Opinion | The benefits of immigration: Fighting the stigma against it
Opinion | The benefits of immigration: Fighting the stigma against it
Editorial: As featured in volume 112, issue 3 of The Collegian.
The United States is a country built on immigration. For decades our economy has been stimulated by the growth of the population through immigration. America is filled with opportunities for those looking for a better life, especially families from impoverished backgrounds.
However, in the past few years, changes in administration and regulations have helped grow a negative stereotype towards immigrants and minorities alike. Especially towards immigrants from Latin America and Middle Eastern countries. The negative effects of these stereotypes range from verbal harassment to physical violence.
The question is what has caused these stigmas and how can they be countered?
Anti-immigrant speech has always been an issue, but became especially prominent during the 2016 presidential election. A photograph taken on March 13, 2018 in San Diego Calif. by David McNew picture signs with one that said, “build the wall, nice and tall!” and another that read, “deport all illegals!” Slogans like these dehumanize immigrants. Politicians have referred to immigrants as “criminal aliens” and human traffickers.
These labels feed into fear-mongering and create assumptions that all immigrants are dangerous, documented or not. Even if someone is a U.S.-born citizen, if they do not look like a traditional American citizen they can still be racially profiled.
Not only are these stereotypes harmful, but facts do not support the assumption that all immigrants are criminals. A study done in 2020 by Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences showed that “compared to native-born citizens, undocumented immigrants are roughly half as likely to be arrested for homicide, felonious assault, and sexual assault.” If this continues, fear of immigrants will only grow, along with the fear immigrants and minorities have in this country.
We must counteract false assumptions that immigrants are dangerous and that they negatively affect America.
First, educating individuals about the real statistics on immigrants, not just what is taken from speeches by politicians or different news outlets. Real studies show that immigrants stimulate the economy instead of hurting it. Spending money on American goods and paying taxes helps fuel the economy. It also benefits labor and businesses that are in need of workers.
Second, starting conversations and speaking up. This can help prevent the spread of misconceptions about immigrants. We should want to create a culture in the U.S. where everyone can feel welcome regardless of their background.
America is a country full of opportunities and no one should feel like they are unsafe because of where they came from or their ethnicity.