No, You Can't Bring Your Plus One, Two, or Five, to the Party

In the era before strict RSVP, invitees would grace grand occasions with their plus ones-- sometimes an obscure family member--a second cousin thrice removed, or an uncle with the unofficial title of chief or prince behind his name. This resulted in crowded event  halls, but did not interfere with the festivities. Music and food ebbed and flowed. The celebrations lasted well into the night. The merriment continued so long as obedient children were willing to sacrifice their seats.

Chain migration is similar to bringing a plus one--a tag-along,  to the party. President Trump explained it so eloquently: "when one person comes to the United States, they must bring their father, their uncle, their cousin..."

As the immigration debate continues,  many obstacles abound for people in search of opportunities to come to the U.S in hopes of getting a slice of the American Dream, which may or may not include a house with a white picket fence, 2.5 kids, and a pet dog named Fido.

Some groups, like the pseudo-klansmen rallying in the street corners with their torches ablaze, operate with the sole purpose of banning outsiders from entering the party.  Unlike the guests from long ago, who managed to bulldoze their way inside the hall even without an invite, many people are at the mercy of Immigration and Customs Enforcement--facing separation from their families, repatriation, or deportation, and life in detention centers.

The president's in-laws seem to exist in a bubble, floating outside of this immigration controversy.  While he strongly opposes chain migration, his in-laws have been able to slip through the cracks as VIP members to the party.  After migrating from Slovenia, they were recently sworn in as U.S citizens.

While many commentators will highlight the double standard in these actions,  this leniency  speaks to the dynamics of race, privilege, and class in the United States, or simply put, the power of long leg. As the saying goes, it's not always what you know, but who you know. When your son-in-law is the commander-in-chief of one of the most powerful countries in the world, that connection comes with certain perks.

Unfortunately, for the average Johnny-just-come strolling through the airport with a rusty suitcase and a wrinkled 10 dollar note languishing in his back pocket,  the path to American citizenship is not so smooth. It is a long journey. That's if he is even able to successfully bypass the multiple barriers to entry.

 To everyone who has crossed various hurdles to do more than "pull themsleves up by their bootstraps"---to carve out a living for their families, and provide them with the opportunities they could not previously afford,  I say, bravo. More grease to your elbow.