By Capri Gahr
Student Reporter
In mid-October, word spread about a caravan of people making their way from South America to the United States.
Thousands of men, women and children make up this group. According to the New York Times, this is one of a number of caravans that have happened in the past two years. So far it is the largest at 7,000 people.
These people are not illegal immigrants for the pure reason that they are not coming in illegally. They are marching to the border between Mexico and the U.S. and seeking asylum from their old lives.
To be granted asylum, they have to prove that if they stayed in their homes they have a high chance of being victims of violence or suffer from a poor quality of life that is may cost them their lives.
President Trump has been very vocal on the matter through his twitter account. “Many Gang Members and some very bad people are mixed into the Caravan heading to our Southern Border.” He went on to write, “Please go back, you will not be admitted into the United States unless you go through the legal process.
This is an invasion of our country and our military is waiting for you!”
What opinions about this issue does Northwestern have to offer?
I asked students on campus what they thought about the migrants seeking asylum. Here is what they had to say.
Tumiso Tidimane, an accounting major, said he believes the migrants should be allowed asylum to lead better lives. He added, “Everyone has a right to freedom and these people should be given the same rights as any other citizen.”
Kevin Cosper, a math education major, said he believes that if we have the capability of helping those who seek asylum, we definitely should.
He went on to say, “I grew up upon the values incorporated with taking care of your own family before you care for others … we need to figure out what we as a country can offer those people … even if it means not allowing them in but also providing aid from afar.
Eight other students, including a political science major, health and sports science majors, a chemistry major and a psychology major, were asked their opinion of the caravan and whether or not these people should be allowed to seek asylum and the vast majority agreed that they don’t follow politics closely enough to have fully formed opinion but added that, if we as a country can help them, than we definitely should.
Two masters’ students, Sterlin Broomfield in education and sports administration, and Willow Gahr, who is pursuing a master’s in counseling, both agreed that they as well don’t follow politics enough to give an answer on the situation but believe that we as a country should help anyone who is in danger.