voice of the immigrants has been trampled in the name of democracy. The federal government constitutionally scrutinizes what aliens are to be admitted to the United States, the period they remain, the regulation of conduct before naturalization, and the terms and conditions after naturalization (Neuman 2010). The government has stringent policies that restrain immigrants stay in the US. The United States immigration policy is greatly infused with various party politics. Politics has always termed undocumented immigrants as a drain of national resources, but experience shows a positive benefit for both the documented and undocumented immigrants. According to Phillipe Legrain, in her book “Immigrants: Your Country Needs Them," the free movement of people is beneficial just as the free movement of goods and capital. The United States is a country with a remarkable economy, advocates for international trade and free flow of capital but is spending its energy on a fight against immigration. Terrorism is a touchstone that exists regarding immigration reforms, and politics are giving it a twisted dimension. The 2001 and 2011 attacks have been linked to being perpetrated by immigrants. Immigrants have since then faced the brutality of police and fear of confrontation in workplaces and their stay as aliens. The 2011 attack showed the entry of immigrants via legal means, yet politicians have never stopped linking homeland security and border controls. The attack has since been used as an intimidation tool against immigrant workers affecting their contribution to public service. Political attempts to paint immigrants as criminals and terrorists deny them justice for working peacefully in America. Immigration has political standing in the US and is an emanating factor in every election with different opts for the Republicans and the Democrats. The problem of immigration is a political matter, and the debate on its legislation is overwhelming because of the difference in political affiliations. The states have different laws on immigration, and it clearly shows that immigrants are not fully welcomed with open arms in the United States. The special interest groups and lobbying have become a threat to American democracy. This factor has made it difficult for the American government to...