Recent news has revealed the varying perspectives that many Americans have regarding immigration.
Some Americans believe that all immigrants are criminals who should be held to the highest standards of justice — detention, deportation and imprisonment — while turning a blind eye to the felon that holds presidential office in our nation. Immigration and Customs Enforcement raids have been taking place all over the country in cities like New York and Chicago, where there are large numbers of immigrants searching for often labor-intensive jobs to make a living. Boston has joined these other hot spots for immigration, as ICE begins rounding up people in diverse neighborhoods like East Boston.
As a Latina, the irony that 55% of Latino men actively voted for a president with such discriminatory policies is not lost on me. Latino men voted against the livelihood of their fellow Latinos as a form of self-hatred, showing their desire to assimilate to a culture that truly sees them as contaminating America’s white supremacist ideals.
The reality is that for many immigrants, their only crime is simply desiring a chance at a better life. The confidence in limiting many, if not all, immigrants to being part of the cartel or lawless savages is not only ignorant, but dangerous. President Trump has made it clear that he considers both adults and minors as “a national security threat,” marking them as undeserving of any sympathy and affection.
While many argue that immigrants should just “arrive legally,” this oversimplifies the extensive process of applying for immigration in America. Applying for lawful immigration is a long and challenging process, which shows the privilege of those who can afford to do so.
Many immigrants are coming from underdeveloped countries, war and violence. Many risk their lives coming here for greater opportunities, and to simply criminalize those who desire better lives is a hypocritical stance against all humankind who have migrated to different locations since the dawn of time.
Immigration is not a black and white topic, and the propaganda that makes it seem so is extremely powerful. Recent discussions of immigration have robbed people of their humanity, often limiting them to animals that deserve punishment.
For those of us who are being affected by the pure bigotry of the American society, I truly empathize, and I’m sorry. The world is becoming increasingly horrifying for anyone who isn’t a straight white male, and the terrorizing racial ideologies handed down from those in power are disrupting the order of things.
Staying safe in this day and age is a vital survival skill. For immigrants, knowing your rights that are protected by the U.S. Constitution is essential. Those who are in support of mass deportation rely on immigrants not knowing their rights; being educated and aware is our power.
Red Cards are small business-sized cards that state your rights as an immigrant, and they have vital information that can keep you and those around you as safe as possible. These cards can be printed by individuals and come in multiple languages. I try to keep these on me at all times so that I can hand them out to those who I know may need them. For those who aren’t necessarily directly impacted but desire to help, this is a very easy and discreet method to offer help to those who may not know their rights.
For those who are at the risk of being detained or unfortunately have already been detained, the website Freedom for Immigrants offers a multitude of resources from legal representation to connecting those in detention centers to loved ones.
Disgustingly, the treatment of immigrants in detention centers often does not meet the standards of providing detainees with their full human rights. Those who are unaware of who to call or when can fall victim to these barbaric conditions with no way of defending themselves.
Immigrants pay taxes, they contribute to our economy, and have always had a role in America’s history from the very first pilgrims to the mass waves of immigration in recent decades. Immigrants have always had a place here, and hatred from the far right will not take that away.
This isn’t an us versus them issue, this is a white supremacy issue. American citizens, even veterans, have been detained, showing that this is not an immigration crisis — this is a racial war.
For the sake of America’s future, we must spread awareness of the rights that people have access to, as well as the resources that are meant to help them. America is a melting pot, and our diversity is our biggest strength, not our weakness. I send my prayers out to all who are affected, and hopefully, we see positive changes in the months to come.
This article appeared in print on Page 12 of Vol. LIX Issue X, published Feb. 10, 2025.
