Speech #1140082182

Texas. The essay topic is: Select an important event that has occurred in the past year and explain how that event has changed/shaped our country. In the past year. immigration has become a prevalent and controversial topic in social and political discussions. President Obama made some changes to immigration policies. prompting the case United States v. Texas (2015) where a Texas judge blocked President Obamas executive action on immigration known as Deferred Actions for Parents of Americans (DAPA). This executive order. along with the Catch and Release Act. epitomizes President Obamas position on immigrants. He believes that implementing lenient rules on illegal immigrants is fair. that we should not deport illegal immigrants under certain circumstancesif they have children who are American citizens or legal residents. if they pass a criminal background check. or if they are willing to pay their fair share of taxes. Like most things nowadays. this has sparked some controversy. In addition to the rising notoriety and outrageous deeds of ISIS. the Syrian refugees seeking protection. and the increasing frequency of terrorists attacks all over the world. United States v. Texas not only exemplifies but also enlarges the heated issue of immigration. America is a compassionate nation. but it is a compassionate and fearful nation. We know that it is morally right to help those in need. especially considering the fact that Americans have all traveled to this great nation in search for a better life. However. the terrorist attacks and ISIS have embedded fear in Americans eliciting questions and doubts like whether to choose ethics over their own security. President Obama justifies his stance stating that. "We are born of immigrants. Immigration is our origin story . . . our oldest tradition. Immigrants and refugees revitalize and renew America". Advocates agree and applaud this statement while the opposing side wonders whether this is still true at the cost of our safety. However. one thing that both sides can agree on is the fact that the American immigration system is broken. So how do we fix it? That is the debate. The United States v. Texas case and the whole immigration matter distinctly divide the American people. Depending how far we are from the first of our family to move to the United States or how compassionate or cautious we are. we view this concern from different perspectives. This issue has changed and shaped our nation in that nowadays. the word "immigrant" has a negative connotation. It is used as an insult to imply that "you dont belong here". Illegal immigration has also demeaned our country and opening ourselves up to help refugees has allowed us to be vulnerable to ISIS. eager to use our generosity as a chance to infiltrate us. The American public now has an impaired opinion of immigrants. forgetting that they are of immigration descent as well. As President Obama said. the United States is a country of immigrants. Immigration molded this nation. It is the foundation of our people. People from all over the world immigrated to America to escape hardships and oppression. Therefore. it is quite ironic that centuries after its establishment. America is being divided by immigration. E318 Tuesday. March 15. 2016 Daily Digest Senate Chamber Action Routine Proceedings. pages S14751514 Measures Introduced: Eleven bills and two resolutions were introduced. as follows: S. 26772687. and S.