blog #7

Kimberly Hwang

May 12, 2013

Section A01

Reading: “I am a man with a heart” by Andrew Thi

Overcoming the Struggles of an Immigrant 

This article is about a Cambodian immigrant who grows up in the U.S. He is an honor student who unfortunately leads a life of crime, stealing cars, and now faces deportation. In Andrew’s story, you can see a lot of growth. He admits to the mistakes he has made and in his words you can see a lot of regret. He has continuously disappointed his family and himself but now he has found the light and wants to lead an honest life. Andrew’s story is unique because he did not immediately get deported. I believe this was due to him doing well in school. Unlike most immigrant kids who get caught up in this sort of life, Andrew was an honor student. He even says it was good to leave his Cambodian friends because most of them didn’t even graduate high school. Although he made some bad choices, he wasn’t completely lost. Andrew’s story is just one of the many Asian American immigrants who face deportation. Andrew was lucky enough to have his family there to help him, but many aren’t so lucky and get deported. I think this is unfair because these kids who commit crimes are the products of the U.S. no matter what ethnicity they are. The U.S. should’t try to get rid of their problems but try to help them instead by educating them and creating programs that will help them stay out of a life of crime. Andrew’s story is truly inspirational, how he overcame his struggles and changed. His story should speak to all those who face similar consequences. 

Question: Will the deportation laws ever change?