Obama's break

It seems like President Obama has given close to 800,000 children of illegal immigrants, including thousands of Filipinos among them, the break they have all been waiting for. Long paying for the sins of their fathers, or mothers, these children of illegal immigrants, for as long as they have not been involved in any crime whatsoever, will be spared the punishment and embarrassment of deportation. In other words, they can stop TNT-ing. They are now free to live as productive citizens of the United States, and live the American Dream.

The news is indeed a welcome one, especially for those who have been fighting for it ever since. It is not the fault of the children that they have entered the US illegally. They did not have a choice. But sometimes that’s the way life deals its cards. You just have to play them as they lie. For many children, the fear of being caught by US immigration and deported back to their countries of origin and face a life of uncertainty in a country they hardly know, is now over. They can start applying for credit, since they have been living on cash ever since in order to avoid leaving an electronic footprint.

But is the American Dream the same one twenty or even ten years ago? They have stopped hiring nurses, the peso has strengthened considerably, and jobs are still hard to come by in America. It was a totally different scenario ten years ago when nurses were being hired by the planeload! I have many friends who have come back and opted to stay because of the hardships in America. For some, the dream has even turned into a nightmare. Not everyone gets to enjoy the dream.

Not to be confused with citizenship though, is Obama’s order. Only Congress has the right to grant that privilege, and it must be properly earned. All that has been laid on the table is that they will no longer be hunted like foxes. It is a step closer to an American identity. It is a break indeed, especially for those who have been literally running all their lives. Although some say it is Obama’s way of getting the votes he needs for this November’s election. With this move, he may have garnered at least a million votes easy. Everything is political, I guess, especially in an election year for a second term.

I can only hope that for those with this new found freedom, they make good on what has been given them. A prerequisite for availing of such amnesty is that one should not have been involved or charged with any crime. That goes without saying. Why grant this to someone who has no respect for the laws of the land?

For those who have been fighting for the Dream Act to become law, this is definitely a step in the right direction. But they still have to convince those who just see this law as a way to legalize those who have entered the US illegally. There is still a strong “America Only” movement, of which no less than President Obama comes directly under attack from. For now, just relish in the fact that they no longer have to keep looking over their shoulders for the “migra” to come pouncing on them!