America: still an immigrant dream?

I am a “resident alien” in USA - an immigrant worker with a specialty occupation work visa, i.e. H1B. I came here as a graduate student 10 years ago, and have continued to live here because of the opportunities that came along.

H1B is under a lot of scrutiny for potentially being abused to bring “low wage migrant workers” to replace American workers. If someone with power or authority is convinced that this is the case, please make sweeping changes. But do them quickly, do them well. What is going on now is ad-hoc and arbitrary.

If I was out of American soil for any reason, including to get my new (approved) visa stamped on the passport, which is needed every year or two (won’t explain the complexities of how this timeframe is determined on this blog), and if my flight was cancelled due to the sudden international travel ban, I would not be able to get back to my life for until end of the year. What about my family, kids, parents, school, work etc that is all here? - sorry, no answers.

If I was a student who has saved money for years (not at all uncommon) and/or have taken a massive student loan, to only have just completed one semester before Covid struck and the country stayed clueless and unprepared for 4 months? I have to leave the country before fall!! Or transfer universities? How is that possible when my student visa is tied to one university? I have to go back to where I came from, while continuing to pay the tuition fees expected from me. Don’t forget potentially double living expenses and timezone differences. Oh, yes, I get access to some course content that I could have just used open courseware for!! No answers.

People trusted this country, and planned for their 2 or 3 year student/work stints. They displaced their lives and families to come here. It was a land for dreamers. That was then. But this new America doesn’t care.

I have been in these situations, very often. When I came to this country on student visa, happily taking on a big loan. When I go back home to India to visit my parents. When I go back to have my kids meet grandparents. When I go back to visit family weddings. If I have to go back to take care of my parents. If I have to go back in case there is a difficult situation.

With all this.. I will still go. But maybe wondering if this is worth it at all. Maybe wondering whether it will be the last time I will see my home or workplace in the US. Never ever leaving my spouse or children behind ever, even if it is for days, as who knows what changes when. Everything is whimsical and uncertain. The country’s gates now have a mind of their own. No country is worth living in fear. No country is worth giving up your freedom or family.

Dear USA, we just wish you could make up your mind. Also, please ask us to go back in a better, planned manner. We will.