An Independence Day Reflection: The Journey to American Citizenship

Announcer: 00:01

Welcome to Immigration Nerds. This podcast is for everyone seeking the details, context and facts behind the banner headlines on immigration. It's the podcast that gives you the latest on immigration policy and politics, and the real world impacts on the people and businesses that make our world turn. If you believe immigration makes us all better, then this is the podcast for you, brought to you by the nerds and Erickson Immigration Group, guiding clients and their employees through the complex immigration system for over 30 years.

Lauren Clarke: 00:37

Hello, immigration nerds. I'm Lauren Clark, managing attorney at Ericsson Immigration Group. I'm a fellow nerd and immigrant and host of this amazing podcast On every episode, we're joined by the smartest nerds in the know as we cover trends in business culture, technology and politics. At the intersection of global immigration, it's July 20, 25, and as we celebrate Independence Day, we're taking a moment to reflect on what it means to become an American. Today we're honored to bring you a conversation with Rajani LaRocca, author of the beautiful new Children's book, Some of Us, a Story of Citizenship and the United States, A Timely exploration of the Immigration and Naturalization process told through lyrical prose and stunning illustrations. But first, let's get everyone up to date on the important immigration news. And for that of course, we turn to our news nerd-in-chief, Erickson Immigration Group partner Rob Taylor. Hey Rob.

Rob Taylor: 01:41

Hey Lauren.

Lauren Clarke: 01:41

So Rob, what tops the newsfeed today?

Rob Taylor: 01:44

Sure. So yeah, I want to cover a few things here on the US side primarily. We mentioned, I think on the last podcast that on May 30th the Supreme Court issued an order allowing DHS to proceed with terminating the H-C-H-N-V parole program as well as employment authorization. That was related to it as an update on June the 12th, DHS started sending out termination notices to individuals whose paroles were canceled or revoked. With that came instructions that it was immediate and they should, I think there also are options to self deport. So that is now in full effect and individuals will be receiving notifications on that. In addition, companies have also been reporting that they have been receiving updates from U-S-C-I-S-V E-Verify stating that there's now a new change of status report that companies can run to understand that if they're employing individuals on a status that may have been revoked, they can see that that status has now been updated.

Rob Taylor: 02:46

So this is definitely a new development for companies to provide additional self-regulation through the E-Verify system. At this point in time, I think our advice is that companies should utilize the technology available to them through to understand their workforce and whether an individual is work authorized or not, and then obviously make decisions beyond that with regards to how they can support or continue to employ individuals whose status might be impacted in the us. So definitely some significant updates and changes there. Additionally, related to some humanitarian statuses on June 3rd, DHS announced that TPS for Cameroon is no longer going to be available. That termination will take effect on August the fourth as the government determined that conditions in Cameroon are safe for individuals to return. So again, anybody in that status should be looking at what their options are for either remaining in the US or changing to another status, or if in fact they do have any ability to return to Cameroon.

Rob Taylor: 03:45

On June 18th, the Trump administration did also launch a new website for the Trump card, also known as the Gold card. This is a new visa option that has been proposed from the beginning of the year, giving people essentially a path to permanent residency if they're able to invest $5 million or potentially have 5 million of worth. The actual guidelines and timeline and logistics of the gold card haven't been rolled out yet, but it does seem to be something that the administration is continuing to pursue. It's also unclear if they can do this on their own or if this needs to go through Congress so it could face additional hurdles there as well. So I don't think we're going to have any immediate updates on this, but there is a website that's now available. And then lastly, on June 23rd, the Supreme Court issued an order allowing the federal government to deport certain non-citizens to third countries without any sort of previous warning.

Rob Taylor: 04:38

There was a lower court decision originally that said that individuals needed to be given a credible fear interview with the chance to respond before being deported to a third country. And the Supreme Court has said that that is not the case. And pause that requirement for now. This is probably going to go through the appeals process, so it's not completely done, but for the time being, it is permissible for the government to deport individuals to a third country without any sort of notice period. Definitely a lot going on continues to be a lot of updates with regards to ICE and continued raids around the country. Folks should continue to be aware and vigilant of that and obviously reaching out to attorneys if they have questions or concerns or we need assistance. So thanks again for having me on the show today.

