The Immigration Dilemma

During the week of the 24th of March, in the University of Puerto Rico, Rio Piedras Campus, the Student Interventions in General Studies: Interdisciplinary Project and Creative Initiatives was held by the English Department of the campus. The conference was divided into panels which had different topics respectively. I had the privilege of attending a panel the second day of the conference. Said panel was titled “Immigration and Puerto Rico Today”. 

The panel was presented by two Dominical girls who told their perspective on immigration specifically on immigration to the island, Puerto Rico. The two students spoke about how immigration is a reality we are facing today and that we might not be aware of. It has become a controversial problem in our society and the Dominican girls have to face it daily. These girls moved here looking for a better way of living yet they face xenophobia on a daily basis. One of the students shared her experience in a beauty pageant where she decided to represent Puerto Rico. Nevertheless, she didn’t win because, like one judge told her, she was Dominican. This situation gravely shows how present xenophobia is in our society and how it affects the outcome of daily situations. With this example the girls were able to make their point. They wanted and achieved to send a message about the immigration issue from the point of view of immigrants and make us, non immigrants, aware on how harmful xenophobia can be.

I admire the courage it took for them to speak about such a sensitive topic in front of so many people. They were taking intensive English and it seemed like they have been speaking English for so much longer than they really had. This was a very interesting panel that carried a much needed message.