On Jan. 28, Donald Trump issued a temporary ban on refugees and citizens coming from Muslim countries. Refugees and Muslim immigrants were stopped and detained at the US border for hours. There was no reason for these people to be detained, apart from the fact that they’re Muslim. This ban was, almost immediately, met with thousands of people speaking up on social media and protesting in front of various US airports.
If you cannot fathom why the huge protest was needed, you probably don’t understand the struggle of coming to a foreign country with nothing.
Although I’m neither American nor Muslim, I am an immigrant, and yesterday’s events were incredibly emotional for me. I was angry because, for the life of me, I couldn’t understand why so many people hated Muslims and immigrants. I couldn’t understand what these people did to be treated in such a horrible way. Then, upon seeing all the people standing up for them, I couldn’t help but smile. Seeing all the pictures and videos of hundreds of people coming to help and support those detained brought tears to my eyes.
My family immigrated to Canada when my brother and I were little kids. My parents gave up their successful lives in Sri Lanka to give our family new opportunities and new experiences. Although I was too young to understand, I know about my brother crying for days because he missed our family and because he couldn’t understand his new teachers. I know about my parents going into depression because they couldn’t handle this new life. I remember living in a tiny apartment that was infested with rats, and, then, living in a basement where all four of us had to share one small bedroom. Now, 13 years later, we’re all happy and successful.
My parents are the most hardworking and caring people I know. They worked tirelessly in dead end jobs, despite being highly educated, to give us a good life. I will be eternally grateful for my family.
Immigrants aren’t job stealers or terrorists, they are simply ordinary people looking for a better life. They do the jobs you don’t want to do, just so they can provide for themselves and their family.
As an immigrant, I was overwhelmed by the huge support towards people like me (though I acknowledge that my experiences are far different than theirs). From someone who understands their struggle, thank you so much to the people who went out of their way to support the people being mistreated by Donald Trump.
