Here I sit in my quiet corner contemplating whether or not to write. So, here I go again...(a thread)...
A few days ago in conversation with one of my friends I posited ‘how long before they challenge those of us that are naturalized citizens?’
Surely that wouldn’t happen, right? Why would that even be a question once you’re naturalized? We briefly discussed how and when this might come up. And now the news.
While I’m not personally worried, it saddens me that this seldom used concept of denaturalizing someone is now a thought for many that wonder how far things will go.
Then I think back to how I even got here in the first place. Arriving in this country seeking asylum. As a family.
Why is that important? Because conditions in our country were not favorable. My parents decided that the only way to attempt to keep the family together was to come to the US and seek asylum.
Both of my parents said they faced the choice more than once to be separated. Because it would make things easier. How? By letting family already in the states adopt me. By letting family in our home country keep them until they settled in here.
Their argument was always the same: together as a family or not at all.
So, yes we arrived together on American shores. And together we went into a detention / processing center. And together we walked out of the temporary tent housing in a stadium.
Many a times when they retell the story Mom second guesses her decision because do the risk it presented to losing their only child somewhere along the way. Me.
And many times I thank them for taking that risk that opened doors, opportunities, education and a lifestyle that could never have been imagined had we remained.
And every time they remind me, that it wouldn’t have happened if it meant splitting us up.
As a child refugee in a family of immigrants, I’m thankful my family was kept together.