Lauren Clarke: 05:25

Thank you, Rob. And now for a conversation with physician award-winning author and naturalized US citizen, Rajani Roca whose newest book, some of Us, a Story of Citizenship and the United States beautifully illustrates the journey to American citizenship. Rajani, welcome to the Immigration Nerds podcast.

Rajani LaRocca: 05:50

Thank you so much for having me. I'm excited to be here.

Lauren Clarke: 05:54

Rajani, your own journey to citizenship woven into this book you were born in India, came to the US as a baby and became a naturalized citizen at the age of 15. What inspired you to share this personal story through children's literature?

Rajani LaRocca: 06:10

So I've been writing for children for several years now. This will be my 19th book, and I was at a writer's retreat at a table the last meal of the last day. We were having lunch with many writers and two editors, and we were sitting at this table, and I'm not sure how it came up, but we realized that three of us at the table, including the two editors and I were naturalized US citizens. So we each talked about our naturalization journeys and after that I said, I don't think there is a picture book about this and I think I should write it. And one of the editors said, yes, please do write it because I would love to publish it. And so that was the beginning of the story. And I will say that I came to the US as a baby. I really grew up here.

Rajani LaRocca: 07:03

I was educated here when I was six. My father became a naturalized citizen and at that time he could have just put me on his naturalization paperwork and had me become a citizen at the same time, but he wanted me to choose when the time was right for me. So I was 15 and I decided that I wanted to become a citizen as well. And because I had been educated here, I'd literally just taken a class on government. The exam was not hard for me. The interview was fine and I was 15. I thought I knew everything, but I got to that naturalization ceremony and I couldn't believe how moved I was to look around that room and see all these people from all these different countries speaking all kinds of languages. Some of them were holding babies that they had adopted, some of them were older and every age in between.

Rajani LaRocca: 07:59

And I was so touched and so moved by all these people who chose to become US citizens. And it was surprising to me. And that night we went to a friend's house, as we often did, and they were also immigrants, and they brought out a cake at the end of the night that said, welcome to the USA Rajani. And I was so taken aback. I mean, I was laughing because I was like, I mean I've been in the United States, this is my home. But I understood what they were talking about. And so I wanted to capture that joy and bring it to a nonfiction book for young readers and their parents and also maybe not so young readers, celebrating the people who come from other places and become us citizens.

Lauren Clarke: 08:45

And I feel that's such a beautiful magic of immigration. When we talk about immigration sometimes it's kind of this broad brush stroke where we just say immigration, but behind word. There are so many different paths to how individuals get here and also how they get to the naturalization process. I remember myself, you've been on this journey and there's this naturalization ceremony that happens and within that quick moment, and you read your oath, you go through the ceremony and it could only be 10, 15 minutes, but all of that process and journey leads to that pivotal moment. And then you go through it and then all of a sudden you're a US citizen. That power, I think you capture so beautifully and you just explained it so lovely in understanding the joy in that choice of becoming a US citizen. And I think your personal story and the way that you were able to acknowledge what that choice meant for so many people is really the essence of this book, or at least the essence that I took away from the book.

Rajani LaRocca: 09:39

Thank you.

Lauren Clarke: 09:40

I know in the book you write, some of us are born American, some choose. So coming back to this theme of choice, can you talk more about the significance of that choice, particularly as you experienced as a teenager, you indicated that your parents wanted you to make the choice about becoming a US citizen.

Rajani LaRocca: 09:59

I think that sometimes when you have to make a choice to do something, it is more precious than if you just inherited it. That's not to say that people who are born citizens of any country do not value that, but when you have to choose when you have to work at something, it can sometimes be even more valuable than if you were just given it without any effort. And I think about the journeys that so many people have made from different places in this world and how hard that is to leave behind everything, leave behind people that you love, leave behind important jobs, leave behind languages and religions and cultures that are yours to go someplace new. I think about that choice and how difficult it can be, but also how joyful it can be because people come with hope in their hearts. They hope to have an even better life or they hope to be able to contribute something to their new society. So I think about that choice and then I think about the choice to say, yes, I want to be part of this democracy, not only part of this society, part of this democracy and how powerful that is. I think that people who choose to become US citizens are more aware not only of their rights, but their responsibilities as fellow citizens, what we owe each other and what it actually takes to make a democracy strong.

