Celebrating Latino heritage

Some would argue that our values are what define us as young adults. Yet others might argue that we are defined by our actions, and yet others would say we are defined by those with whom we associate. To the degree that any of this is true, to what degree are we defined by our heritage or race or creed? If you look close enough, there is beauty in everyone with whom we interact—we simply need to take the time to discover it. I encourage you to discover your own heritage and appreciate the history that comes with being you. It is mainly for this reason that I decided to apply to DukeEngage Miami, which allowed me to enrich myself in the amalgamation of Latino cultures.

This past summer, I had the fortunate opportunity to intern with a nonprofit legal service called Americans for Immigrant Justice. Being bilingual and having gained the trust and confidence of the firm’s legal staff, I was charged with the heavy responsibility of debriefing (interviewing) undocumented minors who had immigrated to the U.S. in hopes of finding a more secure life for themselves. Following my report of each debriefing, it was my responsibility to recommend whether the minors qualified for federal relief and the type of relief for which they might qualify. The process also entailed an effort to understand the complexities of the bureaucratic naturalization process. Given the crushing volume of undocumented children crossing the border, surely it is debatable whether it is just to deport many of the unaccompanied minors back to their homelands following such a harrowing trek. However, what is not debatable are the heartbreaking stories of the multitudes of minors in reaching their new lives and the public misconception surrounding it all. With more than 11 million stories of this kind presently in our country—not simply Latinos, but Asian and black and white individuals alike, it is a social issue that transcends all politics and thinking of our policy makers in its feeble attempt to repair our broken immigration system.

I had the opportunity to interview minors who suffered through seemingly insurmountable odds. One minor who I had the pleasure of interviewing stated that his desire to make passage to America was driven by the idea of attaining a job. In another case, an eldest son, who had been separated from his mother and father during his voyage to America, had claimed that he desired to venture to America for the sole purpose of peace and safety in order to avoid persecution at home. And then there were other interviews of young girls that were consciously assigned to female case workers which were too heart wrenching and personal and unspeakable, according to the paralegal staff. One could only imagine. Yet still there existed a delicate balance between forming a bond of trust with the minor while applying soft interrogation tactics in order to reveal all the background information needed. Moreover, the relationship with the minor was important given that each case needed to be evaluated in order to determine whether the nonprofit legal firm could assist the immigrant clients. As such, there existed great emotional “tug-of-war” associated with providing assistance to only the relatively few cases that ultimately qualified for some form of granted relief. Yet, while it was evident that many heartfelt emotions were shared during the interviews, ironically, some of the minors demonstrated resilient personalities when they came to the interviews, which was truly humbling. Nevertheless, it was extremely difficult to inform many of the minors that their future was uncertain with regards to how political circumstances would unfold.

Thus, in honor of Hispanic Heritage Month and irrespective of documented immigrant status, it is worth noting the beauty of the enduring human spirit that is commonly found in the fiber of each immigrant story in America’s melting pot. The experience epitomizes the embodiment of both humanity’s vulnerability and its resiliency.

Whether you are a Latino or not, I encourage you to take the time to genuinely reflect on the richness of your cultural heritage or perhaps simply ask someone about their heritage in order to enrich your own. While our world may at times be filled with such political and social confusion and misunderstanding, it is worth noting that overcoming cultural barriers is achievable if everyone can simply exercise his or her ability to communicate with one another. Whether a realist or idealist, the first step towards a more united front in addressing any divisive issue similar to immigration begins with communication and empathy. That much is certain.

Michael Courtney is a Trinity sophomore. His guest column is part of a month long series for Hispanic Heritage Month by Mi Gente.