The Cornell Daily Sun (https://cornellsun.com/tag/immigration/page/6/)
The night after the first presidential debate, Prof. Steve Yale-Loehr ’77 J.D. ’81, law, discussed the potential impact of 2016 presidential election on America’s immigration policy. In his analysis of the positions of candidates Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump, Yale-Loehr urged the audience to remember United States’ mantra, “Out of many, one.”
In the midst of a controversial Oscar season, one that is plagued by criticism for its lack of diversity, we can assure ourselves of one thing — Saoirse Ronan deserves her place as an Academy Nominee for Best Actress in a Lead Role, for her gripping performance as timid Irish immigrant Eilis (AY-lish) Lacey in John Crowley’s Brooklyn. The film, based off Colm Tóibín’s novel of the same name, centers on Eilis and her voyage to the gilded United States — specifically Brooklyn — during the 1950s. Eilis lives in an Irish boarding house, shared with other immigrants and owned by the cheerfully senile Mrs. Kehoe (Barbara Walters) and works at a high-end department store. As she settles in, emotional turmoil ensues and the transition of leaving her sister, Rose, and her mother proves to be almost unbearable. It’s at this point of weakness that she’s intercepted by charismatic and stereotypically Italian Tony (Emory Cohen), who inevitably becomes her cross-cultured love interest.
With an ever-growing rate of immigrants entering the United States, detention centers are quickly filling up. Last year, more than 300,000 people were held for administrative purposes, rather than for punitive or criminal reasons. Under international law, all detainees are eligible for healthcare and must receive necessary medical care to ensure an individual’s life is not at risk. While required, the majority of detainees receive little if any medical care. In considering that some have died because of this maltreatment, the neglect may have an underlying motive to discourage immigration.
A sizeable gathering of students and faculty assembled yesterday afternoon in Kaufman Auditorium for the annual Rabinor lecture, hosted by the American Studies Program. Prof. Derek Chang, history and American studies, spoke on the topic of migration and population dynamics in late nineteenth century America.