With President Trump coming into power, immigration has become even more of a "hot topic." Conflicts arise about what kinds of immigration are acceptable, which immigrants should be deemed dangerous or harmless, and who should be allowed into our country. However, who is taking into consideration the lives that these immigrants are coming from?

Many of those that have been born and raised in America, just like myself, have never been exposed to the horrendous struggles of those in other countries. There is an endless amount of men, women, and children that suffer and die from hunger and starvation, disease, slavery, and so much more every day. Though anyone can read news articles and watch documentaries about these struggles, no one will truly understand the life of these people until they themselves have lived it.

Those, like myself, that have never seen these problems with my own eyes, take the lives we live for granted. I've never had to worry about becoming a slave. Not once in my life have I truly thought I may never see another meal. I've never feared that my mother may be sent away. I have never been afraid that I may not have children before I die. There are people in this world that will never live to see a home that looks like mine. Why do we Americans take this for granted?

Immigrants do not just drop their entire lives, leaving behind family, friends, and their culture, because it sounds like a great vacation idea. Families leave their lives behind because they have to. Many times their circumstances have become life or death. Coming to America is not always an easy decision. Who would want to leave their home and everything they love? Everyone deserves the chance to live a healthy, safe life. The United States is thought to be the 'Land of Opportunity', but there are so many times we reject innocent immigrants. What opportunities do they have?

"This land is your land. This land is my land."