Thousands of people are deported annually from the United States. The intended purpose of deportation is to protect America’s economy and keep America safe from terrorists and criminals. However, deportation tears families apart and undermines the well-being of migrant children. Over the years, deportation has become an increasing threat to migrant workers and their children. The history of deportation goes back to 1798, when Congress passed the Alien and Sedition Act. This act, which was the first law put in place supporting deportation, stated that if a foreigner were to prevent the peace of the country in any way, he or she could be deported without trial. From 1798 through the 19th century, …show more content…
They both live with the fear of being separated from their families. The Joad family is constantly struggling to keep the whole family together, since it is hard for them to all find jobs and be able to provide for everyone. The children of a parent being threatened with deportation also lives with fear of the family splitting up. In addition, the children of immigrants and the Joad children both face discrimination. The Joad children are discriminated against by others for being “Okies.” The children of deported migrant workers are discriminated against due to their low economic standing and their cultural differences. Both the Joad children and the children of immigrants threatened with deportation face various parallel obstacles.
Deportation affects many more than the people being deported. Specifically, it affects the children of immigrants, who may find themselves separated from their parents or living in bad conditions, just as the Joad children did. Deportation also impacts America’s economy by reducing the number of workers willing to do the jobs that most Americans do not want. However, the current administration has continued a historical trend of being increasingly tough on immigration, and so undocumented immigrants are likely to continue to be