The Questionable Existence of the American Dream: Immigration in the U.S.
With a somber expression, Jinsoo Park, who has lived in the U.S. the majority of his life, recalls the numerous occasions in which he and his family have experienced difficulty in accomplishing seemingly mundane American tasks. Most American citizens are raised under the notion that America is a colorful melting pot of all races, a land of opportunity, but take a deeper look and see some facts that beg to differ. The sociopolitical atmosphere of part of our society affects all of our society. Whether it’s attempting to renew a driver’s license or trying to collect a stimulus check, there’s no denying the increasing number of obstacles immigrants experience in comparison to citizens after speaking with Park and people in similar positions.
Jinsoo Park, 27, was born in South Korean and immigrated to the States when he was 6 years old. He grew up in the suburbs of Marietta, Georgia. The son of an inner-city factory worker and a mountainside farmer; his family persevered to create a better life for their children, to experience what they thought was the “American dream.” Most American citizens (like Park) are raised under the notion that America is the land of possibilities, but Park is no longer as sure of that notion.
Park tells the difficult story associated with originally acquiring a green card in the U.S., “From the government fines, application fees, legal advice, it would cost at least a $1000 or more dollars to get a green card for the first time. It took my brother and I years to qualify after having moved here.”
Acculturation is theoretically a founding principle of this nation that was originally compiled of literally no one but immigrants. So why would someone like Park who has grown up attending American public schools, paid state and federal taxes all his life, and passed the Citizenship exam be denied citizenship? Even after paying the significant fees associated with applying for citizenship (around $1,000), this country is turning away individuals who have done more to earn and acquire residential legitimacy than any American born infant could ever do. When prompted about common misrepresentations of culture, Park agrees in its presence, “I definitely believe they exist heavily even today. Each and every person alive is not the same as the next, and with so many other cultures forced together inharmoniously it is so easy to group people into a single stereotype. I believe I am commonly mispresented because people try to mold entire perceived cultures into these clichés that only represent a handful of individuals.”
According to Park when looking at a government sanctioned website (www.usa.gov) and clicking on the immigration tab, the first option viewers see is a hyperlink with the word, “deportation.” In comparison, one must scroll down the initial page to find the hyperlink, “How to Enter the U.S.”
When asked, Park fondly identifies with both his Korean and American upbringing, referencing highlights of both cultures’ traditions. However, Park does ponder the political peace of mind and opportunities his family left behind, “I can’t even vote in this country that I have lived in my entire adult life.” However, he does not apparently have the option of going back to Korea currently. “I couldn’t even go back, if I wanted to,” Park says. COVID-19 travel restrictions aside, every able male citizen of South Korean under the age of 28 must serve at least 2 years in the Korean military. According to Park, he won’t even make it past the airport gates and security before being flagged down and sent away for militant service.
As an adult, Park explains his matured understanding of American society and politics, “The sociopolitical atmosphere of what I have almost always considered my home is not what I was raised to expect.” Park refers to the “American Dream” as the idealism of his hopeful parents, but does not identify with its existence personally.
