Yesterday, something interesting happened at the oath-taking ceremony. First, applicants were asked questions like, "Are you affiliated with any terrorist or communist organization?"
Secondly, among the 60-plus new citizens, the majority appeared to hail from south of the border, with few Asians and almost no white individuals. This demographic distribution may reflect broader trends in the U.S. immigration patterns, signaling a notable shift from historically Europe to today's South and Central America.
Moreover, the primary drivers of human migration remain the same: economic and social factors, elucidating the greater influx from the poor South and Central America compared to the rich countries in Europe.
During my stay at my son's home this week, I delved into the novel How Much of These Hills Is Gold by C Pam Zhang. The narrative weaves a tale of two orphaned Chinese-American girls amidst the 1840s Gold Rush, blending fiction with a realistic historical backdrop.
Both the novel and the oath-taking experience resonate deeply with the immigrant journey. They evoke familiar themes in the lives of today's immigrants: being drawn to this land by the promise of prosperity akin to the gold mountain, the ache of homesickness, encounters with diverse forms of discrimination, maintaining cultural heritage from their homeland, and the perennial question, “What makes a home a home?” in a land where they both grow up and feel estranged.
A Chinese proverb aptly captures the immigrant experience: 背井离乡 (bèi jǐng lí xiāng), leave one's home village, evoking the sense of leaving behind one's home in search for a better life, facing hardships, and longing for a new home. This encapsulates the emotional journey endured by generations of immigrants on this land.
The quest for a better life has historically driven migration, still persisting as a powerful motivation today. Yet, this journey is often marked by profound and often unexpected challenges.
As the country embraces new citizens, let us honor and listen to their immigration stories, especially today, celebrating their enduring spirit in the pursuit of a place they can call home.