The Challenges Of Undocumented Athletes In America
This report will examine how undocumented athletes: professional, collegiate and high school age navigate over barriers amidst their incomplete immigration status. The purpose of this report is to enumerate the problems undocumented athletes face in America due to visa issues.
Background and Significance
Undocumented can be defined as someone who entered the U. S. legally and their immigration status expired or has been denied and they remain in the United States. Current undocumented immigrants lack a way of becoming legal residents due to various immigration issues. Legal documentation needed to become a US citizen is a permanent green card for at least 5 years, or 3 years if one is filing as the spouse of a U. S. citizen. Undocumented people have issues regarding their citizenship due to criminal backgrounds, deficiency in English, lying on an application or failure to pay taxes. The shining stars that some see on television, hitting a home run, scoring the winning goal or throwing the knockout punch may have immigration issues. Undocumented athletes face the same issues as others even though they may be well known across the world.
Before stepping in front of the crowd, international athletes go through the tedious recruiting process. According to the National Collegiate Athletic Association, over 17, 000 international student-athletes are enrolled and competing at NCAA schools. Athletes must register with the NCAA Eligibility Center, meet eligibility requirements such as a certain Grade Point Average, understanding the eligibility requirements and submitting the correct documentation: academic records, diploma or SAT/ACT scores to be enrolled in the Association.
Coaches: professional and collegiate look for the talent in athletes before they reach out to prospects and begin the recruiting process. Professional coaches who recruit for Fans cheer on their team or their favorite athlete through nail-biting moments in hopes of a win. Whether it is Manchester United, the Philadelphia Eagles, The New York Yankees, the greatest baseball team of all time, sports attract people and bring them together. However, when the lights go out, fans do not see the behind the scenes of any athletes lifestyle. Miguel Aguilar from the LA Galaxy is a star player who made his debut in 2015 for the professional soccer team, the D. C. United. He bought to the team exceptional skills making him a power player for United. Fans only saw Aguilar as the player and did not recognize he was an undocumented immigrant. After coming to America when he was 11 years old, his temporary visa expired a couple of months after. At a young age he became undocumented and went through harsh situations before becoming the star player that he is today, and thus, this is why parents tell their children to never judge a book by its cover. Who knew that a star athlete, immigration status: expired, lived in America for a majority of his life made it to the professional level because he followed his dream. I don’t take the feeling of grass beneath my feet for granted.
Once Aguilar’s senior year came around, the DACA program was passed by President Barack Obama and he was able to apply for federal funding, scholarships and work study. The program protected undocumented immigrants who came to America as children. Shortly after Aguilar graduated from college, he married his girlfriend, and applied for his green card. During the 2017 season with the LA Galaxy, Aguilar was approved for his green card and is now a U. S. citizen. Although a broken immigration system affects everyone some may think it affects only people who are considered middle or lower class. However, some do not realize that it can affect professional athletes as well. Visa issues can cause athletes million dollar contracts, games or the opportunity to play the sport they love. Retired Washington Nationals All-Star Rafael Soriano, recently was met with visa issues even though he was an All-Star player.
Soriano was traded to the Washington Nationals from the New York Yankees and failed to complete an I-29 form. The form is for petitioners filing on behalf of a nonimmigrant worker to come to the United States temporarily to perform services or labor, or to receive training. Being undocumented affects even the professional athletes some idolize. Being undocumented means hiding in plain sight. However, athletes are the face of their team or sport, therefore they are looked at by many and some may consider them to be role models. One mistake could change their lives in the blink of an eye such as a mistake so simple like having the proper documentation. Typically, athletes are told to stay out of trouble, set the bar high for others to follow and be the best they can be. What does that mean for the athlete who came to America to seek a future in sports but is restricted? Foreigners see the United States as their opportunity to make their dreams a reality but when the resources are limited, they become determined to fight for their future. The stress of immigration watching them closely, practicing for the championship game and one wrong move can cost them to be deported. They become humble about the sport and the opportunities’ in the midst but realize that their future in sports or in America is questionable. Athletes are different from others who come to America to study because their placed on a pedestal. They represent their country, school or team in a respectful manner and fans pay attention to how the athlete acts. Undocumented means having limits to finances, bureaucratic and even higher education. Limits include lack of funding the school, employment, study abroad trips or certification in some career choices.
Jose Reza, a track athlete/student at Allen Community College in Iola, Kansas is one of more than 200, 000 undocumented immigrants enrolled in college who came to America for a better life. Reza took up running at ACC to help remind him of what he could do in a world full of things he couldn’t do. As one can see, sports are more than a game, a gold medal or a World Cup. It’s the opportunity for athletes who have dedicated countless amounts of time to playing their sport. The little opportunities are the “golden ticket” for athletes like Reza and Aguilar to fulfill their dreams and work within their means. America is seen as the country to the home of endless opportunities and if one can make their journey here then they are living their American dream. Foreigners look to the country as their escape from their high homicide rate country like Honduras.
