Alone in a Strange Land

Issues facing immigrants in America

For many immigrants that’s the way America feels.  New arrivals to our country have often come without family, many of them forced out of their homeland.  This is especially true of many of the immigrants from Central African countries, such as Burundi, Rwanda and the Congo.  They are seeking asylum.  And they bring with them the traumas that they experienced in their homeland.

They often must learn a new language, English. They may be taking classes and getting some tutoring, but it doesn’t come easy.  English is a very difficult language to master.

They often do not have a work permit.  They can apply for one, but it often takes months, if not longer, to obtain one.  In many cases, the immigrant may be a professional.  But unfortunately he or she may be unable to obtain the certification or licensure that would allow them to work in the U.S.  These people are often forced to take jobs as nurses’ aides or fast-food workers.

And what of the families that they left behind?  They often do not know when they will see them again.  They often fear for the welfare of their families, since they and their family and friends may have been persecuted in their homeland.

Friendships in this country may be difficult to develop.  Trust, for many immigrants, is a difficult issue.  Because of the events of the past, they may be more cautious about making friends and trusting others again.

And trust in the authorities is difficult.  The police, in particular.  They may have been used by the government to persecute the immigrant and members of their ethnic community.     

And what about fitting in to a new culture?   Different ways of thinking and behaving?

Being in a new land that promises freedom and opportunity can be exciting, but it can also be quite frightening and confusing.  Immigrants to this new world will need to be able to apply the skills and the attitudes of resilience.  They need to learn the new language, and they need to be able to connect with others.  In order to be able to do any of this, they must deal with the fear and the anger that can  paralyze them and force them into isolation.

Over the next few months, I’ll be talking more about these issues and a way in which new members of our society can practice and reinforce the skills and the attitudes of resilience that they already possess and that they have already demonstrated through surviving adversity in their homeland and in America.