Immigration has been one of the fundamental pillars in the historical, social, and cultural formation of the United States. From the earliest colonial settlements to the present day, millions of people from around the world have sought a new beginning in this nation, contributing their work, culture, and values to a society characterized by its diversity. This article examines some of the most representative positions adopted by American presidents from the 20th century to the present to understand how political discourse on immigration has evolved.

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Immigrants represent the ethnic, cultural, religious, artistic, and human diversity of societies in every country in the world. Since ancient times, we have seen migrations to and from every country in the world. 

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Humans are a diverse species that have acquired different traits according to the environment where the variety of populations have emerged throughout history. 

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Despite racial differences, democracy in the United States evolved to the point of recognizing the importance of diversity and the inclusion of all immigrants, which has elevated this nation and made it a world leader.

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As we can see from the immigration visions and agendas of some of these important presidents of the 20th and 21st centuries, most of them have taken a positive and honest approach to understanding and implementing coherent policies. 

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To date, the recognition of the economic, social, and political importance of immigrants has been a constant, and various governments—both Republican and Democratic—have been characterized by a constitutional and legal respect that defends and promotes individual rights, civil rights, and respect for human dignity, applying due process when necessary and always acting within the rule of law and with unconditional respect for human and civil rights.

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Let's look at their historical contributions:

George W. Bush: A Pragmatic and Humanitarian Reform (2006)

In his 2006 speech, President George W. Bush emphasized the need for comprehensive immigration reform that balanced national security with respect for the dignity of immigrants. His proposal was structured around four pillars:

Border Security: Increased number of border patrol agents and better use of technology to curb illegal crossings.

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Temporary Worker Program: Creating a legal system linking foreign workers to U.S. employers.

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Personal responsibility: Immigrants should pay taxes, pass background checks, and learn English.

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Path to legalization without amnesty: Bush opposed amnesty, but advocated for a regulated path to legal residency.

 

"We are a nation of laws, but we are also a nation of immigrants" — George W. Bush, 2006 speech

 

Barack Obama: Immigration as a Moral Value and National Necessity (2010 and 2014).

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In his speeches in 2010 and 2014, President Obama appealed to moral responsibility and political pragmatism. He recognized the economic importance of immigrants and their role in American society, while also proposing:

Comprehensive reform with bipartisan support.

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Border security enhanced through advanced technology.

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Responsible legalization for undocumented immigrants: register, pay taxes, and pass exams.

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Path to citizenship for those who meet the requirements.

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Defense of the DREAM Act, a law that would provide legal status to undocumented youth who arrived as children.

 

"Being an American is not a matter of blood or birth, but of fidelity to ideals" — Barack Obama

 

Franklin D. Roosevelt: Tensions between labor necessity and internal control (1940s).

 

During World War II, although Roosevelt did not give formal speeches on immigration, his administration made key decisions:

Bracero Program (1942): agreement with Mexico to hire temporary agricultural workers, covering labor shortages.

 

Ronald Reagan: Legalization in the Age of Conservatism (1986)

Despite his conservative ideology, Reagan signed the Immigration Reform and Control Act (IRCA) in 1986. This law granted legal status to more than 2.7 million undocumented immigrants and established penalties for employers who hired undocumented workers.

 

"Immigration has always strengthened the soul of America."

Bill Clinton: Restraint and Control in the Post-Cold War Era (1996)

During his presidency, the Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act (IIRIRA) was passed, introducing harsh measures against illegal immigration, including rapid deportations, penalties for repeat offenders, and restrictions on social benefits.

 

Joe Biden: A comprehensive proposal pending

Although it hasn't delivered such landmark speeches, the Biden administration has proposed comprehensive immigration reform, including:

A clear path to citizenship for millions of undocumented immigrants.

Reversal of many restrictive policies from the Trump era.

Protection for "dreamers" and expansion of work visas.

 

Conclusion

The discourse on immigration in the United States has oscillated between pragmatic inclusion and restrictive control. The constant has been the recognition, implicit or explicit, that immigrants are essential actors in the country's history. Presidential positions reveal not only the priorities of each era, but also the ongoing struggle between the American ideal of a land of opportunity and the fears of a changing society. Unfortunately, an extreme movement of small social groups—unable to overcome long-held beliefs long overtaken by humanity's social and mental evolution—has returned to eras long past with the Civil War (1865) and the signing of the so-called "Bill of Rights" of 1962.

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A series of racist, xenophobic individuals, with ideas completely rejected by science, such as Hitler's "White Supremacy," have managed to infiltrate the highest echelons of power and threaten the democratic and respectful tradition of this democracy, which has been considered the "leader" of so-called Western civilization. However, we have faith in the human qualities of American citizens of all ethnicities and beliefs, who will not allow the end of democracy and will maintain respect for the Constitution and the laws.

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By Martha Daza

 The Colombian film festival, held at the Paradiso cinema in Hollywood, Broward County, represented a journey to the most intimate part of the human being, which still survives deep within each of the attendees who deciphered it. 

 

It was a shaking off of the artificial world around us to place us at the very center of existence.

 

The closing documentaries and films transported us to the very essence of being as such; to the return, to the fundamental principle, to the Atman as the spiritual and universal foundation that governs us. 

 

The documentary directors, with their scenes, managed to momentarily remove us from the artificial world we inhabit. We were able, without seeing them, to breathe the clean air where firebirds fly in flocks. With "cacique candela" in our chests, we relived myths and cosmogonies in the legendary Sierra de agua cristalina (mountain of crystal-clear water) with Matuna; and the old glories of Robo, a musician running out of memory; the weary path of women in exile; and the dark world of shadows of blind children. The closing scene with Rodrigo D. no futuro (Rodrigo D. no futuro) and the presence and words of its director, Víctor Gaviria, consolidated within us the feeling of universality in the vision of the festival and the uncertainty in the face of phenomena that persist among a youth trapped within the wall of their brutal environment.

 

Thank you to the organizers, the directors, and all your hard work. Thank you, Víctor Gaviria, for your presence and for helping us understand and experience our humanity once again.  

 

In the first photo, some of the directors explain the content of their documentaries via Zoom. In the second, acclaimed director Víctor Gaviria with Martha Daza.