Puerto Rico Day at the University of Louisville

I really enjoyed the Puerto Rican Poetry from Pedro Pietri “The Puerto Rican Obituary” and the “Spanglish National Anthem(1993).”  I thought it was very funny and powerful dealing with issues concerning: immigration, refugees, asylees, and illegals in the United States.   To me, it is about the difference between the Ideal of America and the reality in America.  The Ideal of America is the streets are paved with gold; everyone is rich, equal opportunity everywhere, no struggle, no pain, salvation, and America the Savior.  The reality of America is cement roads, 2% of Americans are rich, a large poor class, starving children, opportunity awaits, institutionalized discrimination may block access, and the challenging journey living in America.   The journey is well-worth the challenge. The poems explain how new immigrants have collapsed into the reality in America and many have committed suicide, or died attempting to overcome all those obstacles.  On March 28, we celebrate Puerto Rican Day at the University of Louisville with the Puerto Rico Flags and marching throughout the Belknap Campus shouting:  “Viva en Puerto Rico” (Live in Puerto Rico). 

                In my Spanish Class, I discussed our work in Louisville Intercultural Engaged Project and the difficult journey in assimilation in American Culture.  A classmate asked, “Just how hard is it to come to America?”  I heard classmates talking about the long list for VISAs.  The fact is the journey to America isn’t very easy, because you must qualify for immigration, refugee, or asylees status.   You may enter the country illegally, but thousands have died crossing through the deserts in Texas.  Basically they are not prepared for the scorching heat, dehydration, inadequate clothing, and walking miles to the nearest town.  Many make it and that’s why people attempt it every year.   Many families in civil war infested countries are placed in refugee camps for years waiting for access to the United States.  In the Louisville Intercultural Engaged Theatre Project, our community based arts class work with refugees from Africa, Iraq, Thailand, Cuba, and much more.  I interviewed an individual who has lived in the United States for 5 months, but his family has been living in a Kenya Refugee Camp for the last seven years.  America’s Immigration System is a preferential selection system for family members of the United States Citizens, foreign US Employees, needed work skills, individuals who have the wealth to start businesses and employ US Citizens, and a few other categories.  According to the United States Homeland Security 2012 Report, the Annual Flow Report:  U. S. Legal Permanent Residents 2012:

1,031,631 persons became a Legal Permanent Resident,

226,000 to 480,000 for Family Sponsored Preference,

140,000 for employment based preference plus any unused visas in the family sponsored preferences, 76,000 refugees and asylees combined,

and 3,500 for diversity immigrants visa program                                                                                                                 (Yankay and Monger 1)

Answering that classmate’s question, it is not easy to legally enter the United States.  It makes me question: What can be done to help facilitate new immigrants?  What can be done for giving them more assistance?  What can be done to speed up the Refugee Process?  How can we open our doors to allow countries access to the United States Immigration System?  The Puerto Rican Day March was empowering walking throughout campus and feeling fatigue from the heavy bookbag on my back. The fatigue doesn't compare to long journey many have taken for arriving at our shores.  I am grateful for this opportunity to learn about hispanic cultures and activism. I looking forward to participate in so much more.  If you would like to check out the full article on the statistics, it may be accessed at:  “Annual Flow Report 2013: U.S. Legal Permanent Residents: 2012.”  Office of Immigration Statistics at the United States Homeland Security @March 2013  written by Randall Monger and James Yankay.