Are there any laws to protect immigrants turned US citizens from unfairness and inequallity?

Question

I am so heartbroken over what is happening to my family. My parents moved here in 1999 from our native country. It's not a easy decision-to leave everything you know behind..But for the sake of a better education and a brigther future for their kids and better opportunities my parents took a chance, packed everything in a suit case, and moved to the US, where dreams are made. It has been very hard for us for there is loneliness, longing for family and friends, not speaking the language, starting from scratch..etc. My point is people have been unfair to my parents. They have made them pay for things when they didn't have to, they have tricked them into signing papers, they have treated them differently and yes, unfairly. All because of this simple fact-communication. America is supposed to be a place of equality and a powerful country where everything is justified. So, my question is, "How are immigrants who don't speak fluent English protected from being tricked into things?" and what

choice do they have to protect themselves?

Example: My dad has stared his own Construction business. He obviously needs insurance for his company and the insurance people have made my dad pay $2,000 every week for the past 3 weeks because he and/or my mom can't communicate with these people. My parents know this is unfair and they are being forced to pay certain things they don't have to and it's killing them on the inside. We have recieved a new bill for $1,650 just yesterday when we cancelled and switched our insurance company. How fair is this?

There are some spelling and grammer errors that occured from typing to fast, my apologies..

The second person who answered and people like her are the reason why this unfairness is there. I am only in High School, if I knew what these papers were I'd be happy to help my parents and I am trying to. There are many things I am not educated enough to understand and know. It's not easy for people who are 40 years old to learn English.You would only know if you were to live in a different country and to speak and communicate in a different language!!

Answer 1

Unfortunatly it happens to citizens as well......there's always somebody trying to pull something over on you. The tactics you describe effect people who know the language as well. There's always the tiny print, legal language that confuses the heck out of everyone, some loophole you didn't know about, as well as people who outright lie.

Your recourse? Court. Problem is, as it is with many Americans.....it's extreemly costly to fight. I'm in class action suit now for my dad who was elderly and scammed. There are people who simply search out the vunerable to prey upon. I'm sorry ........... unfortunatly the America now is not the America it used to be. It's getting harder and harder to trust anyone.

If it sounds too good to be true.....it's a scam.

Never sign anything under pressure. Say you need your attorney to check these things out and find someone you trust to look them over.

I hate to say it but we all have to approach alot of things with total mis-trust. Every darn time I've let my guard down I've gotten messed over. It's a treasure to find someone who you can trust.

Answer 2

No, people like the second person to answer is not the reason there's such an "unfairness". You referred to communication as a "simple fact" but when signing contracts and such it's crucial! The simple fact and it's sad is that there are shady peeps out there and the laws that protect us from them are to enforce the contracts agreed upon and it's the responsibility of both parties to understand and agree fully to what's written in them before they sign. The shady peeps may be taking advantage, but when it comes down to it, it's your responsibility to look everything over and make sure you're not getting the shaft. Anyone, any race, gender, or nationality can fall victim if they don't take precautions for themselves.

Answer 3

The 14th Amendment. It prohibits discrimination based on ancestry or national origin. Sadly, those laws only protect against government discrimination.

As far as people taking advantage of your family, that's just general unfair and/or criminal behavior.

What's sad is that the anti-immigrant fervor has reached such a point that even those who are here legally, even those who have become citizens, are punished by various laws attempting to mandae English as the only valid language.

Answer 4

im sorry to hear about your parents.and dont want to sound badly.but america isnt always fair to our own for instance my sister went on her own to get tires and they sold her a bad one when she complained it turned to whole big deal.and even this is a small unfair.iv heard much worse.this country isnt easy all the time but it's the best in the world.when you do buisness here make sure you'r paying attention or buyer beware as it were and learn from your mistakes youll get it just remmeber all the freedoms we do have..

Answer 5

First of all, if your parent's can't read/write/speak/understand English, maybe you or somebody who does shoud be going with them to these things where they are signing papers and such.
Second, help them learn English.