THIS NATION OF IMMIGRANTS

In the final installment of his series, Ali examines how fear and misinformation fuel anti-immigrant sentiment and challenges Americans to look beyond the rhetoric.

By Ali Cabrera Osuna

The Advocate

How did we get to the point where immigrants are blamed for so many of America’s problems?

President John F. Kennedy described the United States as the “nation of immigrants.” For generations, Americans celebrated the country as a melting pot of cultures, shaped by people who came here seeking better opportunities. Today, undocumented immigrants are often blamed for the country’s economic, criminal and social struggles. Yet many come to the United States hoping to build better futures, only to find themselves held responsible for problems beyond their control.

What is the United States without immigrants?

Tactical use of fear, xenophobia and racism has turned people against immigrants by portraying them as the cause of society’s problems. Undocumented immigrants pay billions in taxes annually, contribute to systems they generally cannot access and frequently work under poorer conditions.

It’s easier to blame undocumented immigrants, who can be singled out, than the companies that exploit them for cheap labor. Fear makes it easier to trust familiar companies and corporations than people perceived as foreigners.

Immigration has become a political dog whistle, allowing racists and prejudiced groups to spread their rhetoric in ways that appeal to the average person.

Many immigrants come to the United States hoping to escape difficult conditions and build their dreams. They arrive ready and willing to work hard for the opportunities they seek. Yet false narratives persist about undocumented immigrants taking advantage of taxpayer-funded benefits, including free health care and Social Security.

According to a 2024 report from the Institute on Taxation and Economic Policy, undocumented immigrants paid an estimated $96.7 billion in federal, state and local taxes in 2022, despite being excluded from many of the public benefits their taxes help fund.

The report also found that undocumented immigrants in a majority of states paid more in state and local taxes relative to their incomes than the wealthiest 1% of households.

After centuries of immigration, why have we decided now that immigrants are the problem? The United States has the resources to create more opportunities and provide greater support, but it needs to address how those resources are allocated.

Undocumented immigrants are also unjustly blamed for crime, rising costs and a lack of jobs. Yet a report from the Congressional Budget Office projected that increased immigration would have little effect on overall unemployment or inflation, while contributing to economic growth. Research funded by the National Institute of Justice also found that undocumented immigrants had lower crime rates than U.S.-born citizens.

Fear has been weaponized to demonize undocumented immigrants to convince people otherwise.

I believe that if people looked more closely at their communities, they would see that immigrants are no less American just because they lack official documentation. If more Americans recognized how much immigrants contribute to society, much of the hateful rhetoric would begin to fade.

Reducing the rhetoric begins with education and a willingness to question what we’re told. Complex issues cannot be explained by blaming a single group of people, yet too many Americans accept those explanations without examining the facts.

I believe every American has a responsibility to learn about these issues, challenge misinformation and recognize the contributions immigrants make to this country.

Immigrants have done more than enough to deserve that consideration.