People come to the United States to have a better economic opportunity and freedom. America is an escape from violence, finding refuge after natural disasters or for parents to give their child numerous opportunities in education and job opportunities. A broken immigration system affects everyone in some way that they may not see at the moment. Despite anyone’s reputation or salary, they run into immigration problems causing them to adjust to conditions beyond their control. Being undocumented can mean some move from home to home, applying for limited jobs due to no social security or fearing deportation. Programs like ICE and under the new Trump Administration have people living in fear of being separated from the life they know/built. Under the program DACA (the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals), a plan former President Barack Obama aimed to protect more than 860, 000 immigrants who came to America as children. The plan gave hope to those fearing deportation and gave them the chance to dream even though options felt limited. On September 5th, 2017, President Trump rescinded the program causing dreamers to panic. Congress had until March 5th, 2018 to deliver a solution to replace the DACA program. “Well, that deadline has arrived, and Congress has failed. All four immigration bills the Senate took up to address the issue were voted down.
On September 5th, 2017, the Trump administration decided to end DACA for new recipients and not allow current members to continue with the program. The program helped immigrants get a social security number, working papers and to find opportunities to live out their American dream. Being undocumented is affecting some to go to college, fulfill their dreams or live freely because they need to be enrolled in college to stay in America. The March 5th deadline does not affect all of the 700, 000 people at once. Individuals have a deadline for when their DACA authorization expires and two years from the date of issue, and for some that is between 2018 and March 5th, 2020. Upon expiration some will not be able to work legally in the United States or deportation.
Nicolle Uria, a former student at Annadale High School, is a star volleyball player, gymnast and a track star. Uria is also a member of the DACA program and fights for her future in America. She was brought to America by her parents and siblings when she was a baby; therefore, qualifying her to be in the DACA program because she was brought to America and her visa expired. Once DACA expires, Uria would be considered for deportation, unable to drive or work, or ineligible for in-state tuition without DACA. Uria was left scrambling for outcomes and her future would be put on hold as she figured out what to do before the program expired. In January of 2018, Uria attended President Trump’s State of the Union address alongside Representative Gerald E. Connolly to defend the DACA program. While students’ are under the fear of unexcitingly being deported, they advocate for the rights to become citizens of the United States. Uria currently fights for continuation of the DACA program and is has graduated high school. Due to the crackdown on immigration under the Trump Administration, another sport that is affected by the regulations is horse racing. ICE, the U. S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency used to enforce immigration laws have workers sitting on pins and needles. Raking hay in the stalls to bathing, feeding and grooming the horses, workers tend to the needs of the horses to prepare for race day. On the other end, some jockeys are getting ready to race in hopes of winning the medal. Workers hail from Mexico and Guatemala on visas to prepare for the upcoming season. “One man, who was asked to go by the name Julio, said he had been in Kentucky for more than 15 years”.
Horse Racing is a $25 billion dollar industry and the majority of the workforce are Hispanic immigrants. As a way of escaping immigration issues, some move to other countries to become citizens and work then eventually come to America. International athletes go to Canada to race, get married and become citizens of the country and decide to train and eventually move to America and become citizens. Turning on the television and seeing their favorite athlete hit a home run, score a touchdown or goal in the final championship game, as the crowd breaks out in cheer and the game comes to an end. The paperwork for international athletes has to complete an intense and tiring process due to immigration laws. P1 visas is a document that allows foreign athletes and entertainers to live and work in the United States. If the player accumulates enough tenure with the team then they can apply for a green card. Under the ease of the DACA program, athletes have an easier time transitioning into the U. S. Once Trump passed the 90-day ban that would help keep America safe, immigrants from some countries are not allowed to enter the U. S. and athletes became worried about their time in America. Imagine what sports would be like if athletes were denied the opportunities because of their immigration status. General Managers could go out and recruit another player or place a player on their reserved team until their visa issues are resolved. Teams would have a lot of delayed games due to visa issues despite a players’ reputation or salary. There are 230 players who were born outside of the United States that made the Opening Day lists for Major League Baseball teams. The majority of players are from the Dominican Republic. Players from Brazil, Japan and South Korea rank in the list of international athletes who play the American sport.
Soccer, the sport that originated in England, is the biggest sport including athletes from all over the world. Messi, Ronaldo, Mia Hamm or David Beckham, top-scoring athletes from their country are names fans across the world are familiar with. What if the top scoring athletes were undocumented immigrants? Regardless, of class, reputation or how many goals scored, if they are undocumented then they would have gone through similar issues but fans would still cheer them on at games. International college students attend university on a temporary visa that expires once they finish school. If the players’ immigration status is unclear then some colleges may withdraw from recruiting. Non-citizens are expected to have the proper documentation to enter the United States. Any international athlete has to fill out the proper paperwork to participate in sports in America. Athletes are running into issues due to not being aware of their incomplete immigration status from their childhood.
Problems the athletes are facing are issues when committing to schools on full scholarships, but cannot commit due to immigration policies. Chester Brown, the Samoan- born offensive lineman had to look to a new school due to the strict policies the state of Georgia had on an unclear immigration status. The DACA act was set in stone; however, Georgia could not help Brown and he ended up moving on. Browns parents failed to have the proper documentation to say they came to America legally, which is causing their children to go through their own roadblocks. Athletes like Dikembe Mutombo who played for the NBA for 18 seasons used their platform to give back to their home country. He opened up his own hospital in the Democratic Republic of Congo and participates in the Basketball without Borders program. Although he is a retired player he went through issues with immigration during his time in the NBA but still succeed to be one of the best players of all time.