Lauren Clarke: 11:40

I cannot agree more. The latest election was the first time that I got to vote as a US citizen. And so coming from Australia, it's compulsory to vote. And so now having this opportunity to participate in this country that is now mine in voting was just, I had so much pleasure and so much joy and loved having my sticker and talked about voting with my family and my friends, but that commitment to truly wanting to have that as part of my American identity, but also to be part of American society and democracy was so empowering and something that I just didn't realize until I had the opportunity to do so because I was a US citizen. And so I think with that, you touched upon it in terms of, I guess this has shaped your understanding of what an American identity is. It is this choice, but it's also this ability to participate at a level that you didn't previously get to do. That's right. And so I think when we talked a little bit about the sentence that some of us are born Americans, some choose, I think our listeners would also appreciate hearing a passage from your book, a passage that you would like to choose, that you could share, that you feel particularly resonates with the 4th of July spirit.

Rajani LaRocca: 12:57

This is a lyrical book. There are not very many words on each page. So I'm going to read from the beginning and then I'm going to skip a little bit to a part that I think is really what this book is about. Some of us are born American, some choose. We may come from across the world or quite nearby. Some of us are babies carried in hopeful arms, some are six or 16 or 60. We leave the countries of our birth and come here by boat and plane and car and train and foot. Some of us are invited to study or work because of particular talents or training, some flee war, oppression, poverty. We all deserve safety, respect, opportunity. And then it talks about what immigrants bring to our society, and then it talks a little bit about the naturalization process. And then we get to the naturalization ceremony itself. And then we take an oath not to the president, not to Congress, but to the ideals of the United States, freedom, justice, peace, equality. We make a promise I will support and defend the constitution and laws of the United States of America against all enemies, foreign and domestic. We pledge true faith and allegiance.

Lauren Clarke: 14:22

This is like the power of those words when you see them, when you read them, and then when you hear them, I think no one can deny the power of those words. And I think one of the other powerful aspects of your book is that it's so beautifully illustrates the many ways that people come to America and the diversity of those immigration journeys. How or why was that an important aspect for you to show in the book?

Rajani LaRocca: 14:50

I think one of the things that I really wanted to celebrate in this book is the different ways that people came here. I wanted to remind people that unless you're a Native American, every single one of us, either us or our ancestors came from someplace else. So this is the American story. So it doesn't actually matter whether your ancestors came here a couple of hundred years ago or yesterday. We all came from somewhere else. And all of those journeys are beautiful and all of those journeys contribute to the fabric of the United States, and it's what makes us a beautiful place and it's what makes us a strong place and it's what makes us a gentle place ideally. So I wanted to make sure to reflect the diversity of people's journeys in this book because I think it's easy to pigeonhole immigrants into one category or another, people coming here because they're trying to escape something, but not everyone who comes here is trying to escape something. Many people come here because they're asked to or because they see an opportunity to contribute to our society while also helping people back home where they came from. And I think that's important to remember. I think it's a shame that people forget that someone in their family was an immigrant not too long ago when they seek to vilify people who are immigrants today,

Lauren Clarke: 16:23

I think sometimes our memories may be a little short when it comes to the tapestry of immigration in America. And one of the aspects that you've identified about your book is that it really is a story that's told, not necessarily through words but through illustration. What is the importance of the visual storytelling in the book in terms of capturing that rich history and rich stories of immigration?

Rajani LaRocca: 16:50

I think that one thing that art can do that goes even beyond what words can do, and I love words. Words are powerful, but visual art can show you the opening page of the book that says, some of us are born American, some choose has two different groups of people and they're indistinguishable. They're all different color skin, all ages, different hair color, eye color, different traditions represented, they're indistinguishable. Some of these people were born American and some of them were immigrants who became American, and you can't tell the difference visually. That's amazing. That is powerful. The other thing that Lee, who is the remarkable illustrator of this book, what she does is there's a lot of red, white, and blue imagery, a lot of American flag imagery, but it's subtle, it's toned down. It is gentle. So this is very much a book that celebrates the United States, but it does so in celebrating the different people who make up the United States. I think it's just done so gorgeously and so artistically.

