The trouble with “Mass Deportation”: What Does it Mean?
By
Lear Matthews
Most people who emigrate from their homeland to North America, Europe and other parts of what is referred to as the “developed world”, are influenced to do so by myriad “push” / “pull” factors. The vast majority are decent and law-abiding. They anticipate better economic, healthcare and political conditions and perhaps to be “accepted” in the new environment. For many, these expectations have been met with some disappointment and partial fulfillment of the elusive “dream”. Others have had resounding success in various areas of their life. Some may also plan to return to the home country on their own volition, but the majority have made the resettlement a permanent experience. For Guyanese immigrants, having come from a country where people of East Indian and African ancestry have enjoyed “majority status” at one time or other in the homeland, their new racialized identity and ethnic casting as a “marginalized” or “minority group” in their adopted home (such as the USA, England or Canada) is a stark reality that does not escape them.
They often expand their level of formal education and training and accept jobs they are unlikely to do at home, enduring varying levels of exploitation and discrimination. The underbelly of this reality has been exposed, particularly in the U.S.A. during the COVID-19 pandemic, by the brutal facts about economic and health disparities in comparable “communities of color”. Preoccupied with anticipated improved post-migration economic health, many immigrants downplay the consequences of transmigration on mental health, including the consequences of family separation and adjustment problems. Although not often openly discussed is the experience of Guyanese immigrants of Portuguese, Indigenous, and Chinese ancestry who also, on occasion, confront acts of discrimination and prejudice in their sojourn in the country of settlement.
The recent United States Presidential elections reveal an interesting and disturbing reality about our “transnational” immigrant existence. The term “mass deportation,” though not clearly defined, has been used to describe an unspecified mechanism/strategy of booting out an arbitrary “mass” of persons seeking asylum in the US. Other terms such as “illegal migrants,”; “undocumented immigrants,” “foreigners,” “Illegal Aliens,” “zero tolerance,” and a blanket statement about “those who commit crimes” have long been indiscreetly used before and during this election season to describe a yet to be defined swath of immigrants and their offspring, whether they were born in the US or emigrated from their respective “home country.” Ah! But are documented immigrants, including “Green Card Holders” and those who became “Naturalized Citizens,” really exempt from the vitriol, perception, and potential intended “deportation sweep”? Does the label only apply to those “waiting at the border”? I believe these questions warrant consideration in light of the potential radical changes. Particularly when some incoming players in the new administration seem to have no intention of abiding by established US Immigration Laws – a disconcerting position. The trouble with so-called “Mass Deportation” (the mechanics of a process not clearly defined) is that some of the folks who may be targeted for deportation would have been residing in the US for decades, making this land their home. It is also erroneously viewed by some as primarily an “Hispanic problem”, while not considering the economic impact. Does it include “Dreamers”? They would be separated and sent to a country they do not know. Such restrictive immigration policy has not been seen since the 1940s. What will be the pushback? The day after the 2024 elections, my neighbor, an immigrant from Guatemala and a management consultant, said: “This morning, I shed a tear for America.” I close with an interesting dilemma for recent immigrants. It appears as though many are caught in a contradictory situation between opportunity and restriction, i.e., seeking life chances in good faith only to become transnational pawns in a perpetual political storm.
Dr. Lear Matthews is a Professor Emeritus at SUNY Empire State College, specializing in social work, migration, and diaspora studies. His research focuses on the experiences of Caribbean immigrants and explores issues of identity, adaptation, and mental health among migrant communities. Dr. Matthews has authored numerous publications on transnational migration and the cultural dynamics of Caribbean diasporas. A respected community advocate, he frequently contributes insights on immigration and social justice to public discussions and is active in initiatives supporting immigrant integration and cultural preservation.
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