Immigrants are not “rapists,” they are not “criminals”, they are not stealing our jobs, and they are certainly not eating cats or dogs. But, they are the people who work on farms, clean our houses, are our doctors, and most importantly, our neighbors.
Yet, upon being sworn in last week, the new President, Donald Trump, signed a variety of anti-immigrant executive orders, including one that ends birthright citizenship. But, this is no surprise.

Since that day in 2015 when he came riding down the escalator, President Trump has consistently used the issue of immigration to divide Americans, and it seems to have worked. Today, the Democratic Party which once touted itself as the party of multiculturalism is now running ads bragging about being “tough on the border.” Polls show that 55% of Americans say they want less immigration, the highest level since post-9/11 nativism in the 2000s.
This is not unprecedented. Whether it was the Italians, Germans, Irish, Chinese, Jews, or Mexicans, we have time and time again seen sharp rises in nativism in American history, especially during uncertain times. Usually, it’s the previous group of immigrants most against the new group of immigrants.
Contrary to public perception, the majority of today’s immigrants are not coming from Mexico, but from Venezuela, Cuba, Ecuador, Haiti, and various Central American countries.
In the 2024 election, we saw Hispanic communities around the country (primarily Mexican) shift significantly to the right. Many Democrats have had a hard time understanding this, as many Hispanics are recent immigrants themselves.
But, history tells us that this should be no surprise. Everything we are seeing in our country today is indicative of our past periods of nativism, from public violence to wealth concentration to America’s isolationist foreign policy.
However, this does not make the consequences any less devastating. During Trump’s first term, we saw countless families separated, and too many deported. Yet, what Trump promised to do (and has already done) makes his first term look compassionate.
He has already signed an Executive Order overhauling birthright citizenship (although this has now been put on pause by a judge) and moved to expel hundreds of thousands of migrants from countries like Cuba, Venezuela, and Haiti, where authoritarian governments rule, and the economies have been crushed.
The new President has also (most destructively) promised mass deportations of the millions of undocumented immigrants already living in the US.
The economic effects of this are clear. Undocumented immigrants pay taxes while often doing the most rigorous work, and committing little crime. They also, (contrary to popular belief) do not take wages that would have gone to American workers, and the average American benefits from the labor of undocumented immigrants.

Despite this, Americans have made clear that they want mass deportations, and the Trump administration is getting a running start. After just days in office, Trump’s “border czar” has bragged about ramping up deportations, and many undocumented immigrants find themselves anxious.
Many have reported seeing Immigration, Customs, and Enforcement (ICE). Just a few days ago, a friend told me about an ICE sighting in their small, rural community and the fear that ensued.
This is not all to say that our immigration system is good or doesn't need reform. It is pretty miraculous how a country of immigrants has such a bad immigration system.
For one, we need to finally offer a path to citizenship for the undocumented immigrants already here. Most have been here for years, and keeping the system as it is costs us billions each year in lost economic power.
Secondly, we need to seriously reform the asylum system. Right now, almost anyone can claim asylum. And, it usually takes years to adjudicate their claims, as we do not have even close to enough immigration judges.
And, thirdly, we should make it significantly easier to legally immigrate to the US. This would drive significantly higher economic returns, as illegal immigrants cannot legally work and often have a hard time getting things like housing. By doing this, we will be bringing more and more investment into our economy.
We should also make it easier for specialized workers to come here with an H-1B visa. These workers make significant contributions to our economy, but many also help us maintain our technological competitiveness with China with their computer science expertise.
As mentioned, I am not blind to today’s political moment. The America where I grew up, a country of inclusion, and love, and one that prided itself on its immigrant history seems gone.
Americans seem to have bought into the new President’s demagoguery of immigrants, and I have little hope for my undocumented friends, neighbors, and fellow Americans.
But, a moment is not forever. Americans today seem to have forgotten who we are and what we stand for. We are in a moment of global uncertainty and anxiety where it is easier to blame your farmworker neighbor than accept reality.
But, as Kamala Harris said after losing to the new President, “Only when it's darkest can you see stars.” The pain and cruelty of the next years are inevitable, but we do not have to give in to the bitterness.
But, I continue to ask, is this who we are? As much as I want to think not, maybe this is who we are. But, America, I urge you to show the world who we can be.
Let's show them that we have not forgotten who we are.
Photo Credit:
[2]- Znetwork
[3]-USDA
Sources:
[16]-https://nij.ojp.gov/topics/articles/undocumented-immigrant-offending-rate-lower-us-born-citizen-rate
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