Every year on Mother’s Day, we honor the special role mothers play in our lives. Although women form a majority of all immigrants in the United States, immigration hasn't always been considered a women's issue; however, immigrant women are profoundly impacted by our nation's immigration system.
Too many women and children bear the weight of harsh enforcement policies. Every day, an average of 34,000 immigrants are detained in immigration jails due to a Congressionally mandated quota. This quota prevents many individuals from being released on alternatives to detention, which allow people to stay with their families and in their communities while they fight their immigration cases. Since the overwhelming majority of those caught up in immigration enforcement are men, women are often left behind to lead single-parent households at great emotional and financial cost to the entire family.
"Immigration is a women's issue, a family issue," said K. Sujata, President of the Chicago Foundation for Women. Sujata was one of the many community leaders to speak at a breakfast celebrating immigrant mothers hosted by Illinois Women for Compassionate Immigration Reform and the National Immigrant Justice Center. Many of the women emphasized the tremendous sacrifices that immigrant mothers made, and continue to make, to ensure better lives for their children.
Ashley Moy-Wooten, Senior Organizer at West Suburban Action Project, interviewed her mother, Susan, an immigrant from Hong Kong. As young single-mother, Susan struggled to support Ashley, attending school full-time, working two to three jobs, and not being able to spend as much time personally caring for her children.
The highest ranking Latina in Governor Quinn’s office, Amalia Rioja, was grateful that her mom took a leap of faith so that she would have access to the type of opportunities and success that she’s achieved in the United States.
“Most immigrant families [do] not come looking for handouts, but rather opportunities,” said Evelyn Sanguinetti, Councilwoman at Large for the City of Wheaton and Republican candidate for Lieutenant Governor, who is from an immigrant family herself. “More must be done for immigrant families.”
Immigrant families are woven into our society and immigrant women play an integral role in our communities. We need an immigration system that allows American and aspiring American families to thrive. Speaker of the House, John Boehner (R-OH), must allow an immigration bill to come to the House floor for a vote.
As one DREAMer and pre-med student, Egle Malinauskaite, put it,“I’m done dreaming. I’m a doer.”
It’s time for action.
Jennifer Chan is the associate director of policy at Heartland Alliance's National Immigrant Justice Center.