I think one of the benefits of being a college student is that you get to take classes which appeal to your interest other than the classes you are "required" to take. This semester I've had the amazing pleasure of taking a class called Transborder Immigration and Economy, which focuses on why people from Mexico migrate to the United States. I love this class because it has helped me understand so many things about my culture and where I come from. Also, knowing about trends and patterns of migration has helped me to better advocate for the DREAM Act, which is a wonderful plus!
Some of the perks of being in this class is that we get to read a lot of papers and research concerning immigration and today I had the opportunity of watching a movie called "Crossing Arizona," which is a documentary about Illegal immigration in the United States, but specially in Arizona.
This movie really touched my heart. Some of the stories you hear and the all struggles people crossing the border go through are all really moving. The movie also included the other side of illegal immigration: those who are against it. I'm sorry to say it but, these people just appeared to be cold and insensitive. It's not that I don't understand their point of view, this is their country and they have the right to protect it but maybe they should focus their efforts on Washington instead of terrorizing people at the border.

I have always known about the struggles people who cross the border face day-to-day but to hear their stories directly from them is heartbreaking. I think people are quick to judge and generalize the situation without taking into consideration how much immigration actually helps this country. In the movie, this quote stood out more than any other:

"...Do you have any idea what it took that person to get there to fix your breakfast, to make your bed, to mow your lawn...the suffering they went through, the money they had to spent, the families they left behind?"

This quote really made an impression on me because it really makes me mad that everyone wants $.99 cent drinks, or cheap vegetables, cheap food, cheap burgers without even realizing the prices depend on immigration. We are able to get "everything" for less money because there's someone behind that product who worked cheap labor. This is the side that no one EVER thinks about. There's a story behind every inexpensive product. Behind every bed made at a hotel there's a family of four who looked for a better opportunity, behind every cabinet in your kitchen there's a brother and sister looking for a college degree, behind every clean floor in your school or office there's a family who left everything behind for just a chance at something better. There are so many roads these individuals have walked, so many struggles they have had to overcome, and so many obstacles still to come; how can we sit there and do nothing?

Next time you buy something...anything...wonder to yourself "what's the story behind this? Where has this been? and AM I BRAVE ENOUGH TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT?"