The peer-reviewed journal “Forgetting Its Common Humanity: Americas Immigration Story” by Anita Maddali focuses on immigration laws and its impact on immigrant families and how the laws stray away from what the United States values. The journal touches on quotes and source experiences that have happened dating back to George Washington. The journal dives deeper into the complexity of the immigration laws and policies and how it has caused separation, instability, or both for immigrant families. The article comes off with a bit of bias in the sense that there is a potential persuasive voice. The author did a great good by showing positive and negative historical events that impacted immigration, however, it felt as I was being told a story with evidence to back up a point of view which I also believe is very much true.
Maddali used a quote from Washington stating “The bosom of America is open to receive not only the opulent & respectable Stranger, but the oppressed & persecuted of all Nations and Religions (p133).” To show Americas values, then proceeded to list the challenges immigrants face such as long visa waits, penalties for violations (even minor ones), and a lack of discretion for leniency to deported or barred immigrants because of prior violations.Maddali even notes how the senate, the house, and members of congress believed that family -unity, humanness, and equality are important factors in Americas values. There was also a story about a young boy separated from his family telling Obama that he wanted a family like the president. Maddali showed how from the past to present just how immigration stories are common and have improved.
MADDALI, ANITA. “Forgetting Its Common Humanity: America’s Immigration Story.” Brown Journal of World Affairs, vol. 24, no. 2, Spring/Summer2018 2018, pp. 133–146. EBSCOhost, search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=bth&AN=131613723&site=eds-live&scope=site.