Lauren Clarke: 18:04

It really is. The book is so beautiful to look at and for children having this representation visually, it's easy I think for them to have that identification of being able to look at the book and look at the world around them and realize that their reality is the stories that are being celebrated in the book and that I think that's achieved really lovely in the book itself. Obviously through the words, but the illustrations more than anything.

Rajani LaRocca: 18:31

Absolutely.

Lauren Clarke: 18:32

I also note that there is an author's note in your book that provides historical context about the evolution of citizenship rights in America. Why was it important to include this more complex history in what is ultimately a children's book?

Rajani LaRocca: 18:48

Well, I'll say that picture books, while the intended audience is children ages four to eight, they're always written with the knowledge that adults are the ones usually reading these books to children. But I would also contend that picture books are really for everyone. So I have seen picture books used in upper elementary, middle school, high school classrooms because they're able to succinctly summarize something important in a way that is not overwhelming and explain challenging topics at times in a way that is simple. And I wanted to include that author's note because when I wrote this book, I went back and researched the history of naturalization in our country. And I think it's important for us to remember that from its very beginning, our country has not been perfect. We have these ideals that we are trying to live up to, but it took amendments to the Constitution.

Rajani LaRocca: 19:47

It took changing laws, it took time and history and popular support to reinterpret how we took the idea of all men or all people are created equal and try to achieve that in our country. So over time, things have changed, and I think it was important for me to think about how long it took to get where we are today and to recognize that we can still make progress going forward. So I think that that was just important for me because there are going to be young readers and older readers who want more context about the history of immigration and naturalization in this country, and I wanted to provide that and to also say that we had these beautiful ideals. We have this incredible constitution that was a remarkably flexible document when it was written 250 years ago, but that we are still in the process of to live up to those ideals in our country.

Lauren Clarke: 20:49

I think two things that I can take away from the book and obviously from your great answer to that question is as an adult, I can definitely attest to the power of the images sometimes taking away the words. There's a lot of words that get attached to the immigration, taking them away and just being able to look at an image really allows you to kind of sit with your thoughts and allow your own interpretation, maybe your own experiences to be brought forward from that. So it's kind of an inspiring, and like I said, I was reliving my own naturalization process going through the book itself. But the second part of that is, as you said, normally it is adults that are reading these books to children and children. If I know anything, love to ask questions. And there was something for me even to learn as an immigration provider, someone who's been through the process.

Lauren Clarke: 21:38

Having that knowledge I think helps equip adults sometimes to be able to answer questions that children have when it comes to immigration, but also inspired to maybe ask more questions of our own. I love that. That's kind of a power that this book gives is contributing to the immigration dialogue, but also spurring potentially further investigation and further questions about immigration history, immigration journeys, and then the naturalization process itself as we approach Independence Day. What do you hope children, both those born in America and those who may be on their own citizenship journeys, take away from your book?

Rajani LaRocca: 22:14

I hope they celebrate the remarkable country that we live in. I hope they celebrate all the different kinds of people that are here who help make this country what it is. And I hope that they understand that all of us have a role to play in our

Lauren Clarke: 22:33

Country and our democracy. That's a very beautiful message and definitely something that I do hope our listeners and anyone obviously who reads the book can take away well Rajani as author, physician, and naturalized us citizen. Thank you so much for sharing some of us with all of us on the Immigration Nerds Podcast. Lauren, thank you so much for having me. This was a complete pleasure to talk to you. Thank you. And thank you to all you nerds out there listening. You can find a link to the book in our show notes, and of course, you can track everything going on at Ericsson Immigration Group at our website, eig law.com. And remember, if you believe immigration makes us all better, then this is the podcast for you. Subscribe and share and meet us right back here for another new episode of Immigration Nerds.