Immigrants can help make America great, or simply be flown around on jets by DeSantis | Opinion

Two sharply contrasting views of America and immigrants came into my view last week.

First was a sweet story by Bee colleague Juan Esparza Loera about 17-year-old Isai Pérez Hernández, who just graduated as a valedictorian from Fresno Unified’s Sunnyside High School with a 4.22 GPA.

What makes him even more remarkable is the perseverance, dedication and focus he showed to complete high school. His father, Lorenzo Pérez, was a street vendor who came to California before Isai was born. Lorenzo pushed his food cart along Kings Canyon Avenue in southeast Fresno to support his wife Verónica and their four children. Two years ago, the 45-year-old was shot dead while on his route. An 18-year-old was arrested days later for the crime; his case is pending a mental health evaluation.

Isai told Esparza Loera that he thinks of his father when confronted with challenges. “Even if it was in elementary school, he always wanted me to excel in my studies,” said Isai. “He’d always be proud of me every time I’d come home and just show him my grades.

“He’d always tell me he’s proud of me and to continue doing what I’ve been doing, and strive for the best.”

Lorenzo and Verónica immigrated to California from México, started a humble yet successful business, and instilled truly American beliefs in their kids — values that Republican and Democrat politicians alike claim to believe in: Use your freedom to work hard, apply yourself and become successful.

Esparza Loera reported that Lorenzo’s family described him as a hard worker, averaging 12-hour days selling elotes (corn) from his three-wheeled cart along Kings Canyon Boulevard.

I asked Isai in our phone interview if his parents were undocumented. He hesitated to answer, and said he would have to ask his mom if it was OK to say. His caution was understandable, as he did not know me.

Really, it was beside the point. Lorenzo and his wife got a foothold here, and now their son is going to enrich California by becoming a teacher. He starts that journey at Fresno State in the fall.

“I wanted to be a lot of things growing up,” Isai told Esparza Loera. But once he worked with students at Ayer Elementary School next to Sunnyside, he found his purpose. “I got the inspiration to major in education and become a teacher,” Isai said.

Can you imagine the life lessons this young person will be able to impart? I was humbled by just interviewing him.

He had a great character example in his father — an immigrant from México who braved 100-degree summers and pushed a three-wheeled food cart in southeast Fresno for a hardscrabble living.

Migrant flights by DeSantis

Then there was the story of two flights of immigrants from El Paso to Sacramento. Thirty-six people in all, Columbians and Venezuelans, were put on planes by officials operating on orders of Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis.

The Republican candidate for president in 2024 at first was silent about the escapade, then admitted his office had engineered it. The Sacramento flights follow the transport by plane and bus of immigrants to New York and Massachusetts last year.

DeSantis says the borders are out of control and he is simply sending migrants to sanctuary states.

Why has there been the tidal wave of immigrants from Latin America? It’s simple: People are fleeing persecution, crime and economic hardship for the hope of a better life in the United States.

That is how it has always worked in America.

California Gov. Gavin Newsom is right to characterize DeSantis as using migrants as pawns to make political points about immigration and border control.

It marks a low point in American political history, and hopefully more thoughtful Republican leaders can convince DeSantis and others like him (Texas Gov. Greg Abbott) to stop flying and busing human beings like fodder for conservative talk shows.

Personally, I will keep the focus on Isai and his father Lorenzo. Their story is too rich, too encouraging, too American, to forget.