Non-Fiction Article Response on "Immigration: Obama VS. Congress"

            The article, “Immigration: Obama VS. Congress” by Patricia Smith is about an executive order made by President Obama, that discusses the topic of illegal immigration. The order made it so unauthorized immigrants have the opportunity to become legal citizens within the United States. They must meet the qualifications, such as being a sibling or parent of a U.S. Citizen, but once their requirements are met and checked off, they are free to work and create steady lives without deportation. This new order has created it so that about 5 million of the 11 million illegal immigrants within the US are shielded. The order, in Obama and most of the Democrat’s opinion, is an efficient and beneficial way to solve the illegal immigration crisis within America. However, Republicans disagree with this solution, and a dispute over how to solve this problem has brawled between the President and Congress.

            Although the article was mostly objective, the author’s bias is still present through her writers craft and details. Patricia supports President Obama’s decision in converting illegal immigrants to become U.S. Citizens. For example, she uses quotes through the perspectives of individuals that have been helped by Obama’s order. “Jimenez welcomed Obama’s announcement, saying he has lived in constant fear. “Even a small traffic stop could send us to deportation,” he told the…” By the author using quotes in favor of Obama’s decision, it shows her writing craft in making the readers take Obama’s side. She wants us to think about what Obama is doing/ has done positively, and she does so by providing first hand quotes that show the president in a bright light. Secondly, the pictures provided by the article show a positive point of view on Obama’s order. One picture exemplifies families greeting each other at the U.S. and Mexico border, after they have become U.S. citizens. The ones on the side of the American border talk to their deported loved ones on the Mexican side of the border, showing the before and after of what this order has created. The picture depicts the sadness that comes from being deported and sent away from loved ones as an illegal immigrant. It also shows the happiness, however, of becoming a legal citizen within America. Both sides of the picture show President Obama’s decision as being good and helpful, which agrees with Patricia’s subliminal bias. The photos shown around the article tell just as much about her opinion/ what she wants us to feel as the text itself. Overall, the author wants the readers to agree with what President Obama is doing.

            In conclusion, I agree with the author in that Obama’s executive order will lead to good things within America. From this article I’ve learned how big of an issue illegal immigration is within the U.S, and all the different ways people believe to solve it. Through reading this article, I’ve noticed that craft can be used to show extremely large opinions, are subtly hidden opinions. Overall, I believe this article’s mix between objective and subjective leaves just enough room for the readers to think for themselves.