Immigration isn’t easy, and it isn’t something that most people would naturally choose to do. Most immigrants to the United States are fleeing horrible living and working conditions in their home countries; they are running from dangerous governments, war or devastated economies that are causing poverty, famine, disease and worse.
Though many Americans staunchly oppose allowing immigrants past the borders, many others are looking to provide aid to refugees and others seeking better living conditions in the U.S. If you are one of the latter category, here are a few careers you can enter to devote your life to helping immigrants, undocumented or otherwise.
Lawyer
Legal professionals could easily be the most in-demand professionals in immigration. Because immigration is a legal matter from beginning to end, immigrants and their supporters should be turning to legal experts, i.e. lawyers, for information and aid. Unfortunately, though there are upwards of 1.3 million licensed lawyers in the U.S., only a small fraction practice immigration law, which means there aren’t nearly enough legal professionals around to help the millions of undocumented immigrants living within America’s borders.
Thus, becoming an immigration lawyer provides you with the best opportunity to make a significant impact on immigrants’ lives. To do so, you need only graduate from a three-year law program and intern at immigration law firms or clinics. Then, you should receive your license in a state most impacted by immigration issues, like Arizona, California or Texas. Once you hang your immigration law shingle, you’ll have plenty of chances to help out.
ESL Teacher
Though America lacks a national language, it is undeniable that speaking English is essential to finding success in the U.S. However, most immigrants come here before they become fluent in English, which means they are at a disadvantage for finding shelter, acquiring employment, seeking healthcare and more.
Teachers can help immigrants gain English language skills by hosting classes on English as a second language (ESL). To do this, you should pursue an education degree and supplement your work experience with a master’s in TESOL online. Though you can begin helping immigrants with just an education degree alone, the additional TESOL training will help you manage a classroom of non-English speakers and develop lesson plans that facilitate fast language acquisition. It doesn’t matter whether you teach children or adults, language skills are essential for immigrants’ success.
Non-profit Organizer
Most immigrants come to the United States seeking safer living conditions and higher wages, but few have access to large savings as soon as they cross the border. As a result, many rely heavily on non-profit organizations to housing, food, legal aid and other essential resources while they get on their feet.
You can contribute to these efforts by joining an existing non-profit organization or launching one of your own. To do this successfully, you should have some business administration experience, or you can return to school for an MBA, an MPA, an MPP or a similar degree. Then, you can’t forget to register your non-profit with appropriate authorities, including local, state and federal government agencies, before you start handing out aid.
Border Agent
It might sound odd, but working as a border agent gives you some authority over who can pass the border and when – meaning you can help immigrants just as much as other border agents hurt. For example, instead of focusing on families seeking asylum in the United States, you can put more effort to catching the transport of illegal drugs and other contraband, which unfairly taint the plight of most immigrants.
Border agents must have degrees in criminal justice or have equivalent experience in the field, perhaps as a police officer. The application process isn’t easy, but the job has rewarding pay and benefits – and you can directly impact how immigrants are treated when they come into the U.S.
Public Servant
Finally, perhaps the most obvious way to change how immigration is handled in the United States is to be one of the few who can actually change the laws. Governors, senators, representatives and other public officials are directly responsible for determining the harshness or leniency of American immigration law. Many currently in office do not pay attention to statistics regarding where immigrants come from, why they come and how they impact our economy; however, you can change that by fighting against anti-immigrant attitudes in the public sector.
Immigration has been a major issue in the United States for over a century – even longer if you ask the Native Americans. However, you have the power to make immigrants’ lives easier during their transition into American citizens.
