Immigration Makes America Great
A coworker and close personal friend of mine just became a US citizen. She’s worked extremely hard to get to this point and I couldn’t be more proud of her.
Unfortunately immigration has become hyper-politicized in our country recently, with Trump stoking xenophobic fears with bullshit claims of terrorists, criminals and job stealers sneaking across our borders. In truth the overwhelming majority are good people who commit crimes in lower numbers than natural born citizens do.
But they’ll take our jobs, right? No, this isn’t how economics works. Immigrants buy homes, cars and food just like we do (and pay their taxes) which creates more jobs, not less. The United States became a super power because of our liberal immigration policies which drew millions of families looking for a better life to our shores. It is tragic that in such a young nation so many have forgotten that.
Now the administration is implementing morally bankrupt policies like requiring asylum seekers to stay in Mexico or Central America in refugee conditions while their claim is processed, while denying the claims of those fleeing persecution by gangs or escaping domestic violence. And who the fuck thought it was ok to take children from their parents?
“America First” is a false choice. People are people no matter which borders surrounded them at the time of their birth. How can anyone argue that an American life is worth more than a foreign one? Let these people in, become our neighbors, enrich our lives, expand our economy and join the great melting pot that our forefathers envisioned.
My friend is the next great American. I want to live in a country where she’s not the last.
