This week’s article discussed Trinidadian immigrants who returned to Trinidad after living out of the island for multiple years. Specifically, this article focuses on one of the biggest topics of this class: Transnationalism. Firstly, the article analyzes how family influences migrants to maintain ties with their home and thus form a transnational identity. Family ties back in the homeland can be formed due to child rearing, where a family member is caring for an migrant’s children. Many times, family ties are maintained between a parent remaining in the homeland and the child who migrated to start a better life. Furthermore, a transnational relationship between a parent and child usually includes the transfer of money, as the child, once supported by the parent, now returns the favor by sending hard earned money back to the homeland. Transnational ties also include those with the community. Migrants going abroad could maintain ties with friends and people they used to live amongst. What this does is keep the migrant in touch with his old community so that if they return, it would seem as if they never left. Many times, migrants who do not keep in touch return home to find that they are seen as strangers and that they do not belong. Migrants who do keep in touch with their community usually return home multiple ties. In the past, this was difficult to maintain, but with the cheap cost of travel, it is now a possibility for almost everyone. Furthermore, traveling to and from the homeland allowed people to develop dual citizenships. This causes migrants to be involved in affairs with their both their affiliated countries. One main affair is that migrants can own land in their birth land and can thus return their later in their lives. This article also discusses the idea that it may be hard for immigrants to return to their homeland even if they maintained ties. This is because immigrants maintain an image of how their country of origin was like when they lived. When they see how their country has changed, they continue to maintain their old image.
In conclusion, I have enjoyed taking this Macaulay seminar. I was previously oblivious to anything having to do with the Caribbean Islands but the class has opened my eyes to many issues surrounding the Caribbean people, and other immigrants as well.
Thinking about the immigration policy, the United States has always struggled with immigrants. Many people believe that immigrants are using up the country’s resources and taking opportunities from natives. However, such statements are highlighting that people in the United States are struggling to get by and thus there is a general detest for anyone who also needs aid. I continue to believe that anyone in the United States is given the same opportunities, although some may receive more than others, however it is whether you take these opportunities or not that dictates your future and decides whether you struggle or live comfortably. People born in the U.S. should not hold a hatred of immigrants considering they are living in an advanced nation that allows them to accomplish anything. However, many times people do not take what this country has offered since their birth and they blame others for their shortcomings. Immigrants coming here will take full advantage of the opportunities others haven’t taken and they deserve to. Personally, I am thankful that my family did struggle to live in Lebanon, however I know of people who did struggle to get by and who lost family members to war. Coming to countries like the U.S., these people, who were never privileged, work hard to earn the rewards available to them to better their family’s lives. Reason why the United States should tighten its immigration policy should only regard population problems or illegal activity, however it shouldn’t be due to immigrants taking opportunities that others had since birth.
