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By Laura Madariaga
For far too long we have shunned immigrants in the United States. Americans have often been quick to stereotype; referring to them as “lazy criminals” here to steal the jobs of “true” Americans. We often deny the existence of the “American Dream” that they have pursued in order to provide for their families and themselves. Making them out to be the outcasts of society, instead of recognizing their pursuit as possible, we turn our backs on them. Leading to the separations of families; even when one of the core values of American society tends to center amongst the care of those who are in the United States. When Immigrants become vocal of the mistreatment their loved ones experience in the United States, Americans go on to suggest that maybe if they would have entered the United States legally their chances of being treated with respect would be higher. However, the stereotypical views and the belief in the Immigration system can easily be challenged. The road to citizenship can be a hefty one, spanning months to years. In the 21st century it seems as the focus of American has only ever been on this factor, but it is time to change our views.
Immigrants play a valuable role in American society. In 2019, immigrants comprised 13.7 percent of the total U.S. population, a figure that remains short of the record high of 14.8 percent in 1890. With this growing population, it is apparent that the United States is a country which is representative of opportunities and growth for many of those seeking refuge. In the time of a global pandemic, immigrants are the ones who will evidently play the greatest role to lead us to the end. In the U.S, 17.4 percent of the labor force in 2019 consists of American immigrants. Many of the jobs which immigrants hold include:
sorters of agricultural products, healthcare workers, and necessary custodial roles.
Immigrant essential workers are vital in order to recover from the COVID-19 pandemic, and to underestimate their role simply because of their citizenship status is ignorant and absurd. American immigrants have gone above and beyond...branching out to become self-employed, making up 19% of self-employed workers. The expansion and the overall growth of the American economy has always been accepted with open arms. These open arms should also be extended to immigrants who have participated in the contribution of innovative ideas and the growth of the economy.
It is time to bring forth the end of the biases which many Americans have allowed to blind how they view American immigrants. In times of constant uncertainty, we need to continue to show our gratitude and appreciation for these people. They are not criminals, lazy, or here to steal jobs... they are parents, students, workers, IMPORTANT and ESSENTIAL to the United States. It is time for us to come together and recognize this.
Sources:
https://www.migrationpolicy.org/article/frequently-requested-statistics-immigrants-and-immigrat
ion
-united-states-2020#:~:text=In%202019%2C%20immigrants%20comprised%2013.7,of%20less
%20than%200.5%20percent.
https://www.vox.com/the-goods/22548728/immigrant-american-dream-middle-class
https://www.bls.gov/opub/ted/2020/foreign-born-workers-made-up-17-point-4-percent-of-labor-f
orce-in-2019.htm
https://money.cnn.com/2017/03/16/news/economy/immigrant-workers-jobs/index.html
https://www.pewresearch.org/social-trends/2015/10/22/three-in-ten-u-s-jobs-are-held-by-the-self
-employed-and-the-workers-they-hire/#:~:text=In%20shares%2C%20immigrants%20accounted
%20for,for%2085%25%20of%20jobs%20created.