By Mimi Pollack
LA MESA, California — With the wave of immigrants arriving at the border clamoring to be let in, I have been thinking a lot about immigration. As a retired English-as-a-Second-Language (ESL) teacher, immigration stories have been part of my narrative for many years and through many administrations.
When Trump was in power, the border was basically closed, refugees and asylees had to wait in Mexico until their case was heard and that was a very long, inhumane process. In addition, many mothers were separated from their children. It seems like now the pendulum has swung from one extreme to another. Do I agree with all the adults and unaccompanied minors rushing the border? It is creating unmanageable chaos and confusion. However, I do understand why this is happening. America is viewed as a safe haven for so many whose own countries or lives are in conflict, and they are desperate for that safety.
I was a community college and adult education ESL teacher for 36 years. I worked with students from all over the world with different educational and socioeconomic backgrounds. My students came from Asia, Africa, the Middle East, Western and Eastern Europe, the Caribbean, Mexico and Latin America. I was good at asking questions and listening to their stories. Over the years, my students ranged in age from 16 to 75. I had students who were fleeing wars, religious persecution, gangs, extreme poverty, etc. I had some students that were undocumented, but many came here legally and obtained green cards and even citizenship. I had DACA recipients.
I moved to San Diego in the early 1980’s and began working with Vietnamese, Lao, Hmong, and Cambodian students. I heard many harrowing tales of coming to America, including encounters with ship pirates. Those students worked hard and today, their children are thriving.
I heard both good and very bad stories from my Mexican and Latin American students about “coyotes” and what they went through crossing the border in the desert and mountains. Later, my Middle Eastern students shared their stories of how they walked for days to escape to another country. They went through very difficult times before settling here.
Refugee camps have been set up all over the world for many years. A good portion of the students lived there as they waited for their papers to immigrate here or have a family member sponsor them. In the 1980’s, Southeast Asians went to camps in Thailand or Malaysia. Years later, Iraqis and Iranians went to Turkey or Syria. Somalis and Ethiopians went to Kenya. These camps range from okay to terrible. Coming to America was and has been no easy feat for the majority of them. Despite their initial culture shock, most are happy and grateful to be in the United States. My students came to class to learn English and the cultural ways of Americans.
Imagine being an adult in a new country, having to learn a new language and for many, a new culture. That is what they did and do. They also found jobs. I taught night classes for adult education, so my students worked during the day and then came to improve their English at night. That is dedication. I taught community college during the day and many of those students came to improve their English and study a new career.
I am proud that so many of my students went on to become successful in both their professional and personal lives.
Even more relevant to today, from 2018 to 2019, my friend Paula Sassi and I co-founded and ran The Bus Station Project. This was when the wave of immigrants was arriving mostly from Central America, but also from Africa and Haiti. At that time, Border Patrol was dropping them off, with ankle bracelets on, at the Greyhound Bus Station downtown. We helped them purchase tickets to go live with family members across the United States. At the bus station, we provided them with bags that contained food, water, toiletries, and stuffed animals for the children. We explained the tickets to them and even brought maps of the USA.
We started in July 2018 and by November of that year, the need was so great that Jewish Family Service, Rapid Response and other agencies got involved and we worked in junction with them. Many of the Central Americans were fleeing for their lives from gangs and intimidation. Many of the unaccompanied minors were fleeing from gangs what were trying to recruit them and threatening their families. Others were fleeing failed crops and abject poverty. They were desperate.
However, the Bus Station Project ceased to be when the “Remain in Mexico” took effect in 2019. Then in 2020, the pandemic hit. Now that we have a new administration with different policies, all those that have been waiting want to try again. Give them a chance. They will work hard and give back to this country. It won’t be easy and they will struggle, but after all the hardship they have been through, they want to start a new life and provide a better life for their children where they feel safe.
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Mimi Pollack is a freelance writer based in the La Mesa suburb of San Diego. She may be contacted via mimi.pollack@sdjewishworld.com
It has been a noble endeavor from the outset and you and Paula Sassu will go down in the pages of some o the immigrants diaries and certainly in their hearts, as angels of mercy and givers of peace.
Keep up the good work and whatever struggles you encounter is nothing compared with what these immigrants karma has been.
Nice article, Mimi! You certainly made, and make, a difference.
Mimi – Very good article. My opinion is that the lack of immigration legislation to address the needs of the 11 million undocumented immigrants here has created most of the crisis at the border. I truly believe that the unaccompanied minors all have parents or relatives currently living in the U.S. and have been separated from them too long. They would not be at the border unless family were waiting for them and hopeful through a new administration that there will be a way for them to come. By not dealing with this years ago the U.S. has created this crisis. Iam hopeful Biden’s administration will step to the plate and work toward supporting them.
Agreed Gretchen. Would love to follow up with a discussion about policy. Let’s be in touch soon. Pat
Who better than you, Mimi, with your with your teaching experience and your volunteer work to know the histories, struggles, and adaptation of so many immigrants, — mostly asylum seekers–. You have been so unique in your caring and dedication!.
We keep saying this country is made of immigrants (ignoring the indigenous peoples), as most of us are or come from other places of the world. We honor the Statue of Liberty, but in the last years we have forgotten what this country stands for..
It’s time to renew our promises and open our hearts. It’s not only a “path to citizenship” but a fast process to LEGALIZE NOW AND PERMANENTLY the “dreamers and their family, and all undocumented people that have been here for years feeding and working for us.
So true, Eugenia!
Good observations Mimi. I’m glad you are able to continue to help with the needs of our newcomers and those who want to come. Your volunteer projects and career of giving to students and families is admirable. Keep writing and shining light on them. May I suggest a column featuring a different person or family each time?
Thank you all for your great comments. Much appreciated.
Mimi you share your experiences with honesty and depth and clarity. Thank you for enlightening many who may not get to the kernel of it all due to lack of exposure to these issues. I realize there is no easy solution but I agree that we need to support the Biden Harris administration in their positive policies. All people deserve opportunities. Thanks for this excellent writing and explanation.
Mimi, you just have a good heart.
Migration is natural human and as old as mankind. We are either first generation or descendant of those who came here not long ago. Let’s give this new commer a chance to work and contribute to this nation.