I am the first in my family to vote, and during this election, I am not voting on my behalf but on my family’s behalf.
As a first generation American student, I have a great decision resting on my shoulders during this presidential election. For the first time in my life, I have to think about someone else’s future rather than my own. Immigration is a big deal in the United States. It’s probably one of the most controversial topics within this presidential election. The fiasco and challenge of this year’s theme, ‘to build a wall or not to build a wall,’ as if a wall will weaken the “wetbacks.”
I am voting for and only supporting Hillary Clinton. Yes, you heard right. I am supporting the former Secretary of State, wife of President Bill Clinton and activist for human rights within the United States – the only person fit for office.
Under Clinton’s immigration proposal, my parents have the chance to remain in the states and to receive citizenship at a much faster rate – something they have been denied for far too long. It’s not only my parents who will receive benefits from her appointment, but millions of hardworking Latinos who pay their taxes, own homes and raise families within the United States. Within my own nuclear circle, I can count four or more sets of families that will be harmed severely if Mr. Trump becomes president. The fact that Trump has threatened, harassed and neglected the entire Latino community during this campaign is completely wrong. The fact that Trump has called Latinos “wetbacks,” “rapists,” “drug lords” and “murders” is an abomination. The fact that Trump has promised to send all immigrants back to their homelands during the Republican National Convention makes him ignorant and unqualified to be president.
I do not support a wall nor do I support the deportation of millions of fathers and mothers, including my own. Immigration is an issue but it needs to be dealt with by someone who accepts the Latino population and wants to help rather than hinder. I can’t expect non-Latinos to understand why I am voting on behalf of my parents. However, what I do expect people to understand is that we are facing the issue of deciding on either a candidate who will fight for Latinos or a candidate who will fight against them, whether we choose the devil we know or the devil we don’t know.
Latinos are not the problem.
The problem is the lack of understanding as to why they are coming here. It’s the ignorance and selfishness of some Americans that is causing nominees like Trump to actually stand a chance of kicking my parents out.
That’s why I am voting for Hillary. If you have a love for people regardless of their skin color, want to see change for the good of our diverse and multicultural country and actually care about people’s lives, I suggest you do the same.
