by Connie C. Triggiano
It is ironic that the 13 years I endured waiting for my son to finally make it as a legal immigrant in the United States seem tolerable now, in spite of the silent trauma of those long years of separation and the unrelenting dull aches at midnight by the computer for the chance to hear his voice and look at his face that was slowly bearing the marks of each passing year.
This we did many times every week so we could at least spend some moments of distant bonding together. My world reeled off its axis during those nights, but seeing my son, my only child, on the screen where he’s half a world away somehow made the situation tenable.
During those times, I felt increasingly envious of the undocumented in America who eked out the courage and determination to enter the US sans any vetting, or simply overstayed. Mother and child, families even, were already together, albeit threatened with separation on many occasions. Imperiled yes, but they were together, hugged each other, shared meals together, celebrated Christmas as a family, even managed to work, purchased homes and raised families here in the US, now. I could still feel anger quickly seeping through my system. I lamented the fact that my son and I, while not threatened with family separation, were actually already separated ever since I left the Philippines years ago. And still waiting.
US immigration policy over the Philippines’ unique situation inflicts pain to Filipino immigrant families no end, creating resentment due to an annual quota that can lead to a span of more than 20 years for their petitions to be approved, and still more years to lead to citizenship. Petitioner or petitioned could die while waiting or give up altogether in disgust. The policy remains the same. My sentiments drove me to write three US Presidents during their respective terms asking that they initiate moves to shorten waiting time of those who have been in line for over 5 years, been properly vetted, fluent in English, and have paid all the dues among other eligibility factors. Presidents Clinton and Trump (first term) responded, doling out the customary nice words of hope. President Obama did not.
With the curent intense crackdown on groups illegally present in the US and seeing the fear and trauma inflicted on those hounded by ICE crackdown, I began to experience a groundswell of relief washing over me, now that the 13 years have gone by and that we survived the awful wailing of time, anxious to make up for the lost hours when we were apart. Relieved, because we are now citizens.
This enormous relief came when I realized that the resilience imposed by the lengthy legal immigration process that my son and I wrestled with in the Philippines has shielded us from the major psychological toll now burdening undocumented communities targeted for deportation in fulfillment of President Trump’s election promise.
US citizenship is the dome that shelters us and other naturalized individuals from the aggressive enforcement of Trump’s deportation program. As ICE agents ramble through neighborhoods armed with enforcement tools, ready to seize individuals on their list, impacted neighborhoods huddle in fear, fraught with panic and uncertainty. Many of those, especially in mixed-status households, become sorely vulnerable in the face of determined efforts by ICE to rid the nation of people without legal papers.
Reports reaching communities claim that ICE operates on a per-day quota, which further fuels greatly intensified protests, particularly in major cities protected by sanctuary statutes. I shudder at the thought that green card holders or legal permanent residents (GC-LPR) who managed to maintain a pristine presence in the US might still be inadvertently caught inside ICE nets amid the chaos, confusion, and violence that mark ICE street and traffic encounters.
Owing to the current volatile scenario, LPRs are strongly urged to consider US citizenship already and prevent situations that could derail travel plans or worse, mistakenly get trapped inside deportation webs. USCIS lists 539,759 Filipinos currently eligible to become citizens, but only so few do so (44,958) per ABS-CBN newscasts. Reasons cited include lack of time, hefty costs, and anxiety due to complex immigration issues or fear of failing naturalization tests.
Service channels in ethnic enclaves help in citizenship applications and in passing the 100-question test and interview. Discounted rates for citizenship application are also available; for others, fees are even waived. Philippine Ambassador Romualdez has urged kababayans to self-deport instead if legal means have been exhausted, for a chance to come back to the US in the future. Those opting to self-deport can avail of free travel expenses plus $1,000 according to Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem.
Vulnerable groups are also urged to seek crucial information from legitimate sources they can use to assuage fears and arrange contingency plans as needed. One reason generally cited for why Filipinos delay their US citizenship application is their belief that this will prevent ownership of land in the Philippines. This is incorrect; former natural-born Filipinos are allowed to own land, especially through hereditary succession.
President Trump has been on a roll since taking back the White House, issuing executive orders in quick succession but keeping a tight focus on deporting people he maintains should not be in the country.
Now, more than ever, US citizenship remains the cloak that wraps legitimate Americans safe. Becoming Americans offers the chance for many to finally show deep loyalty to this country that has nurtured them, made jobs available and created opportunities for peace, stability, comfort and experience the blessings of how it is to live in a democracy. America is not just for jobs and money to send home. America is the real home.
Connie Triggiano is currently Board Secretary of Circa-Pintig, a Chicago community theater organization. She works as Academic and English tutor assisting foreign students to pass IELTS, TOEFL, Celpic, ESL and other English exams to gain admission to universities in English speaking countries. She also trains greencard holders to pass US citizenship exams and interview. She worked for many years as Vice-President of Chicago-based Leo Burnett Advertising in its Manila office where she managed the advertising accounts of the country’s biggest brands: Procter & Gamble, Pepsi Cola International, BPI, Vicks, Wyeth and Cathay Pacific. She edited a travel newspaper in Singapore and taught college freshmen in a local university. Connie graduated with a BA degree, major in English, from the University of San Francisco in California while working as an information officer for a United Way agency. She took up MS in Advertising at the Asian Institute for the Development of Advertising, UST Graduate School.
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