KINGSTON, Jamaica — The granting of legal status to millions of ‘undocumented Immigrants’ has been one of the most divisive issues in the United States for years.

It inspired Sherna Spencer — a Jamaican immigration lawyer in Fort Lauderdale — to write a number of poems she eventually compiled for the book, Musings Aloud Allowed, which is available on Amazon.com and barnesandnoble.com.

In November, US president Barack Obama signed an executive order paving the way for over five million illegal immigrants in that country to become legitimate residents.

An immigration lawyer since 1995, Spencer has dealt with numerous cases involving ‘illegals’ determined to achieve citizenship.

“It is a labour of love, challenging and gratifying. Over the years, I have counselled many who have indelibly touched my heart,” she told the Jamaica Observer.

According to the Mandeville-raised Spencer, she covers different aspects of the immigration problem in her first book.

“With the poem called You Are America I pay homage to the many persons who have chosen to call America home, despite the hardships they have endured to remain here. They know what they left behind!” she said.

The Reunited, The Undocumented and Jamaica Calling are other poems inspired by Spencer’s work with undocumented migrants from Jamaica and the Caribbean, Central and South America, Europe and Africa.

Spencer migrated to the US in 1976, living in upstate New York before moving to Florida.

Republicans argue that Obama acted illegally by issuing an executive order. They say with US elections coming in 2016, he is trying to seal the Hispanic vote, since that bloc accounts for the most illegals in the country.

Spencer believes Obama’s decision was purely humanitarian.

“He fulfilled his campaign promise. Using an executive order was not his first choice, but the US Congress has not been able to come together to pass immigration legislation,” she said.

Howard Campbell