Looking beyond my passport (or skin color)

Immigration has been and will be always been a very touchy topic. I guess that someone feelings and thoughts about immigration might depend on what side of the border you are from. On my case as an immigrant myself I think that something has to be done about the immigration reform.

Now to what extend I agree with some of the things being proposed, might differ, but I do think that if I had to leave my son behind to an immigration law I would not be happy.

I am in the US because I got married to an American Citizen. And even though I have a green card I still have and travel with my Colombian passport. I have not really experienced firsthand any issues with immigration; I think my personal story is more about discrimination.

Let’s get real here; it just happened a few days ago. The comments online because Miss America has an Indian heritage were outrageous. Common people stop the non-sense. She was born here, race here so she is AMERICAN!

When I travel and come back to the US my Colombian passport has been raised and I have been pulled from the line to be asked questions. Yes, I know a lot of drug dealers are from Colombia but not everyone in Colombia is a drug dealer.  So just because of where I am from or how I look like does not mean I should be a suspect, does it?

I understand safety and security and I am grateful for everyone at the airports that help to keep my family and other travelers safe. However I would be even happier if there is not racial profiling and nationality profiling. 

So whatever is your take (or mine) on immigration the responsibility is now to work on human rights and respect. Let’s concentrate on treating others as we would like to be treated. The color of your skin, the color of your passport should not dictate the way you are treated.

I am going to LATISM conference to be able to learn about immigration, social media, health issues and education that affect not only Latinos, but will also affect the future of the US, because let’s remember that like my son, there are a lot of Americans that are also Latinos, and we should be concerned about their future.